NASA Glenn Engineer Bilal Ahmed enjoyed embracing his inner nerd in high school. “Be there or B2” was the motto of his Mathletes team, a group of students who competed to solve tricky, puzzle-like math problems. It was a fun way of expressing his love for math, science, and technology.
Ahmed was fascinated with circuitry and computers growing up and it led to his pursuit of a bachelor’s and master’s degree in electrical engineering with a focus on remote sensing and space systems at Pennsylvania State University.
Today he is proud to work on the communications architecture that NASA is developing for a sustainable presence on the Moon, as well as the future exploration of Mars.
“Being part of the technological advancement to explore our universe is very important to me,” said Ahmed.
If you are thinking about a career in engineering, he has some great advice if you are in middle or high school. “Dive into the topics that interested you and find ways to get involved with that topic in your local area,” he said. “Whether that be aerospace, robotics, or chemistry, find a club or other people to learn more and find what you enjoy about it!”
Engineering is all about challenges and finding solutions. “Reach out for help and build connections. There are a lot of obstacles that will be in your way throughout the engineering process and in life,” said Ahmed. “Having a support system for the struggles, professional or otherwise, will help you get back up from a failure or help you through a task.”
