In addition, the company’s solid place in the market, its exciting products, and the potential for growth were signs of a stable company. EDACS, which was the radio communication system at the time, had been in the market for years and was doing very well. This was an indication to me that the company had delivered solid products and was poised to do very well in the market with their next generation base station controller. This was the technology on which I’d be working and it was using one of the latest processors at the time, the MPC860, and an operating system, NUCLEUS that I was looking forward to learning. 

Since joining the company in 2001 as a Senior Software Engineer, I’ve had the unique opportunity to progress through the company quickly, advancing to a Software Engineering Manager by 2006. As a Senior Software Engineer, I had the opportunity to develop software for the Control Channel function of the next generation base station controller (BSC). In addition to learning the BSC, I was also involved in the overall design meetings for the Non-Extended Addressing (EA) projects, and spent a significant time integrating the BSC in the lab. This allowed me to quickly become familiar with the system as a whole, which was key to my advancement in the company.

It was soon after the EA project, I was promoted to Principal Engineer and lead the development effort on the P25 Control Channel and the P25 Simulcast projects. As a Principal Engineer on these projects, I lead the team in defining requirements and design and continued to develop software. Now, as the Software Engineering Manager for the P25 and EDACS site products, I work closely with product management to determine release plans and software schedules, as well as assigning tasks to each of the 11 engineers that I currently have the pleasure of managing.   

Working at Tyco Electronics has been a very positive experience for me. I’ve enjoyed the challenge of learning technologies such as IP, VOIP, the EDACS, and P25 air interface protocols and it has been very rewarding to integrate these technologies in our products with such capable and dedicated engineers. I’ve also been fortunate to grow into a leadership role, providing me with the opportunity to oversee the hiring for my team and to bring back the focus of recruiting talented people from universities. In addition, I’ve had the opportunity to implement my ideas in the area of improved software development.

TE is a company that offers employees numerous ways to advance their career. Particularly in engineering there are opportunities to work in software development, hardware design, system design, and system verification. Other areas include Marketing, Sales, Tech Pubs, Supply Management and Engineering Sales, which has become very popular with young engineers. If, as a young engineer, you are uncertain of your career path, Tyco Electronics is a great place to start due to all the diverse opportunities.

I joined Tyco Electronics 10 years ago after working in the trucking industry for 16 years. I was ready for a change and thought touch screens would be new and exciting. I started out in Customer Service and worked in that area for a couple of years. After gaining experience in Customer Service, I wanted to try something different and joined the Product Management Team. This move allowed me to gain a wealth of knowledge about our product.  I then moved to our E-commerce team and was able to work our storefront, while continuing to learn more about our products.

Overall, I realized my heart belongs to Customer Service as I missed the customer interaction. My current role at Tyco Electronics, Menlo Park is Sales Support Lead in which I work closely with our Channel Managers and Distributors. While I’ve retuned to Customer Service, I have been fortunate to explore a few departments within the organization. I enjoy my job, working with my co-workers, the customers and other employees. We’re able to have fun while being productive, our product is exciting and innovative, and the paycheck is a positive motivator.

As the Manager of Documentation Services, I manage a department of four Engineering Change Order Analysts. My team and I are responsible for maintaining the intellectual properties of documentation, associated part numbers and bill of materials within a Product Lifecycle Management application and supporting the MRP database.

I started with the company in 1981 as a temporary employee with Raychem’s Devices Division, working in manufacturing for 7 years before being promoted to a Document Control Clerk. A few years later, I transferred to the PolySwitch Division as a Documentation Specialist and worked in that Division for 5 years, after which I went to Elo TouchSystems as a Document Control Supervisor. I was promoted to Product Manager Assistant in 2000 and decided that it was a good time to take advantage of TE’s tuition reimbursement program. I embarked on my 4-year degree program at the University of Phoenix and proudly accepted my Bachelor’s degree in Business Management in 2005. Later that year, I transferred back to Document Control as the Department Manager, which is my current position with Tyco Electronics. I’m now nearing my 25th year anniversary with Raychem/Tyco Electronics/Elo.

