Damian Rode ’24 – a senior majoring in mechanical engineering at Binghamton College’s Thomas J. Watson Faculty of Engineering and Utilized Science – spent the summer season in Munich, Germany, interning at BMW’s Analysis and Growth Middle.
After engaged on quite a few tasks for one of many world’s largest automotive producers, Rode mentioned his time at BMW as an unimaginable expertise and has been impressed to suppose additional a few profession in car product growth.
Q. Why did you select to work in Germany? Why particularly BMW?
A. I used to be totally different internships within the U.S. at first, after which I made a decision to develop my search to Germany. I converse German and each of my mother and father grew up in Germany, and I had already visited Germany fairly a bit, so I knew it might doubtlessly be an awesome place for me to work. My mother and father had been telling me that numerous firms in Germany are always seeking to discover folks, particularly in engineering positions, and I began reaching out to totally different locations to see in the event that they wanted an intern for the summer season.
When considering of which firms I’d wish to work for, I first considered BMW, and I went on their hiring web site and began making use of to a bunch of various positions. From there, the method was very easy and easy, and I ended up getting employed fairly shortly.
Q. What was your job like?
A. I used to be on the manufacturing aspect of issues, so I primarily labored in BMW’s Analysis and Growth Middle in Munich. We’d pilot totally different know-how with this BMW-invented course of referred to as “cubing.” We constructed your entire car chassis out of aluminum to a exact tolerance, and from there we’d use it as a reference mannequin. Utilizing that reference mannequin, we’d be capable of see how each half matches collectively, and if something wanted to be adjusted or didn’t match fairly proper, we’d be capable of repair it after which consider the product once more. This methodology is particularly helpful in evaluating what the supply of a difficulty may very well be, and it makes product testing so much simpler.
We additionally labored so much on growing new strategies for BMW product testing to make issues extra environment friendly, and we acquired to use these new strategies in the course of the cubing course of. One method we used that was particularly cool was augmented actuality, the place we might overlay totally different components over the mannequin to see if it will work with out having to assemble something.
Towards the top of the summer season, there was a cubing occasion that the crew needed to put together for and accomplished the method in solely a few weeks. Throughout that occasion, the suppliers got here with their components, and match them onto the “dice.” Half by half, we assembled your entire inside and exterior throughout these few weeks.
It was thrilling as a result of it’s a part of a brand new class of vehicles that’s launching in 2025. It’s a totally totally different car structure, and every part else is new, too, so there was numerous focus and enthusiasm surrounding the undertaking. As a result of it was the primary time this automotive had been constructed, there have been numerous executives within the firm coming to test it out.
Q. Did you’ve gotten any curiosity in vehicles earlier than working at BMW?
A. Earlier than my internship, I didn’t have a lot of an curiosity in vehicles except for being part of Binghamton College’s Method SAE EV crew, a pupil group that designs and builds Method-style vehicles all year long. I joined the crew as a result of I needed to get that undertaking expertise and hands-on work, however the extra I discovered about car manufacturing, the extra I acquired. I used to be left fascinated by how I might switch this expertise into my future profession, leading to my utility to BMW.
Q. What did it really feel wish to work with BMW contemplating the corporate is such a family title?
A. I beloved it. I believe one among my favourite issues is how worldwide they’re. They’ve crops within the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe, and the very best half was that I used to be assembly folks from all totally different backgrounds. Even on my crew, we had college students from France, Turkey and Hungary. In a short time, I met all of those people who find themselves the identical age from internationally, and I acquired to listen to all about their background and their experiences.
I additionally actually appreciated working in Germany in comparison with the U.S. It’s a bit of bit extra relaxed in Germany. For instance, you’re given an hour lunch break the place everybody goes to the cafeteria and sits collectively to eat. Individuals actually appear to attempt to take the time they should get pleasure from life at work and at house.
Q. Any second that was significantly particular?
A. Top-of-the-line issues I acquired to do for BMW was designing an app for product testing. I’ve a background in design in addition to engineering, and my crew leaders enlisted me for the design of an app that might flip folks into an avatar that may very well be managed utilizing VR and used to current advanced manufacturing processes in a better manner. I had full possession of the undertaking, and for the final two weeks of me working with BMW, that’s what I used to be growing. Earlier than leaving, I used to be capable of current it to the entire division, which was a really satisfying expertise.
Q. What was it like being in Germany for the summer season? Was it any totally different than the earlier instances you’ve gone?
A. It was positively a bit totally different because it was the primary time I’d labored abroad, and I wasn’t simply there to go to household.
I spent numerous time in Munich, which is an extremely stunning metropolis. Town is so filled with wealthy historical past but additionally so trendy in different methods, and it’s a extremely cool mix. I really like Munich as a result of there’s all the time one thing to do, and I acquired to hang around with all the opposite interns and their pals after I wasn’t working. We’d exit at night time, go to museums and simply discover the town, and I believe socially Munich is a particular place to be.
I did go to my household usually, and since they dwell in a unique a part of Germany, I acquired to spend so much of time touring the nation. Germany has a super-accessible prepare infrastructure, and you’ll simply take a prepare and go wherever. One weekend, I went to Budapest, which was wonderful. It’s really easy to journey throughout Europe. You possibly can go someplace fully totally different for a weekend, after which come again to work so simply.
Q. Did your time working for BMW affect your profession path in any respect?
A. Positively. Other than it being a pleasant bullet level to have on my resumé, I discovered so much firsthand about undertaking administration, which I believe is essential for the long run. My crew leads had been super-enthusiastic about instructing and advising college students, they usually spent numerous time giving us nice mentorship. I wouldn’t have gotten that in any other case.
On campus, it’s additionally helped me so much with the work I do on the Rising Expertise Studio, the campus makerspace, and even on the Method crew. My internship at BMW taught me so much about crew management, which might be utilized in every single place, and I’m grateful I acquired that have.
Q. What would you inform different college students serious about automotive mechanics or engineering?
A. I believe many college students really feel a stress to work at big, well-known tech firms, and {that a} profession at these firms is usually aligned with the thought of a “profitable” profession. After all, these are nice firms, however typically I believe it’s rather more essential to attach with the worth of an organization versus following the standardized profession path. An excellent place for you is wherever you discover a reflection of your values and see your self making an impression, and I believe that’s one thing numerous college students are inclined to overlook.
Supply
https://www.binghamton.edu/information/story/4658/danke-munich-mechanical-engineering-student-interns-with-bmw-in-germany
