Meet Hack Force 5: Daniah Mohammed (fresh Carleton University graduate), Hiba Tantawi (current student at uOttawa), Jacob Pilon (fresh uOttawa graduate), Charbel El Berkachi (fresh uOttawa graduate) and Finlay Maroney (current student at Carleton University). A group of Co-Ops who started their SKYTRAC journey through a hackathon and turned it into an unforgettable placement. What started as students brought together for a hackathon turned into a crew that kept pushing each other, laughing together, and filling the Ottawa office with Gen Z feels.
Early Beginnings
Although each member of Hack Force 5 entered engineering from a different route, they were all drawn here by their shared fascination with technology.
Jacob’s decision to study software engineering was sparked when he saw his friend’s older brother working on six monitors, a story that made him laugh later but steered him toward the field, nonetheless. Hiba found her way through a love of math, physics, design, and IT. For Finlay, the inspiration came from home, as his mom works in IT. Daniah’s teachers played a big role, encouraging her to pursue engineering after seeing her problem-solving abilities. As for Charbel, a fascination with how technology shows up everywhere in daily life was the draw.
Their Co-Op journeys began the same way: SKYTRAC’s Hackathon. Whether referred by professors, student societies, or personal interest, they each joined the hackathon, worked hard solving the problem statement, and made a strong impression. The group was then offered a temporary position through the DLS-140 project and a chance to transform their Hackathon into a real-world experience in aerospace and satcom innovation.
I didn’t apply in the traditional way; instead, I was part of the team that won SKYTRAC’s 2025 Hackathon.
Life at SKYTRAC
We asked Hack Force 5 what the culture at SKYTRAC is like, and heard a mix of words: open, friendly, challenging, supportive. Each Co-Op had their own way of describing it, but they all landed on the same feeling: people were always willing to help, explain, or just share a laugh.
On the project side, most of the group spent time on the DLS-140, which quickly became a favorite. Jacob loved building the frontend and seeing it work before the deadline. Hiba got into backend work with sustemd and dbus. Finlay sharpened his Linux skills. Daniah picked up embedded software with guidance from Gordon Ross, while Charbel balanced embedded work with, well, assembling the office BBQ (which he never used).
Every engineer I have spoken with, looked for guidance has been nothing but accepting of my various questions. I haven't felt so encouraged to try new things and as a result have learned so many new things.
Lasting Impressions
Mentorship played a huge role in shaping their experiences. From Jan Lotz and Emmanuel Gravel patiently guiding Jacob, to Finlay offering his knowledge to others, to Gordon Ross’s technical brilliance inspiring Daniah. Combined with encouragement from managers and peers, each Co-Op found support that stuck with them.
They also leaned on each other. Without dedicated project at times, the group filled in the gaps for one another, learning how to collaborate, explain, and adapt as a team.
Each employee in the company, and especially in the HackForce One team, has made an impact by helping me strengthen my technical skills and grow both professionally and personally.
Advice to Future Co-Ops
As a group, Hack Force 5 has plenty of advice for the next wave of students. Jacob encourages asking every question, no matter how simple. Hiba suggests enjoying the ride and being ready to learn things that only make sense once you work on it. Finlay emphasizes documenting everything. Daniah believes in showing up with curiosity and confidence, even when you do not know it all. And Charbel reminds future Co-Ops to make themselves visible because opportunities come to those who seek them out.
Talk to people who interest you, ask questions, and go after what you want. There’s a ton of knowledge floating around, but it won’t land on your desk unless you chase it.
Life outside the office
Work was not the only thing that defined their Co-Op. The group has plenty of memories that made their time special: from building a BBQ in the Ottawa office to rope courses and ziplining at the summer social, to inside jokes and team lunches. Day to day, caffeine and snacks powered plenty of problem-solving; pineapple sparkling water for one, Diet Pepsi for another, coffee for a couple, and a proud defender of plain old water in the mix.
Friendly, helpful, nice. Everyone here is so nice and are always available to answer questions
P.S – From hackathon strangers to a team that ships together, it’s been a ride. Through their temporary placement on the DLS-140 project, Hack Force 5 sharpened their skills and gained a firsthand look at the care and process that go into building software for the aviation industry.
Not bad for one whirlwind stretch as Co-Ops!
For Career/Co-Op opportunities visit skytrac.ca/careers.
