Boilers in Detroit: Purdue mechanical engineers find their calling in the Motor City
Boilers in Detroit: Purdue mechanical engineers find their calling in the Motor City
Our journey began with Ford, a company who’s been situated in Detroit since the early 1900s. Though Ford is spread across many of the city’s suburbs, our first stop was the Vehicle Performance and Electrification Center in Allen Park. The recently built facility is home to state-of-the-art technologies including a wind tunnel and rolling road system to test vehicle performance, as well as battery cyclers and environmental chambers to study battery efficiency.
After touring the center, we sat down with current Purdue ME interns and recent hires to discuss why they chose Ford.
“The people,” said Graham Singer (BSME ’25), current graduate student in mechanical engineering. “Everyone here is just phenomenal, and it made coming back easy.”
“The work life balance is great here and overall; it’s a very relaxed work environment,” said Dimitri (James) Paikos (BSME ’25), recent hire at Ford.
During our conversation, interns shared some advice for securing an internship.
“Having a well-rounded experience definitely helps you stand out,” said Ian Cox, senior in mechanical engineering. “My entire interview was us just talking about my experiences and the projects I’ve worked on.”
“Showing that you really care about working for the company by going into the interview with excitement and showing you’re passionate about the opportunity is huge,” said Nathaniel Marcelo (BSME ’24), recent hire at Ford.
To wrap up our Ford expedition we drove 10 miles north to the Dearborn Truck Plant. The grand 1,100-acre facility exclusively produces Ford F-150 trucks. We had the opportunity, along with the interns, to tour part of the plant. As we walked from one end to the other, we watched the F-150 come together piece by piece.
Our second day in Detroit took us to General Motors’ Milford Proving Ground, the company’s lead facility for developing and testing new vehicles. The 4,000-acre property contains numerous test tracks, and we were fortunate enough to drive on several of them. We experienced a wide range of road conditions—cobblestone, gravel, dips in the road— and sped along the infamous circle track. We also passed by the 67-acre test pad known as “Black Lake.” The Proving Ground is also home to a crash lab where GM tests airbags, seatbelts, and other safety systems.
After our tour, we sat down to talk with Purdue interns and alumni to discuss their experiences and why they chose GM.
“I’m not a huge car person but I’ve still found things I enjoy working on here,” said Audrey Robb, senior in mechanical engineering. “There are so many paths you can take here, and you’re able to figure out what team dynamics and workflows you like. I haven’t participated in many engineering clubs at Purdue, and I feel like that doesn’t matter here.”
“I’m also not a huge car person and I didn’t participate in many engineering clubs when I was a student,” said Bailey Streicher (BSME ’12), lead program manager at GM. “I’ve been here 12 years and that’s never hindered my ability to do my job. You can still get leadership skills, time management, and problem solving experience through other avenues. GM still had a place for me. As someone who likes trying new things, I’ve appreciated that I’ve been able to move around internally, it’s welcomed not discouraged.”
“I’ve been here for 28 years, and I’ve always found a job that fits me,” said Beth Nunning (BSME ’97), senior manager at GM. “I’m certainly not doing what I thought I would be, and that’s okay because GM has always had a place for me.”
Our last visit in Detroit was to Daimler Truck North America, one of the world’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturers, designing and engineering medium and heavy duty trucks and school buses.
We toured their manufacturing floor, where they produce hundreds of engines, transmissions and axles every day. The space spans over 3.2 million square feet, larger than 52 football fields. In addition to manufacturing, they conduct engine and transmission dyno testing onsite to ensure peak performance before it leaves the plant. Daimler Truck also conducts seasonal testing. Each summer they head to the Las Vegas area and each winter they head to Alaska, running tests in extreme environments.
After our tour, we spoke with Purdue interns and alumni about their journeys at Daimler Truck.
“I did my first co-op with them and each time I went back I was doing something different and learning something new,” said Jason Bale, senior in mechanical engineering. “The people here are super eager to help you learn and they want you to succeed. It’s a great feeling especially coming in with little knowledge but knowing people have your back and are looking out for you.”
“I was actually the first GEARE student Daimler Truck sent to Germany,” said Sara Poradish (BSME ’18), HV battery module validation engineer at Daimler Truck. “I started off doing an internship at their Portland location, went abroad with them and now I’ve been in their Detroit location for 7 years. The culture and people here are unbeatable. I’m always getting to try something new here. I’ve been able to move around internally and even continue to go to Germany.”
Grace Grady, junior in mechanical engineering talked to us about how she first connected with Daimler Truck.
“I was doing a Short Term Engineering Program abroad in Germany called, Experience German Engineering,” said Grady. “We got to tour the Mercedes Benz Museum and learned about the company’s history. I’d always wanted to work in the automotive industry, and I thought, ‘I guess they’re just giant cars.’ I saw the truck they brought on campus and ended up talking with their recruiters about internship opportunities. I applied and got the position. What really stood out, was before I accepted the offer the manager reached out to explain the role in detail and answer any questions I had. I accepted and love it here. Everyone is so personable and supportive. I’m now hoping to do my GEARE rotation in Germany with Daimler Truck.”
At Purdue, 91% of mechanical engineering students graduate with industry experience. There are numerous opportunities for students to work in industry before graduation, whether it be through an internship, a co-op, or international programs like GEARE. ME hosts around 20 companies each year through company days, info sessions, and recruiting events, thanks to our Corporate Partners Program. This program has helped maintain strong relationships with companies like Daimler Truck, Ford, and GM, giving students direct pathways into the automotive industry.
Interested in gaining industry experience? Head to our industry connection webpage and check out purdueme.com for industry-related events and opportunities.