Formula Projects/Experiences

Sophomore/Junior Year

After finishing my Co-Op with RTX (Collins Aerospace), I ran in an extremely competitive election to win the EV Powertrain Team Lead for Iowa State’s Formula SAE EV team. I’m responsible for the design, manufacturing, integration, and testing of the entire electric powertrain system on Iowa State Universities first-ever FSAE EV race car. This means overseeing everything from the motor and inverter to the accumulator, cooling systems, and the countless small details that make the car both fast and reliable.

Leading the Powertrain team is more than just designing and managing an EV powertrain system it’s managing people. I coordinate a team of talented engineers, each with their own specialties, ensuring that designs align with our performance targets, safety standards, and tight competition deadlines. I hold regular design reviews, set milestones, and keep everyone on track while still giving my engineers the space to own their work. A big part of my job is translating complex technical requirements into actionable tasks and making sure communication flows seamlessly between our subsystem and the rest of the EV team.

This position has challenged me to think like both an engineer and a project manager. I’ve learned how to delegate effectively, resolve design disagreements with data-driven decisions, and adapt quickly when problems arise. I’m also learning how to balance short-term progress with long-term goals, making sure we not only get the car built, but that it’s built right. Every day in this role, I push myself to grow not just as an engineer, but as a leader. I’ve learned the importance of listening before making decisions, how to inspire people when deadlines get stressful, and how to foster a team culture where everyone feels like their contribution matters. It’s the kind of hands-on leadership experience you can’t get from a textbook, and it’s preparing me for the engineering challenges I’ll face in my career.

Sophomore Year

Late my freshman year, I ran for an elected position on my Formula team titled Accumulator Mechanical Engineer that I held during my 1st semester of Sophomore year.

As the Accumulator Mechanical Engineer, my role involves designing and managing the mechanical systems that house and protect our vehicle’s energy storage components. I focus on making sure everything is secure, efficient, and up to the safety standards required for competition. This position has given me the opportunity to work closely with a talented team, tackling challenges that require both creativity and technical precision.

In this position, I managed two different interns who helped assist me with various projects on the accumulator itself, this has been a great opportunity to practice my leadership skills. Additionally, I am learned the challenges of delegating work and managing technical work with my interns.

In September, I visited the Hendricks Motorsports facility for the FSAE EV Workshop. There, I was able to develop a much deeper technical understanding on my holistic understanding of the car. I was able to hear from various industry professionals at companies like Tesla, and a Hendricks Motorsports race engineer on what being an engineer in the professional environment is like. Additionally, I got the opportunity to attend various presentations that I found incredibly interesting, most notably a vehicle dynamics presentation. Overall it was a great opportunity that allowed and motivated me to build a better, more well engineered car.

The highlight of our year as a team will be our participation in the Formula SAE competition, where everything we’ve worked on comes together on the track. I’m eager to see our car in action and to gain new experiences that will help us improve even further for future years.

Freshman Year

My Freshman year I was a team member apart of the Powertrain EV team, where I assisted in the design and preparedness of the vehicle. I spent most of my time learning the logistics of how an EV Powertrain system work, and absorbing knowledge from experienced members.