Engineering is born from curiosity, the urge to take things apart, challenge assumptions, and build something better. When that curiosity is nurtured over a lifetime, it becomes the force behind real innovation.
That journey comes to life through Chris Sunderman, a Senior Software Engineer at CAE USA in Arlington, Texas. What began as a fascination with how things work, evolved into a career dedicated to solving complex problems, and now into a collaboration that reflects the ingenuity, rigor, and passion that define CAE’s engineering community.
As we celebrate Engineering Week 2026 at CAE (February 22–March 6), our engineers will come together to spotlight the challenges they’ve solved, the paths they’ve carved, and the innovations shaping industry. It’s a week dedicated not just to what CAE builds, but to the curiosity, creativity, and collaboration that power CAE’s engineering excellence.
Christopher Sunderman’s journey into engineering started long before he joined CAE. As a child, he was the one taking apart radios, toy trains, and computers just to see how they worked. He had a natural affinity for math and programming, coupled with a fascination for airplanes and locomotives. That early curiosity set him on a path to an engineering career, a trajectory defined by constant learning and a drive to solve complex problems. Fast forward to today, Christopher is channeling that same inquisitive energy as part of the organizing committee for CAE’s Engineering Week 2026.
At CAE, Christopher is known for cultivating a team culture built on honesty, care, and flexibility. As a senior engineer, he doesn’t just focus on code or systems; he focuses on people. He encourages his team and especially new engineers to “dig deeper, ask why, and look for better ways to do things.” This mindset reflects CAE’s broader engineering culture, where challenging the status quo is welcomed. Christopher’s leadership style shows that technical growth and personal growth go hand-in-hand; by fostering open dialogue and encouraging questions, he helps others develop their skills while continuing to learn himself.
Kaine Northcott, CAE USA Software Engineer, shares what it’s like to work alongside Christopher.
“Chris Sunderman is an absolute joy to work with. He brings light and knowledge to all areas he is involved in. He has been a major help, and a lot of what the TES team has done wouldn’t have been possible without him. He is an exceptional worker and does even more exceptional work. He is dedicated to whatever he is assigned and ensures it is thoroughly tested and thoughtfully executed. It cannot be said enough — Chris is an exceptional worker,” Kain Northcott
Helping organize CAE’s Engineering Week 2026, Christopher is excited to share CAE’s engineering story on a global stage. Having participated in past Engineering Weeks, he saw firsthand the spark these events can ignite. “I remember being an attendee, seeing colleagues present breakthroughs and creative solutions. It made me proud to be an engineer,” Christopher recalls. That experience motivated him to step up and steer the effort this year. His goal is to celebrate engineers and inspire curiosity across all levels, from interns to seasoned experts and to spotlight the incredible engineering work being executed across our organization.
This year’s Engineering Week is designed to bring innovation to life through engaging, inclusive activities that connect teams across different sites and disciplines. It’s a time to celebrate the people, passion, and innovation behind the work done every day at CAE. It’s a hands-on, minds-on celebration of what engineers do best: problem-solving, learning, and teamwork.
One of the most anticipated events is the Global Paper Airplane Challenge, a light-hearted but purposeful competition. CAE engineers from around the world will put their design to the test by crafting paper airplanes and seeing whose flies the farthest or best meet specific performance criteria. Why paper airplanes? It’s a clever nod to the fundamentals of engineering by using limited materials and lots of ingenuity to solve a flight challenge. Christopher is especially excited about this. “I love the airplane contest because everyone can participate,” he says. “You’ll see engineers from different countries and different disciplines approaching the same problem in totally different ways. It’s a fun way to appreciate the diversity of thought we have at CAE.” The challenge not only entertains but also mirrors real engineering tasks in miniature: teams must balance creativity (to produce an original design) with efficiency and iteration (to make it fly better), all under a friendly competitive deadline. In essence, it showcases the technical challenge theme in a playful format.
A Lunch-and-Learn series will also feature during the week with virtual sessions diving into topics relevant to CAE’s engineers, whether it’s the latest in simulation software, overcoming a tricky design obstacle, or lessons in leadership from senior engineers. These sessions are interactive and inclusive: engineers at every career stage are encouraged to join, ask questions, and even present. By recording these talks, CAE ensures that learning can happen on everyone's schedule, a nod to the growth trajectory and continuous improvement values of the company. An early-career software developer, for example, might learn about new AI-driven modeling techniques being used by a different team, inspiring fresh ideas to bring back to their own project. A seasoned hardware engineer might pick up a tip on agile project management or share a war story of a past project glitch that turned into a learning opportunity. The atmosphere is about shared learning and breaking silos – exactly what a global engineering organization thrives on.
Prize raffles and peer recognition opportunities are also spread throughout the week encouraging everyone to spotlight colleagues who have made a difference. “Sometimes we get so wrapped up in work, we forget the people and effort that go into making things function,” Christopher notes. Engineering Week addresses that by shining a light on the human side of innovation. As names are announced and stories shared, it reinforces a key message. At CAE, engineers are valued by their ideas, hard work, and their collaborative spirit is at the heart of the company’s success.
“Many engineering initiatives have been started by individual engineers. When people feel supported in exploring ideas and sharing insights, it strengthens a culture where curiosity is valued and contributions are recognized,” says Christopher Sunderman
Engineering Week is ultimately about more than a series of events. It is about recognizing the people, ideas, and curiosity that move the company forward. As Christopher shared, progress is not always driven by sweeping, long-term initiatives. “Many times, we can fall into a cycle of delivering the same product with minor updates,” he explained, highlighting how meaningful change often begins with small shifts in perspective. When teams are encouraged to question assumptions, explore new approaches, and challenge the status quo, even incremental improvements can have a lasting impact.
While the events of Engineering Week are exciting in their own right, the larger story being told is about career growth, opportunity, and the value of engineering talent at CAE.
CAE provides its engineers with a trajectory of continuous development. There is a strong mentorship culture (as highlighted in Engineering Series Part II) and encouragement to take on new challenges. Engineering Week itself doubles as a professional development arena with junior engineers present alongside seniors, gaining visibility and confidence. As Christopher advises those just starting out: “embrace challenges and don’t be afraid to ask “why.”
That mantra reflects CAE’s growth mindset – learning never stops, and the company invests in that belief through mentorship and formal programs for skill development.
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