Her Story
About Jocelyn
Jocelyn V. Schmidt is a Technical Fellow and experienced manufacturing and product lifecycle management professional at Lockheed Martin, where she has built a career spanning more than two decades in aerospace manufacturing, engineering, digital transformation, and international production programs. Her current responsibilities include PLM operations strategy and manufacturing leadership, building upon extensive experience as a manufacturing engineer, applications engineer, and manufacturing planning subject-matter expert. Her career at Lockheed Martin has included significant contributions to F-35 production and international programs, including manufacturing planning and systems work associated with production operations in Japan, Italy, Norway, and Israel.
Schmidt began her aviation career in the U.S. Army as a Black Hawk mechanic and crew chief before transitioning into commercial aerospace manufacturing. She subsequently worked as a Manufacturing Engineering Planner at Boeing Commercial Airplanes and joined Lockheed Martin, where she progressively advanced through increasingly senior technical and leadership roles. Her expertise encompasses manufacturing engineering, manufacturing bills of material, manufacturing change management, PLM systems, digital transformation, production planning, and the implementation of systems and processes that connect engineering and manufacturing requirements. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Aircraft Maintenance Management from Parks College of St. Louis University and an Associate of Applied Science in Private Pilot from Belleville Area College, along with an A&P License, Private Pilot License, Instrument Rating, and Ground School Instructor Certification.
In recognition of her technical expertise and career contributions, Schmidt was selected as a Lockheed Martin Technical Fellow, an achievement she credits in part to the mentors, managers, and leaders who encouraged her to trust herself and pursue opportunities despite periods of self-doubt. She emphasizes the importance of exposure, noting that leaders who recognized her capabilities and introduced her to new areas and people helped propel her professional growth. Outside of her technical career, Schmidt supports her church, food banks, and Toys for Tots and enjoys woodworking. Her professional journey reflects persistence, technical excellence, continuous learning, mentorship, and a willingness to pursue opportunities even when the path forward is uncertain.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jocelyn
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to trusting myself, continuing to move forward despite self-doubt, and having mentors and leaders throughout my career who recognized my abilities and encouraged me to take opportunities. Working in a highly technical environment surrounded by exceptionally talented people sometimes made me question myself, but having people tell me to trust my judgment, try my ideas, and see where they led helped me overcome that doubt.
I also believe that exposure has been one of the keys to my growth. Leaders throughout my career exposed me to new areas, introduced me to other leaders, recognized my talents, and gave me opportunities to learn beyond my immediate role. Those experiences helped me expand my perspective and ultimately take on increasingly complex responsibilities.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received was to trust myself and just go for it, even when an idea might seem unconventional. Having people encourage me to try my ideas and see where they led helped me move beyond self-doubt and gave me the confidence to pursue opportunities I might otherwise have questioned.
I also learned the importance of staying true to myself and continuing to move forward. Throughout my career, mentors and leaders encouraged me to recognize my own capabilities, exposed me to new areas of the organization, and connected me with people who helped me grow.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women entering technical and engineering fields to trust themselves and not allow self-doubt to prevent them from pursuing opportunities. You do not have to know everything before you step forward. Be willing to try, learn, ask questions, and see where an opportunity takes you.
I would also encourage the next generation to actively seek exposure. Build relationships with leaders and people outside your immediate team, learn about areas beyond your current responsibilities, and remain open to opportunities that allow you to broaden your experience. Mentors can play an important role in recognizing potential and helping you see possibilities that you may not yet see in yourself.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value perseverance, trust in oneself, continuous learning, mentorship, and creating opportunities for growth. In my professional life, I believe in leading through expertise, continuing to learn, and helping others gain exposure to new opportunities. I also value the relationships and responsibilities that are important outside of work, including my children, church involvement, and giving back to the community.
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