Carroll EMC’s System Engineering Supervisor, Jarrod Kilgore, recently earned his Professional Engineering (PE) license, a credential that takes a minimum of eight years to achieve.
To become a licensed engineer, Kilgore completed a four-year degree from an accredited program, worked under the supervision of a licensed PE for another four years and passed two intensive competency exams, each taking six to eight hours to complete, before being able to apply for a state license.
“I’ve always enjoyed tinkering and designing things and understanding how and why they work,” said Kilgore. “My first year of college, I worked with an engineering company that specialized in factory automation but discovered it wasn’t a good fit. I learned about a job opening at Carroll EMC and found it was the perfect fit after catching on quickly. I knew this was the career path for me.”
Kilgore began working at Carroll EMC as a student intern while completing his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering with a focus on power at Southern Polytechnic State University. Upon graduating in 2015, he was offered a full-time position as a system engineer. Kilgore now oversees and maintains the co-op’s control center and electrical software system in addition to creating expansion plans as system engineering supervisor.
With his PE license, Kilgore can sign and seal construction work plans and drawings and must document 32 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain it. Earning this license is not only a testament to his competency but also his commitment to ethical and quality work.
“I’m proud of Jarrod and all he has accomplished in such a short amount of time at the cooperative,” said James Layton, Vice President of Engineering and Technology for Carroll EMC. “His enthusiasm and vision for the job are a rare combination to come by.”