Immersed In Each Other

Sam Paxton ’19 wasn’t sure where a computer engineering degree would take him. The job opportunities seemed endless: Would he become a developer? Or an engineer? Would he focus on working with software? Or maybe hardware was the way to go. 

“Figuring out exactly the profession you want is a deceivingly important and difficult decision that usually takes years to figure out after college,” he says. 

Teradyne helped speed up the decision-making process. 

The test and automation company, based in North Reading, Massachusetts, exposed Paxton to applications and software engineering through two co-ops he completed while at UMass Lowell. He says the co-ops were instrumental in helping him choose a career path. 

“The biggest realization I made from my co-op experiences was that I wanted to be a software engineer over an applications or hardware engineer,” he says. 

Three years later, Paxton is still at Teradyne. After graduating from UMass Lowell, he became a full-time software engineer for the multibillion-dollar company and is one of about 95 UML alumni currently working there. 

For decades, Teradyne, which was founded in 1960, has depended on UMass Lowell for creative and talented engineers, says Andrew Blanchard, the company’s vice president of corporate relations. 

“The interns, co-ops and graduates of UML bring fresh thinking, innovative ideas and energy to Teradyne, and Teradyne provides challenging opportunities for them to flourish in a professional environment.” -Andrew Blanchard

“The interns, co-ops and graduates of UML bring fresh thinking, innovative ideas and energy to Teradyne, and Teradyne provides challenging opportunities for them to flourish in a professional environment,” he says. 

Teradyne tests and helps to build the world’s most innovative products, from chips found in consumer technology to collaborative and autonomous mobile robots that free people from doing dull or dangerous tasks. 

Greg Denon, UML’s associate dean of student affairs for career development, says the company’s diverse yet collaborative environment makes it a great place for students to complete a co-op. 

“Teradyne is not siloed in its work, so students learn a multifaceted skillset,” he says. “They get involved in a lot of different types of projects.” 

Steve Conte, senior manager of Teradyne’s Support Engineering Organization, is a strong proponent of getting students engaged in different areas of the company. 

“The internship and co-op programs at Teradyne are immersive, and the student is exposed to not only activities related to their major, but other engineering disciplines as well,” says Conte, who received a certificate in Unix and systems administration from UMass Lowell and serves on the Industry Advisory Board of the university’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. 

Teradyne’s commitment to giving students a well-rounded experience mirrors that of UMass Lowell. Students receive a comprehensive education through the university’s curriculum, allowing them to become knowledgeable in disciplines beyond their major. They can also work with UMass Lowell’s research centers, which are highly regarded for producing high-impact, interdisciplinary research. 

Scott Diniz, a double River Hawk, credits UMass Lowell with setting him up for success when he began working at Teradyne in 2014, the same year that he graduated from UML with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. 

“UMass Lowell provided me with the fundamentals of engineering and software development to have the confidence to be productive from day one at Teradyne,” says Diniz, who earned a master’s degree in computer engineering from UML in 2016. He now serves as a software engineering manager at Teradyne and is enrolled in UML’s Master of Business Administration program. 

Within Teradyne, Diniz and Conte are Campus Advisors for UML, ensuring a continuous connection in the partnership between the university and the company. They are directly involved with the success of the co-op program and often work alongside students. 

“We typically set up a mentor with each co-op to help guide them into our design process and utilize their skill set while also introducing them to new skills along the way,” Conte says. 

Ava Howard ’18 had two co-ops with Teradyne and got to work firsthand with hardware and mechanical engineers. 

“The co-ops helped me make a lot of connections,” says Howard, who joined Teradyne as a full-time test development engineer after graduating from UML with a degree in electrical engineering. “I owe a lot of my career to how beneficial the co-op program was.” 

The partnership between Teradyne and UMass Lowell expands beyond providing students with real-world career experiences. The company also helps students thrive on campus. 

Teradyne has made gifts to support several diversity, equity and inclusion programs at UML, including the River Hawk Scholars Academy first-generation program (RHSA); Honors College Fellowships; summer bridge programs for first-year engineering and computer science students; Multicultural Affairs programming; recruiting programs focused on women and underrepresented minorities in STEM; student-veteran programs; and student chapters of the Society of Women Engineers, National Society of Black Engineers and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. 

“Teradyne’s philanthropic commitment to our diverse population has made a world of difference for so many deserving students. It’s a win-win,” says Matthew Hurwitz, RHSA director and English associate teaching professor. 

Blanchard says the partnership between Teradyne and UMass Lowell will keep growing as the company looks to collaborate with the university’s research resources. 

“Teradyne engineers work on some of the toughest problems in electrical, mechanical and computer sciences every day. UML researchers and faculty work on the technology building blocks needed to solve many of those challenges and prepare the next generation of engineers and scientists that the industry depends on to create the future,” he says. “With UML and Teradyne benefitting from our engagements at multiple levels, we expect the relationship to continue for years.”