AUBREY

How I got here

MY
STORY

Where it all began...

My fascination with aerospace engineering started early—when I was four years old. I attended a Montessori school where an astrophysicist and nuclear physicist couple would visit our class every year to talk to us about space.

On one of those visits, they took us on a field trip into the desert outside Phoenix, Arizona, where I vividly remember looking through a telescope and seeing the rings of Saturn for the first time.

In that moment, I knew I wanted to do exactly what the astrophysicist did. At four years old, I confidently told anyone who asked that I wanted to be an astrophysicist.

Quick facts

Current F-22 Raptor
Systems Engineering

Education Georgia Tech MS
#1 Public Aerospace

Award 2nd Place National
Orbital Debris Design

Outreach @eng.bigsis

The UT Austin Chapter

When it came time to apply to college, I applied to seven undergraduate programs with no expectation of getting into The University of Texas at Austin. When I found out I was accepted, I couldn't believe it.

A high school teacher suggested I attend a smaller school instead—but I knew UT Austin had the resources, rigor, and opportunities I needed to succeed in aerospace engineering. I committed to UT and never looked back.

During my time at UT, I interned at Tesla and SpaceX, working on large-scale manufacturing and launch operations.

An unexpected passion

Along the way, I discovered another passion I hadn't anticipated: orbital mechanics.

The coursework was tough, but I kept taking more classes in spaceflight dynamics—driven by curiosity, not requirement.

This passion led to my award-winning BROOM orbital debris mitigation project, which earned 2nd Place nationally and was featured in Forbes.

From Skunk Works to Systems Engineering

As graduation approached, I received an offer to work at Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works as a structural designer on the F-22 Raptor.

Since then, I've transitioned into a systems engineering role on the F-22 lifecycle management team, working across the full aircraft rather than individual components.

I'm currently completing my Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, the #1 public aerospace program, with graduation expected in May 2026.

STEM outreach

Outside of work and school, I volunteer in classrooms and create content on social media to help students understand what engineering school and careers actually look like.

I want to be the big sister I wish I had growing up—someone who gives honest insight into the path ahead.

@eng.bigsis @aubreyybaker22