Built to Go Further

Built to Go Further: How One Gen Z Engineer is Going Global

September 25, 2025
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Just two years into her career, Abby had already trained aircraft technicians in Romania, walked flight lines in Taiwan, and helped keep frontline aircraft flying in some of the world’s most high-stakes environments. As a tool engineer at Lockheed Martin, she is part of a new wave of talent stepping directly into complex, high-impact work. With the right support and flexibility, early career professionals like Abby are building skills, solving real problems, and exploring the world along the way.

Built to Support the Front Line

Based in Milwaukee, Abby designs tools and test equipment for platforms like the F-16, C-130, and S-70TM helicopters. But her work doesn’t stop at the drawing board. She travels internationally to support customers with hands-on training and implementation, making sure aircraft stay operational and ready for action.

In Romania, she trained local technicians on landing gear maintenance procedures. In Taiwan, she conducted a site survey in preparation to help the customer establish new helicopter maintenance capabilities.

 

Abby Headshot
I have a better understanding of what we do here and what other areas of the world are going through as we support the defense of their countries.
Abby

 

From Robotics to Real-World Readiness

 

Abby’s passion for engineering began in high school through FIRST® Robotics, a program that introduced her to hands-on STEM learning. That experience led to a 2022 internship at Lockheed Martin and, later, a full-time role where her skills and opportunities continue to grow.

 

Lockheed Martin is a tech leader with a global impact. It is very exciting to know I would be part of such an impactful company on a world scale.

 

Balancing Growth with Life

Abby’s schedule is demanding, but Lockheed Martin’s flexible policies allow her time to recharge. After international trips, she can adjust her hours to recover. And back home, she takes advantage of a 4x10 schedule, using her Fridays off to mentor an all-girls youth robotics team. For Abby and the rest of Gen Z, a healthy work-life balance is crucial to complement their challenging and fulfilling careers.

 

As the generation that spent time only doing schoolwork during the pandemic, that level of burnout affected our perspective on what balance means and what work-life balance should be.

 

From mentoring the next generation to supporting missions around the world, today’s early career professionals are making an impact that extends far beyond the workplace. Lockheed Martin empowers them to grow in their roles while staying connected to what matters, whether that’s community involvement, cultural exploration, or personal well-being.

 

Across continents and in local communities, Gen Z isn’t waiting for change. They’re building it.