Mechanical Engineering Alumna Found Her Future at Leading Aerospace Company

Angela Mercaldi ’25 knew she wanted to both study engineering and compete in track and field from the first time she stepped onto the University of New Haven’s campus.

“I always found myself drawn to math and science,” she said. “Taking engineering classes in high school confirmed that it was what I wanted to do.” That, paired with her older sister’s success as a chemical engineering student at the University, gave Mercaldi confidence in her decision. “My sister had great internships and got a job right after graduation. She’s living proof the University could set you up for a bright future.”

Athletics also played a major role. “I wanted to do track and field in college, and meeting the coaches here made it feel like the perfect fit,” she said. Between the academic programs and the supportive team environment, Mercaldi knew she had found her place.

What she didn’t know then was that her time at the University would lead to a series of internships at Pratt & Whitney, a worldwide leader as an aerospace designer and manufacturer, and eventually a full-time job offer as a manufacturing engineer. “My motto has always been to be a sponge and absorb as much as I can,” she said. “I wanted to separate myself from the pack.”

Mercaldi landed her first internship with Pratt & Whitney in 2022, thanks in part to a resume workshop hosted by one of her professors. “At first, my resume just had summer camp counselor positions,” she said. “But the workshop helped me highlight my strengths as a student-athlete and an engineering student.”

Mercaldi began her time at Pratt & Whitney as a quality engineering intern, where she supported the materials control lab and gained exposure to aerospace regulations and post-manufacturing processes. Eager for more hands-on experience, she returned the following year as a manufacturing engineering intern, working on the F-135 military engine line.

“I helped troubleshoot an old machine that wasn’t producing the quality we needed,” she said. “I ran experiments and research to improve the process so the part could pass inspection. It was challenging but really rewarding.”

Through it all, she made a point to build relationships. “At Pratt & Whitney, they tell you right away that networking is everything,” she said. “I’d get lost walking the shop floor (it's massive) and those moments turned into conversations with people who ended up becoming my mentors.

“I loved meeting everyone there,” she continued. “They were very respectful of your learning and very supportive of your education.”

Balancing engineering coursework and intercollegiate athletics shaped Mercaldi in meaningful ways. “Being a student-athlete helped 100 percent,” she said. “It pushed me to manage my time, stay disciplined, and work through both mental and physical fatigue. I never saw time as an enemy. I just made time for what mattered.”

That mindset carried her through personal challenges as well. She arrived on campus recovering from a serious knee injury. “I’ve had four knee surgeries, and I’m going on my fifth,” she said. “Freshman year was not my happiest. I made it through, and now I’m proud to say I’m happy, I have a full-time job, and I was captain of the track team.”

She credits head coach Shaunnaya Williams for helping her stay motivated. “She always recognized when people were putting in the work,” Mercaldi said. “She became a mentor and a friend, and she even asked me to help recruit other female engineers into athletics.”

Faculty support also made a signficant impact. “Ismail Orabi, Ph.D., my capstone professor, always had faith in me,” she said. “He, along with my capstone partners, made me feel like I could be a standout student. They helped shape my journey. I wouldn’t have made it without them.”

Mercaldi started her full-time role with Pratt & Whitney in June. After a summer of intense training, she’ll begin work as a coating manufacturing engineer within the company’s Manufacturing Engineer Development Program.

“It still feels surreal,” she admitted. “Imposter syndrome definitely kicks in. But I know I’ve worked hard to get here.”

She’s most excited about building a community within her career. “I already know many of the other full-time employees from my internships,” she said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how far we can go together.”

As for the future? Mercaldi hopes to pay forward the mentorship she’s received. “One day, I want to be the one helping someone just starting out, telling them about my journey and guiding them through theirs.

“The best thing I’ve learned is, ‘Don’t count yourself out,’” she continued. “We’re our own biggest critics, but when you take a step back, you realize how far you’ve come.”

Angela Mercaldi ’25 was a Mechanical Engineering major in the Tagliatela College of Engineering.