- Major: Mechanical Engineering
- Company: Nissan, General Motors, Cummins, Mercedes-Benz, and Hennessey Performance
- Graduation Year: 2025
- E-mail: bzegiest@vols.utk.edu
Profile
As a mechanical engineering major with a passion for cars, I've been fortunate to gain a ton of experience through co-ops, internships, camps, and job shadowing with big names like Nissan, General Motors, Cummins, Mercedes-Benz, and Hennessey Performance. These experiences have given me a well-rounded view of the automotive world, covering everything from manufacturing and R&D to quality control, supplier management, testing, and logistics. My dream is to work for Bugatti after I graduate.
The highlight of my journey so far was a 16-month co-op with Mercedes-Benz, where I worked in various departments. I got hands-on experience in overall vehicle quality, R&D for electronics, and R&D for powertrain and chassis. One of my proudest moments was designing a jig from scratch, which boosted a specific production process's success rate from 60% to 97%. This jig was rolled out in Mercedes-Benz plants in the US, Germany, and China and is now used on four different carlines.
I also spent an amazing summer at Hennessey Performance, working on the Hennessey Special Vehicles team. I helped design and build parts for brake cooling, aerodynamic features, and testing instruments for the Hennessey Venom F5. This role took me to various tracks and airstrips for high-speed testing and attempts to break world records, which was incredibly exciting.
These co-ops and internships have been crucial in helping me grow as an engineer. They've shown me what different engineering roles look like in the real world and helped me figure out exactly what I enjoy and where I want to go in my career.
My biggest piece of advice for other engineering students is to not be afraid to take a few semesters off to complete a co-op. While it might delay your graduation, the experience you gain will put you miles ahead when it comes time to find a full-time job. The real-world knowledge and growth you achieve are invaluable and will give you a solid foundation for your engineering career.
