Hello I'm

Sishir Mohammed

I chose mechanical engineering because I wanted to work on something tangible which I could touch and feel and mechanical gave me that.

B.E. Mechanical

CGPA: 9.93

EXPERIENCE

July 2019 - Present

ExxonMobil

Operations and Maintenance Engineer; Business Advisor

I work on maintenance management and planning for ExxonMobil sites across the world. We rely on Enterprise Resource Planning and data analytics to optimize maintenance practices and reduce O&M costs. It has given me good insight into the oil and gas industry and best practices in maintenance engineering.

Jan 2019 – Jun 2019

Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India

Engineering Intern

I worked as an intern in the CCS department at MBRDI and worked on underhood-CFD. I leveraged CAD and simulation tools to understand the aerodynamics around automotive engines.

May 2018 – Aug 2018

University of California, Berkeley

Summer Intern

I pursued a fully-funded summer internship as an S.N. Bose Scholar at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory(LBNL) and was mentored by Dr. Ravi Prasher, Professor at U.C. Berkeley. I conducted research on utilizing radiation-based surface heating in solar-thermal desalination. I learnt about the water-energy nexus, and how renewable energy could potentially reduce the water-intensity of energy systems.

May 2017 – Jul 2017

IGCAR

Summer Research Intern

This was a crucial experience for me as it convinced me about working in the energy sector. At IGCAR, I got the opportunity to understand the working of nuclear energy technology, and the associated safety mechanisms for the same. I worked on a project related to thermal cooling systems. My guide at IGCAR was very supportive and helped me make the best use of the experience.

Dec 2016 – Jan 2017

Bombardier Transportation

Industrial Trainee

I interned at Bombardier Transportation, at the manufacturing facility in Savli, Gujarat. It was a short internship, but I was able to understand the production processes involved in the manufacturing of the DMRC(Delhi Metro Rail Corporation) and QNGR(Queensland New Generation Railway) train sets. This included the manufacturing of the train set bogies, car-bodies as well as final assembly.

QnA

Shell-Eco marathon was my first experience in core mechanical engineering. It gave me exposure to the steps involved in the automotive sector, from designing to manufacturing and testing.

It was great working there as I got the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology. At UCB, due to liberal funding, the labs and equipment were state-of-the-art. Furthermore, I learnt about research methodology, from obtaining grants to procuring equipment and conducting experiments.

It varies from person to person. If the person is really interested in exploring the core sector, he/she can continue working and progressing in that. For example, if a person is working continuously in a core company, with a few years of work experience a plethora of opportunities open up wherein field engineering skills can be utilized. If the person is aiming for leadership roles, he/she can pursue MBA after a few years. If the person is looking for technical depth, he/she can go for masters.

Most of the similarities are in process engineering (fluid simulations, thermodynamics, et cetera). Thermal engineering and material science are at the intersection of mechanical and chemical engineering. Apart from these, the skill set is quite varied.

It largely depends on the economy. As compared to China which is a manufacturing hub, it is predominantly a services and backend-tech based economy in India. So, it is relatively hard to get a job in India without a niche specialization. However, with opportunities opening up due to increased capital expenditure, things may improve going forward.

I can speak about the energy sector. There is Power Plant Engineering that is taught by Professor Srinivasan. Secondly, there is Solar-Thermal Engineering, taught by Professor Manoj Soni. Both these courses were insightful in learning about energy systems.

The problem is that very few core companies come for placements to BITS Pilani, and this is due to low demand from students. Students need to understand that the growth in the core sector can be really good based on your work experience. The first few years of your career will always be challenging, but after a few years, with a better skill-set, the sky's the limit.

Several exit opportunities are present. It depends from person to person, based on preferences. You can opt for an MBA, or an MS, or develop your skills by working for different organizations. There is no shortage of opportunities.

I would recommend maintaining a CG above 7.5, for placements. For masters, especially MS, a CG above 8.5 is desirable. Although CG may not be completely reflective of your technical skills, it is still a crucial metric anywhere you go.