In the recent past, I explored outside opportunities and quickly realized that my position at Tyco Electronics/EloTouchSystem was where my knowledge and skills were best applied. I enjoy the people I work with and pride myself on my years of experience in various divisions. This experience has allowed me to develop a well-rounded background and increase my knowledge of TE’s products, systems and processes. The company promotes important values such as Integrity, Accountability, Teamwork and Innovation and genuinely cares about its employees by offering outstanding medical benefits, supporting personal development, a tuition reimbursement program and career opportunities. Tyco Electronics has truly become a people company.

Jason
Supervisor, Technical Services II (North American Applications Engineering and Technical Support)
Tyco Electronics/Elo TouchSystems - Tennessee

The business unit I report to manufactures TouchScreen related devices. When I joined this unit in the mid-90’s, the technology, although not new, was not well known. However, I knew “touch” would become a necessity in the future. The technology was very interesting and I felt that I could learn a lot from the company and the people. So far, this has proven to be true!

I started with the company as an Assistant Product Manager which meant I made copies, proofed marketing slicks, and got to run the occasional minor project. In late 1996 I was given the chance to run a major project for the company (the first All In One Computer with Touch – at least first for us). This project required the involvement of all key departments, as well as coordinating with the computer vendor who partnered with us. The project was a success and helped to secure the company’s trust in my abilities, providing me with the opportunity to launch and run many other projects. In 1997, I moved into the Technical Support department of the company where I stayed as an Applications Engineer for the next 7 years. I learned a lot from my mentors who had all been with this unit for at least a decade, and each had a terrific grasp of how our technologies worked and could be used. In this position, I was able to interact with many different departments (Sales, Marketing, Repairs, Engineering), learning how each worked and contributed to our success. I was also afforded many opportunities to visit customers at their locations and tradeshows. This helped me understand what customers demanded of our products and the areas where we could improve.

In 2004, I took a management role in the Applications Engineering group at a time when our unit was quickly increasing sales and product offerings. I have spent the past few years working to increase the department’s capacity to accommodate this growth, working with various groups to get new products to the customers, and doing my fair share of customer relationship building with frequent field visits. The coming year will be an exciting time as we will be offering new support options and procedures that will help all of our customers. These new options will be a mix of web based solutions and in field opportunities.

Amanda
Product Information Associate
Tyco Electronics/Elo TouchSystems - Rochester, NY

I was looking for a company where I could learn new skills and grow professionally. I chose a great one in Tyco Electronics. In my first years with Tyco, I held a Receptionist role, which was a great way to start learning about TE’s business and build relationships. When an opportunity arose to move into Customer Service, the relationships I had established with many of our customers and salespeople made it a natural move for me.

I worked in Customer Service for a few years and later evolved into the Product Information role that I hold today. In my current position, I support our sales team in the US and Europe by providing customized solutions and large format displays options. Tyco Electronics strives to be the best. We’re always learning and trying to stay ahead of the market. This is challenging but I think that’s what makes us so successful. 

Nick
Network and Security Engineer for Wireless Network Solutions
Tyco Electronics - Virginia

While attending a local community college, I started a work-study coop program with Tyco Electronics, called the Technician Trainee program. After receiving my AA&S through the Technician Trainee program, I immediately started on my BS. TE paid for all of my AA&S and most of my BS. I have been in two primary roles since completing my AA&S and joining TE full-time: a System Tester and a Network Engineer.

As a Network Engineer, I’m responsible for identifying and implementing new technologies that our IP infrastructure can utilize to enhance our product offerings and for providing standard configurations for all of our infrastructure and security platforms. I enjoy the lab work and the opportunities to work on new technologies and implement those technologies into our standard product.

At TE, I do a variety of work - just in Wireless Network Solutions alone, we use technologies from RF to IP. Our technologies can be viewed from as small as board level components to as large as state-wide systems. This broad range of technologies guarantees that there is always something to learn and TE allows me to continue my education through funding and flexibility.

