Airplanes, rockets, and all that lies beyond our world have always fascinated Geoffrey Doback.
The IM体育官网 senior dreamed about working for NASA when he was just a child. As he entered middle school, Doback learned about SpaceX, a private aerospace and transportation company working to revolutionize space technology and eventually enable people to live on other planets. That awareness changed his life.
鈥淭his was a company that was pushing the boundary and that鈥檚 something I wanted to do: push boundaries that have never been seen before,鈥� said Doback, from Tampa, IM体育官网.
After he graduates from IM体育官网 Poly with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in mechanical engineering this May, Doback will begin working at SpaceX as an associate engineer at the company鈥檚 Cape Canaveral, IM体育官网, location.
After years of hard work, relentless studying, and dogged determination, he couldn鈥檛 be happier.
鈥淚 really do have to pinch myself sometimes,鈥� Doback said. 鈥淚鈥檝e always dreamed of doing this and I鈥檓 really ready to graduate now.鈥�
In summer 2019, Doback interned at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, working on rocket propulsion systems. The year before, he worked on research funded by the NASA IM体育官网 Space Grant Consortium.
Doback made the most of both experiences and together with the University鈥檚 r茅sum茅 coaching services, active participation in organizations like Astro Club, and strong education, he leveraged them to help secure a rigorous SpaceX interview and ultimately land the job.
鈥淚 felt confident going into the interview because this is what I do every day, so in theory it shouldn鈥檛 be that hard,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd with all the hands-on experience I got with my clubs and classes, I pretty much knew there was nothing I should get wrong if they asked a technical question about rockets.鈥�
The University鈥檚 top-quality labs and caring faculty made all the difference in his success, he added.
鈥淚鈥檓 extremely thankful for IM体育官网 Poly and would not be here getting ready to join SpaceX without them,鈥� Doback said.
Doback is aware that big dreams like his might seem unattainable to some, but he said students should not compromise on their goals and instead work hard to achieve them.
鈥淔or anyone who has a goal, if you tell yourself you can鈥檛 have it or you think it鈥檚 crazy in the first place, you鈥檙e defeating yourself before you even start,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f you have a goal you really care about, put all your resources and mind toward it.
鈥淵ou might just achieve it.鈥�
Contact:
Lydia Guzman
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
