July 15, 2026
Leah Schatz is applying the real-world experience she has gained at Mizzou Engineering in her summer internship with technology company Garmin.
Mizzou Engineering students are in high demand from leading companies because of their career-ready skills. This summer, junior Leah Schatz is leveraging her campus experience as a design engineering intern at Garmin in Olathe, Kansas.
“My primary project focuses on hardware optimization, specifically evaluating and implementing a more cost-effective power management solution for our wearable devices,” she said. “I also support the testing and validation of various wearable platforms, including conducting power analysis and testing critical subsystems like GPS to ensure our devices meet the high standards Garmin pursues.”
Schatz came to Mizzou as an undecided engineering major, unsure of how best to apply her love of math and science — until she discovered Mizzou Racing her freshman year.
“I fell in love with electrical engineering after walking into the shop and talking to students from different disciplines doing real, industry-level work,” she said. “After a few weeks of watching the upperclassmen design circuit boards and talk passionately about their projects, I knew electrical engineering was the path for me.”
At Garmin, Schatz uses Cadence electronic design automation software to adapt previous designs and create new circuits from scratch. Once the schematic is finalized, she moves to layout, balancing board shape, sensitive components, limited space and other constraints. Finally, she routes the board, navigating design constraints to determine the optimal path for each trace.
“Every step of this process undergoes a design review, allowing for the opportunity to gather input and learn from various engineers,” she said. “When performing testing and validation, my day shifts more toward hands-on collaboration, troubleshooting issues at the testbench, and utilizing lab equipment to solve various challenges.”
Schatz’s experience in and outside the classroom prepared her for her internship.
“The professors I’ve had the pleasure of studying under have given me the foundation needed to understand the deep, technical aspects of this work,” she said. “And Mizzou Racing has provided invaluable practical experience, giving me the opportunity to take concepts learned in class and confidently apply them to real-world engineering challenges.”
Schatz credits Mizzou Engineering Career Services for helping launch her internship.
“The Career Fair is a massive opportunity to speak directly with employers, learn about their day-to-day work, and figure out if a company is the right fit for you,” she said. “The next-day interview process Career Services coordinate on campus is also incredibly convenient. Additionally, the resume reviews and mock interviews with industry engineers are valuable resources, especially when you’re first learning how to market your skills to the engineering field.”
Schatz finds the culture at Garmin to be rich and rewarding.
“I haven’t met a single person who doesn’t genuinely love their job,” she said. “My mentor has given me the independence to own my project while thoughtfully guiding me in complex concepts, troubleshooting systematically and designing intuitively.”
Schatz encourages other students to acquire hands-on experience in real-world projects.
“Hardware design isn’t usually taught in the classroom, making personal projects, research, and technical clubs essential,” she said. “Getting involved with organizations that allow you to build physical things will also expose you to industry-standard tools before you even start applying for jobs.”
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