Grace Alderks
About Grace Alderks
Grace Alderks is a Group Technical Leader at Belcan, where she manages engineering services projects and develops educational programs for students. She has a background in mechanical and biomedical engineering, with previous roles at Boeing and experience as a shop owner on Etsy.
Work at Belcan
Grace Alderks serves as the Group Technical Leader at Belcan, a position she has held since 2019. In this role, she manages a portfolio of engineering services projects valued at over $10 million. She is responsible for negotiating quotes with clients for the procurement of engineering services, which includes considerations for schedule, budget, and resources. Additionally, she developed and implemented the Academic to Industry (A2I) strategic program framework, which provides college students with cooperative education experiences in the industry. Grace builds and manages a blended team comprising students, early career professionals, and experienced engineers.
Education and Expertise
Grace Alderks has a strong educational background in engineering and project management. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering from the University of Virginia, completing her studies from 2008 to 2012. In 2016, she obtained a Certificate in Project Management from the University of Washington after an 11-month program. Additionally, she studied The Strategic Leader at the University of California, San Diego, where she achieved another Certificate in 2015. Her education has equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of engineering principles and project management strategies.
Background
Before her current role at Belcan, Grace Alderks accumulated significant experience in the aerospace industry, particularly at Boeing. She worked as a Stress Analysis Engineer I, II, and III across various programs from 2012 to 2018, including the 777X Program and the Seats Dynamic Simulation. Her career at Boeing began with an internship in Structural Design and Analysis, which laid the foundation for her subsequent roles. Additionally, she served as an Undergraduate Teaching Fellow in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Virginia in 2012.
Entrepreneurial Experience
Grace Alderks also has entrepreneurial experience as the Shop Owner of MorningPouring on Etsy, where she operated from 2017 to 2019. This venture allowed her to apply her engineering skills in a creative context while managing a small business. Her experience in both corporate and entrepreneurial environments contributes to her diverse skill set and understanding of different operational dynamics.
Teaching and Development Initiatives
In her role at Belcan, Grace develops interactive engineering lesson plans covering topics such as stress analysis, aerospace materials, CAD tools, and product lifecycle management. She facilitates the transition of the A2I program from an entrepreneurial phase to a production stage by documenting best practices and creating a comprehensive program package for execution across multiple client sites. This work reflects her commitment to education and professional development within the engineering field.