At Ergoseal, hands-on learning is more than a philosophy — it’s part of our everyday operations. This summer, two engineering students with roots in the Chicagoland area have joined the team as interns: Panos Soupos and Carter Smirl. Eager to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world engineering problems, both are already contributing to critical projects and embracing Ergoseal’s culture of collaboration and growth.
Meet Panos Soupos, Engineering Intern
After finishing his first year studying mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Panos Soupos began looking for an internship to gain experience over the summer. He didn’t have to look far.
“I happened to know a few people who have worked for/with the company, and they all spoke very highly of the culture and leadership,” Soupos said. “As an engineering firm led by people I know and respect, I couldn't have thought of a better company to spend my summer working for.”
Soupos reached out directly to Ergoseal’s CEO and engineering director, applied for the internship, and quickly got the call. He’s now supporting the company’s first FAA Parts Manufacturer Approval, or PMA, application — a milestone project that would certify Ergoseal to officially produce aerospace components for the aftermarket.
“My primary role at Ergoseal is to advance the company’s first FAA Parts Manufacturer Application (PMA), certifying them to officially produce aerospace components for the aftermarket with their own brand,” he said. “This process has so far involved deep dives into FAA orders and advisory circulars outlining the process, researching into aircraft subsystems to understand the functions of parts we produce, and communicating regularly with expert consultants to share and apply my newly acquired knowledge.”
Just two weeks into the internship, he was already holding his own in technical discussions. “During a phone call with our PMA consultant, he began talking about various documents and processes which I had read about, and seemed impressed how I was already familiar with what he was saying,” Soupos said.
He’s motivated by the complexity of the work and the exposure to regulatory systems. “To me, it is a perfect demonstration of the value of patience, while also requiring organizational skill and being able to see the bigger picture,” he said. “It is also an exciting prospect to be working with a government entity, especially one with national authority like the FAA.”
But what has stood out the most isn’t technical. “One thing that surprised me about working at Ergoseal is how strong the sense of community among the entire staff is,” he said. “Everyone converses like close friends, creating a fun workplace environment. Within one week of starting, I already felt welcomed into the fold, surrounded by people all happy to help me find my bearings.”
If given the chance to swap jobs with someone for a day, Soupos has a pick. “I would choose Patricia in Quality Control,” he said. “She uses a variety of interesting, expensive machines whose sole purpose is to verify the dimensions of different aspects of products. She is always on her feet and gets to use a bunch of cool instruments.”
Meet Carter Smirl, Engineering Intern
Carter Smirl, who just completed his second year at Santa Clara University in California, is also getting his first taste of professional engineering work this summer.
“I just started about a week ago, so last week it was a lot of learning as I went and teaching myself based on the instructions Ryan (Neris, Director of Engineering) left for me,” Smirl said. “But now that he’s back, I just got my first real assignment to work on the E-3239-1 project, and it’s cool to see the ins and outs of how Ergoseal operates as a business beyond just engineering designs and modeling.”
Like Soupos, Smirl was drawn to the company’s position and momentum in the aerospace market. “I liked the vision,” he said. “A company that’s been established as a reputable engineering firm, now trying to move further into the aerospace market. There are so many new aerospace start-ups getting funded, I feel like I read about a new one every couple of weeks, so the market is only growing.”
His first impression of the Ergoseal team has been equally positive. “Starting at a company where some people have worked for over a decade and I’m an intern and have been in the building less than two weeks can be daunting,” Smirl said, “but everyone’s been so patient and patient in explaining and teaching things to me.”
While he hasn’t worked directly on the PMA project, Smirl said he’s excited to watch it progress and hopes to get more experience with customer projects over the course of the summer.
He’s also appreciated the uniquely connected culture at Ergoseal. “I think what has surprised me most has been just how connected and close everyone is,” he said. “You don’t get that working at a larger company. Especially all the connections of people who are actually family. Family is so important, I hope to someday get to work with family too.”
When asked whose job he’d like to try for a day, Smirl doesn’t hesitate. “I would choose Alex or one of the other machinists,” he said. “I recently took a machining class in college, and I definitely do not possess the skills to be a machinist here, but it would be cool to learn a few more tips and tricks from people who have been machining for years.”
Final Thoughts
At Ergoseal, internships aren’t about busy work — they’re about real work, on real projects, alongside experienced professionals. Both Panos and Carter have stepped confidently into roles that matter, and their fresh perspectives and collaborative attitudes are already making a difference.
We’re proud to support the next generation of engineers, and even prouder to watch them grow. Stay tuned for future spotlights as we continue to celebrate the people who power Ergoseal.
