Britney Browning said the network she was able to develop while a student at Trine University has made it easy for her to have a successful career.
“I could have really struggled to find a start after graduating, and it honestly was very simple,” the 2016 design engineering technology graduate and 2020 MBA graduate said. “Trine friends, professors and Career Services still reach out to see if I’m interested in a new career or need help finding a good fit. You just simply don’t find that at other schools.”
She recently started a new position as a group leader for Rivian, an electric vehicle
startup. She will oversee the facility focusing on the vehicle’s battery.
“I’m hoping to make history!” she said.
She began her work in manufacturing engineering while still a student at Trine, completing a co-op with Tenneco, which manufactures exhaust systems for vehicles.
“I have come completely full circle when it comes to the vehicle industry,” she commented.
After graduation, she began working at Tuthill Transfer Systems, a Fort Wayne, Indiana-based fuel transfer pump manufacturer. She worked as a manufacturing engineer for the company’s lines of large and small pumps, and also was given the opportunity to start up a new facility in Kansas.
“I brought in equipment, made improvements and taught everyone In the building how to make and get these pumps and products out to customers,” she said.
The opportunity to work at Rivian came through connections she made at her co-op.
“If it weren’t for my co-op opportunity through Trine allowing me the time to step away from my studies briefly, I never would have connected with the network that I had to get me in the door,” she said.
“Trine friends, professors and Career Services still reach out to see if I’m interested in a new career or need help finding a good fit. You just simply don’t find that at other schools.”- Britney Browning
She had a passion for engineering growing up, and heard about Trine from a friend who visited campus for Hoosier Boys State.
“He said that I needed to check this place out, knowing that I was all in with engineering,” she said.
She enjoyed the opportunity to explore different areas of engineering at Trine, as well as participating in activities such as serving as a resident assistant and resident director, cheerleader and sorority sister. She also said professors like Tom Trusty had a huge impact.
“The professors make it extremely easy to navigate the hard times and still stay on course,” she said. “The people and support at Trine are what make the difference.”
She said has loved working in operations and manufacturing, where there is always something new and always a challenge, and is eager for her new role at Rivian, where she also has the opportunity to impact the environment.
“I just want to help people and have fun along the way,” she said.
