Our spotlight series introduces Ryan Smith, Flight Test and Systems Engineering Manager at Insitu.
Ryan’s career grew out of his fascination with UAVs and his belief that uncrewed systems will be the future of aviation. After studying aerospace engineering at Embry Riddle in Prescott, AZ, Ryan worked for Boeing for 17 years. In 2020, he chose to move to the Gorge to work at Insitu as the natural next step in his career, stating “I loved the work I did and the teams I worked with, but I needed a change. I wanted to move to a smaller community and saw an opportunity come up at Insitu. As both a leader in the industry and a subsidiary of Boeing, Insitu was clearly the best opportunity for me.”
When asked to talk about what he appreciates most about Insitu’s company culture, Ryan had positive things to say about the company’s commitment to both community engagement and to the work/life balance for its employees.
“Moving into the area during COVID-19, I wanted to find a way to engage with the community and found the volunteer opportunities that Insitu coordinated to be the perfect way. The opportunities were often open to the whole family and the Boeing donation match went back into the organizations we worked with. My family and I love the outdoors and all the activities in the area. What we weren’t expecting is how amazing this community is. Since our first week here we’ve felt so welcome. I love the Gorge and since moving here, could not imagine myself anywhere else.”
In addition to great opportunities for community engagement, Ryan spoke of the company culture’s commitment to a healthy work/life balance.
“At Insitu, we work hard and we play hard. I think one of the best things the company does is recognize and support the need for a healthy work/life balance. This summer my family and I had the opportunity to spend 17 days running the Grand Canyon section of the Colorado River. Even though this trip took me away from work for 3 weeks with no possible contact, I was fully supported by my team and leadership. The culture of the company encourages trust and support for each other, which is critical in being able to balance the day to day or support the larger opportunities. The team here is great, and I’m happy to be here.”
When asked “What would you like to gain from you and/or your company being members of the GTA?” Ryan replied,
“Before moving to the area, the only company I knew of was Insitu. While I’m just starting to understand the breadth and scope of the GTA, I appreciate that there is an organization supporting STEM and its connection to industry. As it becomes increasingly difficult to attract talent, the growth of local talent who already understand the benefits of living in the gorge can really help the local industry. I am constantly impressed by the amount of talent here in the gorge. It’s great to run into other tech folks at Makerspace and at soccer and at dinner.
“Workwise, the GTA offers opportunity for both the collaboration and competition that are needed to help our local industry sector achieve a greatness that one company would not be able to achieve on its own.”
And in keeping with his active appreciation for community and collaboration, Ryan’s answer when asked the question, “Who would you most like to share a meal with and what would you have?” Ryan replied that he would love to have the opportunity to have lunch with Jason Hartmann to learn more about the GTA.
When asked about exciting and innovative projects in his work, Ryan spoke enthusiastically about the Integrator VTOL, which is a UAV that has been developed in collaboration with Hood Tech. “The vertical takeoff and landing capability increases both the endurance and safety of the Integrator’s flight without sacrificing the max takeoff weight or range. There is a two-stage vertical takeoff and landing – a UAV carries the Integrator to safe altitude for launch and captures it for recovery. This piggy-back cuts out the need to carry the weight of extra batteries and motors, which increases endurance, and the freed-up space that batteries would occupy can be utilized to build in more redundancy features that increase safety.”
118 East Columbia River Way |
Bingen,WA 98605 |
Tel: 1-509-493-8600 |
Fax: 1-509-493-8601 |
www.insitu.com |
Founded in the Gorge in 1994, Insitu is a company that has aimed to become the gold standard in Group 2 and 3 Uncrewed Autonomous Systems. The company’s focus has been on providing ISR Services, Software and Fully Integrated Systems around the world. Today, the company has grown to approximately 700 employees in various buildings throughout the Gorge.