Vikram Rao

I was interested in machines and mechanisms from a very young age. The biggest piece of machinery when I was young was my dad’s motorcycle.

None.

Automobiles have always fascinated me. I always saw them as complex piece of machinery that people rely on for their day-to-day needs. I wanted to partake in the process of making them more customer-centric and accessible.

When I was about 3 years old, my parents gifted me a tricycle and I was hooked. I used to spend the majority of the day riding it.

I thought the auto industry was just research – people in white coats, in the lab, building things. In reality, it’s a lot different. It’s just common people collaborating to make things happen on time (almost).

I attended the Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering (affiliated to VTU) in Bangalore, India. My major was Mechanical Engineering, and it was the closest to Automobile Engineering. I wanted to get into the auto industry, and this was the best way to do it.

I have a Master’s in Automotive Systems Engineering from UofM Dearborn.

• An internship at a Hyundai Service station helped me get hands-on training and taught the basics of automotive maintenance and servicing.
• My internship at Ashok Leyland (well-known Commercial trucks manufacturer in India) helped me understand the basics of manufacturing processes.
• SAE BAJA was an event where we had to build an ATV and participate in an endurance race. This helped me understand the fundamentals of vehicle building and planning.
• FSAE is a complex version of BAJA. This was purely electric. I was less afraid of EVs after this!

I was a design engineer for a rather complex project. It was a fair balance of designing, testing prototypes in the lab, breaking and building things. I had a lot to learn in terms of communication, dealing with tough situations, etc.

I have been lucky to have had three different types of roles in three companies on two continents. I try to take up different roles to be well rounded and learn various skills in the process. This also prevents me from being bored. Jack of many trades, master of none.

I have mostly stuck to engineering so far. Like mentioned previously, I have had three different positions and they have all taught me different things. I don’t think it’s a major career change though. For the most part I have stuck to automotive.

Quality Development Lead.

Mostly on electronic components for different OEMs.

Mostly running from one meeting to another. Collaborating with team members and chalking out a plan to get tasks done, which sometimes means blocking my calendar to avoid additional meetings to get my job done.

I would like to continue to expand my horizons by taking up different roles and see how far I can go.

Never be afraid to try new things. It’s better to fail now than later. Be the hardest working person in the room.

As automobiles get more and more complex, there is scope for everyone to make a difference.

Take more chances when you can. A senior engineer who was on the verge or retirement was unhappy that he couldn’t take too many risks in his career due to personal reasons. He didn’t think of it much back then, but he thought differently when we spoke. We can all think of many such situations. Make conscious efforts to make the best out of your career.

We are experiencing a revolution in the EV world much like the internet boom in the 1990s. This is a great time to be a part of the future. Michigan is the best place to be as Big Three are heavily invested in mobility, electrification, etc.

I used to volunteer at an animal shelter. I also take part in motorcycle track days. My job offers me a good balance. Having a good team and manager helps greatly in this regard.