Cool Science Jobs

Meet Michael Reitz, roller-coaster engineer.

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Who: Michael Reitz
Job: Roller-Coaster Engineer

What is a roller-coaster engineer?
A roller-coaster engineer designs roller coasters. It’s the engineer’s responsibility to build rides that are both fun and safe. I’m an engineer at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey. As part of my job, I have to calculate the force, or push or pull, that riders will experience on a coaster. Knowing the force helps me create a design that will keep riders safely in their seats.

What is the best part of your job?
I love working in a giant amusement park. I get to be one of the first people to try a new ride once it has passed the safety tests. But my favorite part is bringing smiles to people’s faces. In 2005, I worked on Kingda Ka, the tallest and fastest ride in the world. On Kingda Ka, riders rocket 45 stories into the sky. I love watching people come off the ride laughing and screaming.

What’s the worst part of your job?
Sometimes it’s frustrating because I can’t build every new design that I can think up. There is no limit to my imagination but I am limited by time and money.

What are you working on now?
I’m not allowed to tell you exactly what I am working on now because the plans are a secret. We want to surprise our visitors. But I will tell you this: I am redesigning the tracks and support columns of an older ride to make it more exciting.

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