When we aren’t meeting engineering students on campuses across the country, we welcome them into the office for hands-on learning opportunities. Student-centered events like the Chicago office’s SWE externship give aspiring engineers an opportunity to gain real-world insight into the profession while exploring career paths related to their studies.
This past January, DMC’s Houston team continued that tradition by hosting engineering students from Texas A&M for a day of hands-on learning, professional development, and conversations about building a career in engineering. Through exposure to real-world engineering challenges and mentorship from DMC engineers, students gained a firsthand look at life as an engineering consultant.
The externship reflects DMC’s ongoing commitment to supporting the next generation of engineers. As recruiting season continues, we’re excited to connect with students across the country, share insight into engineering consulting, and encourage future engineers to stay curious as they enter the workforce.
Welcoming Texas A&M Students
Leading up to the school’s winter break, Jason Mayes and Ray King (another former student of Texas A&M) reached out to clubs at the school, asking for students to submit a resume to be considered for the externship. “We reached out to IEEE Tech and SOMTECH, the Society of Mechatronics Engineers. Jason and I went through the submitted resumes and decided who would be the best fit,” Ray noted about the process.
Four students came to DMC’s Houston office for one day over their winter break to participate in a hands-on engineering activity, network with DMC engineers, and have their questions answered about pursuing a career in engineering. “The externship is particularly helpful for students who are a little on the fence about wanting to go into automation or PLC programming. It gives them a chance to ask questions and see what it’s like outside of college.”
Houston’s 2026 Externs and Itinerary
When the students arrived at DMC for the externship, they were presented with a hands-on automation task, a Siemens stoplight simulation. The students were placed into small groups and given a quick rundown of the exercise. Ray King described working with the Texas A&M students, “We made the code easy to work with and sent them off. Afterward, we reviewed it together and had a discussion.”
After the students finished working with the Siemens software, they were able to download the PLC. “You never really touch a PLC in college, so it’s good to open students’ eyes to real-world experiences.” The students and DMC engineers capped off the morning by heading to lunch where everyone continued engineering conversations and networked. One student described the day this way:
This experience genuinely got me excited for my classes, especially seeing how concepts like state machines directly applied in the traffic light PLC training. Your team is so genuine, and I loved the family-like environment you’ve built. Hearing about the variety of projects, opportunities to travel, and the diversity of industries you work in was exciting and refreshing. It showed me that engineering careers don’t have to feel repetitive, and left me even more excited about the future.
– Texas A&M Student
Fall Recruiting and Future Externship Opportunities
Programs like externships are an important part of DMC’s commitment to fostering the next generation of engineers. By connecting with students, providing hands-on exposure to real-world technologies, and creating opportunities for meaningful mentorship, DMC helps bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace. Through campus recruiting, internships, externships, and ongoing engagement with student organizations, DMC supports aspiring engineers as they explore career paths and build the skills needed to succeed. We look forward to continuing these opportunities and inspiring future engineers to stay curious, solve challenging problems, and make an impact throughout their careers.
DMC is passionate about developing future engineers.
Explore current opportunities at DMC and start building your future with a company that values culture, curiosity, and continuous learning.