Nia Britton at FAMU-FSU College of Engineering in Tallahassee, Florida on May 7, 2025. (Scott Holstein, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering)
FAMU-FSU College of Engineering alumna Nia Britton wins prestigious awards and secures production engineer role in North Florida’s growing aerospace sector
Nia Imani Rose Britton is a recent mechanical engineering graduate from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and Florida A&M University. This summer, she is embarking on a new career as a production engineer for General Dynamics in North Florida. Britton shared some pivotal moments from her college experience that showcase the diverse opportunities available to today’s engineering students.
Gulf Scholar Program Excellence
While Britton was earning her degree, she participated in the Gulf Scholars Program that focuses on building a more sustainable and resilient Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico). The program prepares undergraduate students to address critical challenges in the region related to community health and resilience, environmental protection and stewardship and offshore energy safety.
In the spring, Britton’s work on sustainability was presented at the annual Gulf Scholars conference. It was so well received that she won the People’s Choice Award. Her “Stories Beneath the Sand” project aimed to engage residents in environmental initiatives in Wakulla and Leon County, Florida.
“My experience as a Gulf Scholar has been incredible,” Britton says. “I had the opportunity to travel and explore different places along the Gulf and deepen my commitment to sustainability in the area. I’ve learned to be more mindful of environmental impact and how different ecosystems require unique preservation strategies.”
Research Excellence in Computer-Aided Design
As a mechanical engineering student, Britton’s research focused on computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D modeling—skills that are increasingly critical in today’s manufacturing sector, which, according to industry reports, accounts for 46.2% of mechanical engineering careers and emphasizes automation, robotics and AI integration.
“My focus was on improving systems in the manufacturing sector and testing and troubleshooting issues,” Britton explained. “CAD is important to me because it allows you to visualize and edit a design for a physical piece before manufacturing it. It lets you see how various components work together before bringing them to reality. It’s exciting and versatile because of all the possibilities it offers.”
She was also involved as an undergraduate researcher on hypersonic projects and got hands-on experience in industry, project management, technical communication and data analysis.
NASA Senior Design Project Success
Britton said her favorite memory as a student was Senior Design Day. This capstone event culminates all the work students do in a two-semester senior course. The course allows students to apply the knowledge they learned in the classroom to work with an industry partner on a sponsored project.
“I was part of the ‘Lunar Dust Glovebox’ project sponsored by NASA and my team received numerous compliments on our presentation, along with a ‘Best Senior Design Poster Finalist’ ribbon and the ‘Best Science Communication Poster’ award,” Britton recounted. “Everything went so smoothly and I felt incredibly proud. It was a moment when all the time, effort and dedication I invested in college were showcased and appreciated.”
Her project aligns with NASA’s ongoing lunar exploration efforts, as space agency research shows that lunar dust management remains a critical challenge for the Artemis program and future Moon missions, with studies indicating that lunar dust particles can damage equipment and pose health risks to astronauts.
Mentorship and Career Preparation
Britton expressed her gratitude to those who have helped her along the way. “A big shout out to Professor Hruda, Professor Moore and Ms. Wright! They have all been pivotal to my success. From assistance with statistics and thermodynamics to research opportunities and guidance, they played an essential role in helping me reach my goals. Many other individuals within and around the joint college have also contributed to my journey.”
Bright Future in Manufacturing Engineering
With mechanical engineering employment projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to grow 11% from 2023 to 2033 and creating approximately 19,800 job openings annually, Britton enters the field at an opportune time. Her position at General Dynamics places her in North Florida’s expanding aerospace and defense sector, where skills in automation, robotics and advanced manufacturing technologies are increasingly valuable.
Although Britton’s post-college journey is just beginning, we look forward to following her story and seeing what’s next for the enterprising alumna.
Editor’s Note: This article was edited with a custom prompt for Claude Sonnet 4, an AI assistant created by Anthropic. The AI optimized the article for SEO discoverability, improved clarity, structure and readability while preserving the original reporting and factual content. All information and viewpoints remain those of the author and publication. This disclosure is part of our commitment to transparency in our editorial process. Last edited: 5/30/2025.
RELATED ARTICLES
A Future Leader Shaped by Her Experience as a Gulf Scholars Program Participant
First Graduate of NAE Grand Challenge Program Sets New Standard