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Student Development Opportunities

The Boeing Company and the International Association of Machinists (IAM) and Aerospace Workers have been proud sponsors of summer student development programs serving high school students in the Portland Metro area for over 25 years. As a Tech Prep, or College Machining program participant, you will learn real-world manufacturing skills, with a focus on safety and quality. Take the first step in building your career in manufacturing, while getting paid to learn!


Machining Tech Prep
Over the course of three summer sessions, you will learn foundational manufacturing skills such as using drills, mills, and lathes to turn raw material in to finished parts. This program is designed for current high school students beginning the summer between their junior and senior years. If chosen to participate in the program, you will be invited back each consecutive summer.

  • Year 1: Is a four-week program designed to build knowledge and skills in manufacturing, safety, and teamwork. Areas of focus include: machining, math, blueprint reading, and precision measuring. You will have the opportunity to work with airplane-grade metals to design and manufacture projects using lathes and mills. During the three weeks you will become familiar with the Boeing manufacturing system in addition to learning about rewarding career paths in aerospace manufacturing.
  • Year 2: Is a four-week program that builds upon first-year skills in a team competition where you and your team will design and build a rocket boat. Teams will be responsible for designing, testing, and redesigning their boats in a race to improve their product.
  • Year 3: Is a seven-week job-shadow program based on your personal area of interest. You will rotate through a variety of work groups such as Machining, Quality Assurance, Manufacturing Engineering, Maintenance, Paint, and Assembly, concluding with a resume and interview skill building workshop.

Click here for more details and information:


Assembly Tech Prep
Assembly Tech Prep is a five-week program for recent high school graduates interested in pursuing a career in aerospace manufacturing. In this program you will learn manufacturing and assembly skills such as reading blue prints, riveting, drilling, and honing parts in Boeing’s training lab. You will have the opportunity to job shadow Boeing professionals on the shop floor. A resume and interview skill building workshop concludes the program.

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Tech Prep Open House
Visit our training facility and learn what our Assembly and Machining Tech Prep Student Development programs are all about. Advanced registration is required to attend. Call IAM/Boeing Joint Programs Portland at 800-854-1310 by March 12 to obtain security approval. Space is limited; first come, first served.

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College Machining
As a student in this program, you will learn real-world manufacturing skills, with a focus on safety and quality. The program is a seven-week, job shadow opportunity where you will get real life manufacturing experience and learn from Boeing professionals. Throughout the program you will have the opportunity to shadow in the areas of machining, inspection and other manufacturing skills in an aerospace environment. A resume and interview skill building workshop concludes the program. Take the next step in building your career in manufacturing, while getting paid to learn!

Click here for more details and information:


To Apply:

  • Verify you meet all of the program qualifications (these can be viewed in the application).
  • Fill out the application to the best of your ability, provide thorough and complete answers. Accuracy and attention to detail are important so your application can be evaluated quickly and accurately.
  • Click here to apply today! https://boeing.avature.net/techprep

What Happens After I Apply?

After applications have been received, Boeing invites select students to a formal, in-person structured interview. Applicants selected to participate in the program(s) will be contacted by PDS Tech, a Boeing contractor. Those not accepted will be contacted directly by Boeing Portland.


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Programs are non-residential. If you are invited to participate in the program, you are responsible for your own housing, transportation and food.

Boeing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

Contact Portland Joint Programs at 1-800-854-1310 or via email PortlandJointPrograms@boeing.com