Working in the fast lane: Mechanical engineering student secures work term with Formula One

John MacIsaac always had a special interest in cars and engines. "Any maintenance large or small my dad would walk me through, and I would be encouraged to understand how the mechanism works and to research a solution," he says. This hobby paved the way for his interest in high-performance vehicles.

The third-year mechanical engineering student had the opportunity of a lifetime this past fall, completing his first work term at the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® Team factory in England.

Through a contact made at the Canadian Grand Prix, John was able to connect with Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® Team's head of talent and recruitment. After applying for a position and completing the interview process, John was hired as a placement student in the Research and Development department.

When John arrived, the organization had just moved into a state-of-the-art factory. Initially, he was anxious to be working in such an advanced environment as a new engineer. His nerves soon diminished as his team welcomed him and gave him the chance to join projects and contribute. 

"It was an overall great experience to work and live in England and I was excited every day to go to work with such a world-class team."

During his time at the organization, John worked with his supervisor, who was responsible for most of the R&D and testing of the F1 cars' cooling systems. He was able to develop his skills by working with different types of software and running tests in the labs with the help of technicians. John noted that it was easy to develop relationships and receive input whenever it was required.

"My supervisor was comfortable allowing me to run tests on my own, which was invaluable for my personal development," he says, "My supervisor would also walk through every intricate detail of why a test is required; this allowed me to further analyze and explain our findings in our weekly team meetings. I found this to be the perfect work environment to grow professionally."

The projects John worked on took a lot of patience and attention to detail, and he was grateful to contribute and make an impact on the organization. "Knowing that my projects and tests will have a potential impact on the cars' performance makes them all incredibly special," he says.  

Recommended reading: Powering up: First‑in‑Canada battery innovation centre to provide critically needed facility for research and industrial development