Careers @ LI-COR

New hires at LI-COR can expect to jump right into projects and to immediately put to use the skills they've acquired in their education. Every project has its mundane aspects — laying groundwork, testing, creating a paper or electronic trail – but those tasks aren't automatically delegated to the "new" person. Everyone pitches in on all aspects of a project to reach an end goal.

Two summers of working as an intern at LI-COR convinced young engineering graduate Jesse Griggs that this was a company at which he wanted to work fulltime.

"Both summers, I got a lot of experience working on really meaningful projects," he says.

As a student at Iowa State University in Ames, IA, his first introduction to the company was at a career fair on campus. A first-year student, Jesse visited with LI-COR's then-director of engineering.

"It was more of an advisory conversation," he says. "He gave me advice on what companies look for in interns and new recruits, and on courses I should take." Later conversations led to first the internships, then a fulltime position with the company.

His specialty area is electrical engineering design, and his position fits perfectly. "The fundamentals of electrical engineering parallel this job," he says. In the months he has been at LI-COR fulltime Jessie says, "its been a learning experience every day. This job pushes me out of my comfort zone, which is great." He says the work environment is great for learning.

"Definitely, at LI-COR, it's a relaxed atmosphere and there is always someone to help when you need it."