I worked with the Product Cost Engineering Exterior (PCEX) team, which analyzes the costs for new car lines for a variety of applications, including investment projections and negotiations with manufacturers and suppliers. This team focuses on the exterior plastic parts of the car, such as the front/rear bumpers and also works with mirrors and glass of the car. At MIT, all mechanical engineering students are required to take 2.008: Design and Manufacturing II. This class was the perfect precursor to my internship at Daimler. I was already familiar with some of the manufacturing processes that I analyzed, such as injection molding and various tooling processes. I also learned about cost analysis in 2.008, and I was in charge of extensive cost analysis for my team. This allowed me to easily understand the assumptions that my colleagues made to make certain cost projections, and even make my own.
This internship helped me to be more confident and engaged. Not only did I learn about different aspects of cost engineering in a large company, but I also learned that asking questions was normal. Nobody expected me to know the meaning of the hundreds of abbreviations of car jargon, and my colleagues were very helpful in minimizing the language barrier in my work. I did not feel incompetent or behind, but rather more confident to ask questions and accept help. I was reminded that learning on the job is the biggest part for new employees. Now I feel less constrained to find a career path in which I have previous experience in and more confident in pursuing paths based more on my interests and passion.
By participating in MISTI-Germany Program, I was able to practice my German, learn German culture from locals, and imagine myself living in Germany in the future. I learned about the variety of options a mechanical engineer has in a company like Daimler, and I am excited to continue exploring. I have taken my first step towards a career in Germany, and I cannot wait to see where it takes me.
