Electric Vehicle Intern

A summer spent elbow-deep in electric vehicle systems, learning that the gap between "it should work" and "it works" is where all the interesting problems live.

The Story

I came in expecting to work on cutting-edge EV tech. I left with a much deeper appreciation for the fundamentals — troubleshooting skills, electrical safety protocols, and the art of building systems that actually work in the real world, not just on paper.

The most valuable thing I did wasn't the sexy technical work. It was building a digital inventory system to replace decades of pen-and-paper tracking. Not glamorous, but watching a process that took hours shrink to minutes? That's the kind of impact I want to keep making.

What I Learned

• High-voltage systems demand respect and proper protocols — no shortcuts
• Legacy systems exist for reasons, even when those reasons are frustrating
• Sometimes the biggest impact comes from solving the "boring" problems
• Working alongside experienced mechanics taught me more than any textbook

Responsibilities

• Collaborated with a cross-functional team of diesel and gasoline mechanics to troubleshoot Kawasaki engine failures
• Established a digital inventory system to replace the prior pen-and-paper management process
• Improved maintenance visibility and repeatability through cleaner operational tracking