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The Future of Automotive Innovation: Q & A with Hung Nguyen, CAE Engineer at GM’s Canadian Engineering Centre

With the announcement out of Oshawa that of Canada will be hiring more than 100 new software and controls engineers, we sat down with Hung Nguyen CAE Engineer with GM Canada to discuss what it’s like to work at GM’s Canadian Engineering Centre and to get his advice for engineering students considering a career with GM.

What has your experience been like working at GM Canada? “Eye opening,” is the best way to describe my experience here at GM. Initially I thought that the corporate world would be full of bureaucratic red tape but it’s not like that at all here. The team at GM’s Canadian Engineering Centre welcomed me with open arms. I’ve had so many opportunities to learn and because GM is a globally connected company my career opportunities are endless.

When did you first decide a career in automotive technology was for you? Back in 2007, during my third year at the University of Waterloo a friend of mine asked if I would be interested in joining Waterloo’s Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition (AVTC) team. My team and I installed an integrated stack from Hydrogenics in a Chevrolet Equinox. It was my role on Waterloo’s AVTC team that got me noticed by GM, a major sponsor of the competition, and ultimately led to a job opportunity.

What’s your role at GM Canada? I’m a virtual vehicle validation engineer which means I use computer software to run crash and structural analysis to evaluate the performance of GM vehicles. I also mentor student teams on mechanical integration as part of GM’s EcoCar program. I provide students with feedback and advice on their reports and develop the constraints for the performance characteristics required to integrate the components they develop into the vehicles. Working with students is one of my favourite parts of this job, I’m in awe of their creativity and energy. They have unaccountable ingenuity and because of this are able to come up with innovative solutions to problems.

Of all the projects you’ve worked on at GM Canada thus far, which one are you most proud of? I was involved in the development of the air extractor that debuted on the 2014 Camaro. The part helps to create negative lift or downforce on the front of the vehicle improving speed and efficiency. The air extractor has become an integral component of the Camaro design. I’m pretty proud of that experience.

What advice can you offer engineering students interested in a career with GM Canada? EcoCar is the largest automotive innovation competition for students in North America. You can get yourself on GM’s radar by participating in this type of competition. It’s a great way to showcase your ingenuity and skills to prospective employers. The whole purpose of competitions like this is to develop and attract highly qualified personnel to lead future automotive design. The automotive industry holds the skills and knowledge gained by students during these competition in high regard, making them highly sought after employees. For more information on GM Canada and a listing of the job opportunities at the Canadian Engineering Centre, please click here.