

Jason Cox
Cox Machine
Wichita, KS USA
"You don’t have to work yourself out of an industry—you just have to know where it’s going."
Career Roadmap
Jason's work combines: Engineering, Business, and Building Things
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Take Roadmap QuizSkills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Start working on your business acumen sooner rather than later. Find trade publications online for the industry that you're interested in and use them to keep a finger on what's happening in relevant businesses. I also recommend taking any chance you get to attend an industry conference, whether that be virtual or in-person. Even as a college student, the better you understand the industry, the more prepared you'll be to find the most valuable courses for your journey.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Mechanical Engineering
Kansas State University
Graduate Degree
Mechanical Engineering
Kansas State University
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I’ve always been very interested in the mechanics of things—I would take my toys apart as a kid and also spent a lot of time watching my grandfather work on antique motorcycles.
2.
In high school, I worked at an autoshop and was part of the drafting program in school.
3.
I earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Kansas State University.
4.
After graduating, I started my career as a design engineer for Cessna Aircraft Company.
5.
I spent three years with Cessna before joining my family’s aerospace business, Cox Machine.
6.
I started at Cox Machine as a production manager and then transitioned to chief technical officer.
7.
I took over as president of Cox Machine in 2016.