From Student Robotics to Caterpillar Engineering: How Kaitlyn Built Her Career Path

Her interest in STEM began in seventh grade when she joined the FIRST(R)  (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) LEGO (R) League robotics team. With Caterpillar serving as a premier sponsor, she was introduced to engineering in a way that was exciting, creative, and collaborative. 

However, there were not many opportunities for high school girls interested in competitive robotics in rural North Carolina. With the help of dedicated mentors, local students, and Caterpillar's continued support, she was able to help kickstart an all-girl FIRST Robotics Competition team.

Beyond just financial support, employees from Caterpillar acted as mentors who shared their knowledge, and encouraged her to keep asking questions, and showed them what a career in engineering could look like. Seeing engineers who were so passionate about their work that they wanted to invest their spare time in encouraging high school kids made it easier to imagine herself following a similar path. 

Fast forward six years, Kaitlyn is now working alongside Caterpillar engineers in the Telematics and Autonomy team in Peoria. 

"The progression from building LEGO robots to designing and programming 125-pound competition robots and now helping test and validate software and electronics on Caterpillar machines, has been incredibly rewarding. Each experience has been built upon the last and reinforced my passion for engineering. It is a full-circle moment to be learning from the same company that helped spark my interest in STEM years ago," she shares.