Danke, Munich! Mechanical engineering student interns with BMW in Germany

Damian Rode ’24 – a senior majoring in mechanical engineering at Binghamton University’s Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science – spent the summer in Munich, Germany, interning at BMW’s Research and Development Center.

After working on numerous projects for one of the world’s largest car manufacturers, Rode discussed his time at BMW as an incredible experience and has been inspired to think further about a career in automobile product development.

Q. Why did you choose to work in Germany? Why specifically BMW?

A. I was looking at different internships in the U.S. at first, and then I decided to expand my search to Germany. I speak German and both of my parents grew up in Germany, and I had already visited Germany quite a bit, so I knew it could potentially be a great place for me to work. My parents were telling me that a lot of companies in Germany are constantly looking to find people, especially in engineering positions, and I started reaching out to different places to see if they needed an intern for the summer.

When thinking of which companies I’d want to work for, I first thought of BMW, and I went on their hiring website and started applying to a bunch of different positions. From there, the process was very straightforward and simple, and I ended up getting hired pretty quickly.

Q. What was your job like?

A. I was on the production side of things, so I mainly worked in BMW’s Research and Development Center in Munich. We would pilot different technology with this BMW-invented process called “cubing.” We built the entire vehicle chassis out of aluminum to a precise tolerance, and from there we’d use it as a reference model. Using that reference model, we’d be able to see how every part fits together, and if anything needed to be adjusted or didn’t fit quite right, we’d be able to fix it and then evaluate the product again. This method is especially useful in evaluating what the source of an issue could be, and it makes product testing a lot easier.

We also worked a lot on developing new methods for BMW product testing to make things more efficient, and we got to apply those new methods during the cubing process. One technique we used that was especially cool was augmented reality, where we could overlay different parts over the model to see if it would work without having to assemble anything.

Toward the end of the summer, there was a cubing event that the team had to prepare for and completed the process in only a couple of weeks. During that event, the suppliers came with their parts, and fit them onto the “cube.” Part by part, we assembled the entire interior and exterior during those few weeks.

It was exciting because it’s part of a new class of cars that’s launching in 2025. It’s a completely different vehicle architecture, and everything else is new, too, so there was a lot of focus and enthusiasm surrounding the project. Because it was the first time this car had been built, there were a lot of executives in the company coming to check it out.

Q. Did you have any interest in cars before working at BMW?

A. Before my internship, I didn’t have much of an interest in cars aside from being a part of Binghamton University’s Formula SAE EV team, a student organization that designs and builds Formula-style cars throughout the year. I joined the team because I wanted to get that project experience and hands-on work, but the more I learned about vehicle manufacturing, the more interested I got. I was left thinking about how I could transfer this experience into my future career, resulting in my application to BMW.

Q. What did it feel like to work with BMW considering the company is such a household name?

A. I loved it. I think one of my favorite things is how international they are. They have plants in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe, and the best part was that I was meeting people from all different backgrounds. Even on my team, we had students from France, Turkey and Hungary. Very quickly, I met all of these people who are the same age from across the world, and I got to hear all about their background and their experiences.

I also really liked working in Germany compared to the U.S. It’s a little bit more relaxed in Germany. For example, you’re given an hour lunch break where everyone goes to the cafeteria and sits together to eat. People really seem to try to take the time they need to enjoy life at work and at home.

Q. Any moment that was particularly special?

A. One of the best things I got to do for BMW was designing an app for product testing. I have a background in design as well as engineering, and my team leaders enlisted me for the design of an app that would turn people into an avatar that could be controlled using VR and used to present complex manufacturing processes in an easier way. I had complete ownership of the project, and for the last two weeks of me working with BMW, that’s what I was developing. Before leaving, I was able to present it to the whole department, which was a very satisfying experience.

Q. What was it like being in Germany for the summer? Was it any different than the previous times you’ve gone?

A. It was definitely a bit different since it was the first time I’d worked in another country, and I wasn’t just there to visit family.

I spent a lot of time in Munich, which is an incredibly beautiful city. The city is so full of rich history but also so modern in other ways, and it’s a really cool blend. I love Munich because there’s always something to do, and I got to hang out with all the other interns and their friends when I wasn’t working. We’d go out at night, go to museums and just explore the city, and I think socially Munich is a special place to be.

I did visit my family often, and since they live in a different part of Germany, I got to spend a lot of time traveling the country. Germany has a super-accessible train infrastructure, and you can just take a train and go anywhere. One weekend, I went to Budapest, which was amazing. It’s so easy to travel across Europe. You can go somewhere completely different for a weekend, and then come back to work so easily.

Q. Did your time working for BMW influence your career path at all?

A. Definitely. Aside from it being a nice bullet point to have on my resumé, I learned a lot firsthand about project management, which I think is important for the future. My team leads were super-enthusiastic about teaching and advising students, and they spent a lot of time giving us great mentorship. I wouldn’t have gotten that otherwise.

On campus, it’s also helped me a lot with the work I do at the Emerging Technology Studio, the campus makerspace, and even on the Formula team. My internship at BMW taught me a lot about team leadership, which can be applied everywhere, and I’m thankful I got that experience.

Q. What would you tell other students interested in car mechanics or engineering?

A. I think many students feel a pressure to work at huge, famous tech companies, and that a career at these corporations is often aligned with the idea of a “successful” career. Of course, those are great companies, but sometimes I think it’s much more important to connect with the value of a company as opposed to following the standardized career path. A great place for you is wherever you find a reflection of your values and see yourself making an impact, and I think that’s something a lot of students tend to forget.