Employee Spotlight: Peter Bui
For the last four months, Peter Bui has been a part of the eSimplicity team as an intern in our telecommunications department. As he departs our organization to begin his final year at the University of Buffalo, we sat down with him one last time to learn more about his internship experience at eSimplicity.
Steve Tarcan: To begin, I would love to delve into your background and talk about how that translated to your experience at eSimplicity. How did you end up at eSimplicity and what has your role consisted of for the last four months?
Peter Bui: Although I am currently studying aerospace engineering at the University of Buffalo, I decided to apply to eSimplicity’s electrical engineering role because my interests greatly aligned with the job description. I’ve always been passionate about improving and optimizing air-borne systems, and after realizing that I could do exactly that within eSimplicity’s electrical engineering role, I gave it a shot and thus commenced my eSimplicity journey. As an intern in the telecommunications department, I build tools and software that my fellow team members then use to expedite progress on their existing projects.
ST: It’s so inspiring to hear about how you tailored your unique background and passions for this specific role. Taking confidentiality into consideration, what has been your favorite project to work on throughout these last four months?
PB: Although I do not have a specific project in mind, I have really enjoyed working with satellites and any tools that involve satellites. I deeply enjoy seeing the impact my work has had on optimizing satellites. Throughout my time at eSimplicity, I was always talking to other team members and picking their brains about how to continue supporting and developing their telecommunications work.
ST: Thank you for sharing that with us! From a holistic standpoint, what are you most proud of from your time at eSimplicity?
PB: Coming into eSimplicity, I was slightly concerned that I would not have the right skillset to accurately do my job (especially because my background is in aerospace engineering), but I quickly learned that wasn’t the case. With the help of my fellow team members and other eSimplicity co-workers, I realized that what I learn in the classroom makes up a small facet of the knowledge needed to succeed in my role. I rapidly learned what was needed and expected of me on the job and I am proud I came to that realization so quickly. This allowed me to fully immerse myself in the work and understand that I can still succeed even if I do not know everything.
ST: That is definitely something you should be proud of accomplishing, especially because of how vital it is to come into new roles with an open mindset. Having reminisced about all the work you’ve done at Simplicity, what is the thing you’ll miss the most about working for our organization?
PB: I can wholeheartedly say that I am going to miss the people I worked with throughout my time at eSimplicity. I was able to work with so many people on the spectrum team as well as other teams, and I learned to really value those relationships. Special shoutouts to Dominic and Giadira who did an amazing job at teaching me the ropes and helping me adjust into the role.
ST: I am so glad to hear that you made such wonderful memories and I am certain you also made an impact on the lives of those you worked with. My final question is regarding the future — what are your plans once you leave eSimplicity and what advice do you have for future interns?
PB: I will be heading back to school to finish my final year at the University of Buffalo, and am interested in pursuing either a mechanical engineering/aerospace engineering role post graduation, or potentially attend graduate school. My greatest piece of advice is to make sure new interns come in with the realization that they don’t know everything and that this is okay. As I mentioned before, coming in with an open mindset helps you succeed more in the long run and as long as you are making sure to ask relevant questions and come in with a respectful attitude, you will excel in your role at eSimplicity.
