 Mike Aljamal says he’s always looking for the next problem to
solve or challenge to overcome.
Well, Mike found that and more after accepting a job as a
battery pack design release engineer for General Motors.
A graduate of the University of California Berkeley, Mike, who
is also originally from Syria, divides his time between working on some of the
latest electrification technologies being developed by General Motors and
exploring his new home state.
We sat down with Mike to talk about his career and how he’s
found a new home in Michigan and General Motors.
Q: Tell us about your career at this point. How do you feel
General Motors has enabled you to grow professionally?
A: General
Motors recruited me during my senior year at the University of California
Berkley in 2014. So I literally went from graduating in December of that year
to having my first day on the job in January of 2015.
My first assignment was the steel tray and steel supporting
brackets for the battery pack on the 2016 Volt. Since the project was about 75
percent into production, I was tasked with more project management. This meant
working with the supplier to make certain everything was ready to ramp up for
production and ensuring the quality was top-notch.
About six months later I was given a new assignment, to design a
new battery pack tray and supporting components from scratch. That has been a
big thrill, creating something that will be my own contribution to an electric
vehicle. Now I’m the one tasked with finding suitable suppliers that I trust to
execute my design. It’s been great to go through the different stages of
product development, and now I get to watch something I’ve created go through
it.
Since my first day, I’ve been solving new challenges with each
program that I’ve been assigned to. I never wanted to have a career that was
just the same thing every day. General Motors really provides you with the
tools you need to excel and grow into your position.
Q: How would you describe the culture at General Motors?
A: The
battery group at General Motors is made up of a lot of great people who are at
the top of their field. We’re growing with a lot of young talent so it has a
definite startup feel to it, but we’ve also got a great group of veterans who
have been here from day one and have fantastic industry experience you can draw
from.
If you look at the mix of new and experienced talent, as well as
how we’re integrating the electrification of powertrains, General Motors has an
advantage over many of the newer companies that are moving, or looking to move,
into the electrification space.
Q: What strengths do you think Michigan offers in terms of
employment for engineers interested in the automotive industry?
A: When you look at
where the industry started, a car in the early 1900s was basically some wheels,
an engine and metal. But a vehicle today has so much technology integrated into
it that any engineer should be interested in coming to work in Michigan.
With the amount of institutional and technical knowledge here,
Michigan has the experience to continue to shape what the automobile and
driving experience will be for generations to come.
Q: What do you enjoy the most about living in Michigan and what
have you found to be something distinctive that can’t be found elsewhere in the
United States?
A: What I really
love about Michigan is watching the colors change in the fall. It’s just
beautiful to drive north and watch the colors change. Then in the spring, you
get to watch it bloom all over again. The summers are just fantastic because I
can play outdoor sports with my friends and I like experiencing the holidays in
the winter. Really, having the four seasons makes living here something
special.
I also came to the United States from Syria in 2007, so I was
excited to come to Michigan because of the Syrian and Arab communities here.
That really made me feel like I was at home because I have a shared background
with other people who have come from the Middle East.
And the cost of living in Michigan is lower than other places in
the country. When you look at how affordable it is to buy a home here, that’s a
great advantage for engineers who are looking to start out in life.
Q: What else do you enjoy doing in your free time?
A: I play a lot of
pickup soccer in the summer and some indoor soccer in the winter. I also have a
couple of friends who I play tennis with regularly.
I really enjoy going to downtown Rochester, especially around
the holidays when the streets are lit up. I’ll go there with my friends to grab
lunch or coffee on a quiet night. Birmingham is another great city for
socializing.
For something a little livelier, you can go to Royal Oak where
they have great bars and night clubs.
I just feel like the area offers you so much. It just all
depends on what you’re in the mood for.
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