Lourdes
Financial Analyst II
Tyco Electronics/Elo TouchSystems - Menlo Park, California

My career at Tyco Electronics began 8 years ago as a temp in the Finance Department at the Elo TouchSystems division. I was asked to stay longer to help the RMA department and soon the RMA Coordinator hired me. Six months later, I transferred to Customer Service as the International Sales Support Specialist. A year after that, I was transferred to the Finance Department and have been here ever since. 

Since being hired by Tyco Electronics, I’ve held the following positions: A/R Analyst, G/L Accountant, and now Operations Financial Analyst. In my current position, I support the analytical needs for our worldwide manufacturing company, working closely with cost accounting and operations to determine and fulfill these needs. I’ve been extremely fortunate to have been given so many opportunities to grow and develop my skills. We manufacture one of the best products and our company continues to grow due to our great technology and our people.

Tyco Electronics is well known for its diversity and this makes us different and unique as a company. The people I work with are all so passionate about our product and the work we perform. We work well together as a team to achieve our main goal of making our customers happy. I’ve met the most amazing people and I’ve made many friends here that will be part of my life forever.

Tom
Distinguished Fellow of Technology in WNS
Tyco Electronics - Lowell, Massachusetts

As a Distinguished Fellow of Technology in WNS in Lowell, I’m part of a small team of senior people responsible for the architecture, behavioral definitions and interfaces of our system products. This team also manages and advances the company’s position in Standards Development Organizations, such as the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), and developing next generation technologies that, if successful, are then absorbed into our product portfolio.

I joined Tyco Electronics nee AMP nee M/A-COM nee Adams-Russell Electronics in 1984 just out of college. I was offered a position developing a cool technology on a challenging computing platform with people that shared my values and liked each other.  Nifty work, decent pay, good people, and my own desk. What more could I want?

Since then, I’ve worked hard on a lot of different projects, tried to treat manufacturing and support people like the gold that they are, learned to communicate effectively, and never ever gave my boss anything but the complete truth and my honest opinion. I moved up through the engineering ladder from Software Design Engineer to Staff Engineer to Senior to Principal, and finally to Senior Principal and Distinguished Fellow of Technology. Over the years, our division has evolved from developing highly classified “one of” government projects, to dipping our fingers in radio systems for people like FedEx, to full blown public safety radio systems. As an engineer, it’s all about the work and for me, the work has always been challenging. I’ve been fortunate to be in an organization that takes its ethical responsibilities to its customers and people seriously, and seems to attract people that live by that core ethic.

Susan
Program Manager
Tyco Electronics - Roanoke, Virginia

I joined Tyco Electronics in June 1995, roughly one year after graduating from college. I had hopes at the time that TE (then ITT) would be a place where I could continue to learn and make a valued contribution. I was looking for a real career path with a growing company and joining the TE family has proven to be a very good decision.

My career at TE began as a Production Technician working in post-fab operations (dice, pick & inspect). After a year, I moved into a position as the Roanoke Fab Planner and was responsible for detailed production and demand management for internal and foundry customers.

In late 2004, I was hired to fill a position as the Roanoke Aerospace & Defense Project Administrator, assisting our Custom MMIC Program Managers with logistics, material tracking, coordination with fab and test, shipping, and accounting. Taking advantage of TE’s Employee Educational Assistance benefit, I graduated from Virginia Tech with an MBA in December 2005. In January 2007, I was promoted to my current position as Program Manager for the Roanoke Wireless Systems Solutions, Commercial Product Solutions, Aerospace and Defense MMIC group. 

The experience, knowledge and relationships I’ve gained working in various positions over the past 12 years has provided me with a better understanding of our company as a whole. Exposure to product development, custom MMIC design and production sides of our business has proven to be interesting and helpful in furthering my understanding of our internal structure and our new product development process. Many supervisors and managers have acted as mentors for me over the years and the employees I have had the privilege to work with are truly quality individuals who take pride in their jobs and work hard to help the company be successful. The level of commitment displayed and the concentration of expertise within TE are factors that keep me both interested and loyal to our company.

I work closely with my planner to ensure everything runs smoothly with the production schedules and meets the customer’s requirements. We have a very good team of people here. Their hard work, cooperation and integrity make it enjoyable to come to work every day.