Interview section

A time when you saved the day / solved a big problem:

1. 2 teammates fell sick and I had to take lead – APD

Situation:
During my second-year aerospace design project, we faced a significant challenge
when two team members, including the project leader, fell ill just a week before the
submission deadline. This posed a risk of missing the deadline, as the workload
increased significantly for the remaining members.

Task:
So I stepped up to take on the role of project leader. My primary responsibility was
to ensure the project was completed on time without compromising on quality. This
involved redistributing tasks, managing the team’s workload, and maintaining clear
communication to keep everyone on track.

Action:
To address the situation,

• I first assessed the team’s progress and identified critical areas that could
cause delays. I then reorganized the team by assigning roles based on each
member’s strengths. For example, I delegated coding tasks to members
proficient in MATLAB and Python, while I took on analytical tasks, including
data analysis and verification of calculations, as this aligned with my strengths.
• I also created a revised project schedule to accommodate the additional
workload and set up regular check-ins to ensure everyone was on track and
any issues were addressed promptly.
• As the team lead, I took on extra responsibilities, such as reviewing all data
and calculations to ensure accuracy and compliance with project
requirements.

Result:
Despite the challenges, we successfully completed the project on time and scored
high marks for both technical accuracy and teamwork. It was indeed very rewarding

2. Brother of teammate was seriously ill due to dengue fever. Had to complete his
part of the presentation – literature review and compilation.

Situation:
During my research internship with a company in India, I worked with a diverse team
from various universities on a project focused on space debris capture technologies.
One of our key tasks was to prepare and deliver a presentation summarizing and
comparing the different methods of space debris capture. However, just two days
before the final presentation, one of my teammates, who was responsible for
presenting the comparison of these methods, had to withdraw due to a family
emergency—his brother was hospitalized with dengue fever.

Task:
With the presentation deadline approaching, I volunteered to step in and take over
my teammate’s responsibilities. This involved understanding and summarizing the
comparison of space debris capture methods, preparing the slides, and delivering
this section of the presentation. My goal was to ensure that our team met the
deadline and delivered a high-quality presentation despite the unexpected challenge.

Action:
To ensure a seamless transition, I immediately reviewed all the available information
and consulted with my teammates to fully understand the key advantages and
disadvantages of each method. I also reached out to my supervisor to clarify the
expectations for the comparison section and ensure I was on the right track.

Over the next two days, I worked diligently to finalize the comparison slides and
practiced delivering the presentation to ensure clarity and confidence. On the day of
the presentation, I made sure to acknowledge my absent teammate’s contributions
and give him due credit for his work. I then presented the comparison section,
highlighting the key insights and answering questions from the audience.

Result:
The markers were highly impressed with our team’s ability to overcome the challenge
and deliver a comprehensive presentation on time. We received special recognition
for the extra effort I had put in, and the team was praised for its collaboration and
resilience. After the presentation, we shared the good news with our teammate and
assured him of our support during his difficult time.

A time when you worked with a difficult person & how you handled it:
Situation:
During a group assignment, my team was tasked with designing and analyzing an
aircraft for two specific flight routes. As the deadline approached, one of my teammates
suggested using a pre-existing model aircraft to save time, allowing us to focus more on
the analysis and technical aspects of the project. While this approach would have
saved a few hours, I knew it wouldn’t meet the project requirements and could
compromise the accuracy and integrity of our findings.

Task:
My challenge was to address this disagreement constructively and ensure the team
delivered a high-quality project that met all requirements. I needed to find a way to align
the team’s efforts while maintaining respect for everyone’s perspectives and workloads.

Action:
Initially, despite explaining the drawbacks of using a pre-existing model during team
meetings, my teammate remained adamant about his approach. This disagreement
stalled our progress in the first few meetings. To resolve the issue, I arranged a one-on-
one call with him. During the conversation, I acknowledged and appreciated his efforts
to save time for the team, which helped him feel heard and valued.

Once he became more receptive, I calmly explained why I believed creating our own
model was essential for meeting the project requirements and ensuring the accuracy of
our findings. He then opened up about his concerns, revealing that he had multiple
assignments and felt overwhelmed by the workload. I assured him that we would
distribute tasks fairly and ensure he wasn’t overburdened. I also emphasized that his
ideas would be incorporated into the final analysis.

After gaining his agreement, I encouraged the team to work together efficiently. We
broke the project into smaller, manageable tasks. I took the lead in designing the aircraft
model using AutoCAD, while the rest of the team focused on the analysis report. By
working collaboratively and staying behind to complete the tasks, we ensured the
project was completed on time without compromising quality.

Result:
Our decision to create a unique aircraft model paid off, as the project was significantly
better than the easier alternative. We received high marks for accuracy, creativity, and
teamwork.

A time you messed up or failed:

During an aerospace field course in Wales, I was part of a team tasked with building and
testing a quadcopter drone. As we approached our final testing phase, the associated
software in use, began to emit unstable warnings and errors. Initially, I overlooked these
warnings, assuming they were minor software glitches rather than hardware issues. This
misjudgement led to some confusion and delay as all other teams were ready with their
built drones. Recognizing the need to address the issue as soon as possible, I suggested
consulting our supervisors for advice while simultaneously researching the error
messages online. Upon further inspection, prompted by our supervisor's advice to
examine the drone's physical assembly, I discovered that I had incorrectly attached one
of the propellers. I quickly rectified this by properly securing the propeller in the correct
orientation. After correcting the mistake, we retested the drone, which then performed
flawlessly according to our flight plan. This experience taught me the critical
importance of considering all aspects of a problem—both hardware and software—
when troubleshooting engineering issues. I realized that my initial failure to accurately
identify the root cause of the problem, and overlook an apparent small error stemmed
from a lack of thorough inspection and an overreliance on assumptions. Since then, I
have made a conscious effort to apply a more meticulous and systematic approach to
problem-solving in my projects.

A time you are proud of, you achieved something great:

Just day before yesterday, I had the opportunity of presenting my project, "Worst Case
Structural Load during Aggressive Quadcopter Manoeuvring," at the University of
Manchester’s poster presentation day. It was indeed a daunting challenge, as I had no
prior experience of speaking in an academic presentation or designing a project poster,
that should have worked without my speaking, accurate but also an easy-to-understand
representation of my research project. I had to communicate complex technical
concepts clearly and confidently to professors, young professionals, and peers within a
15-minute time limit. It was a gathering of over 200 people.

To prepare, I focused on simplifying my project’s technical details, practicing my

delivery, and designing an engaging poster with attractive and easy to understand visual
representations. I chose to speak with certain key points in mind, instead of going with a
memorized script, which helped me present myself more naturally. During the
presentation, I stayed calm, maintained eye contact, and answered questions
confidently only after giving it a thought.

My efforts paid off when I won 2nd prize for the best poster in the Aerospace category
amongst 150 other competing students! This achievement was a proud moment and
validated my hard work and dedication. This experience taught me the importance of
effective communication, confidence, and resilience. It inspired me to continue
pushing my boundaries and striving for excellence in both academic and professional
settings.
Tell Me About Yourself

I am an Undergraduate student studying Aerospace Engineering at the University of

Manchester, and I thrilled for getting the opportunity to interview at Caterpillar for this
Placement opportunity

I am in my 3rd Year, and currently am working on a project called, “Worst Case Structural
Loads during Aggressive Quadcopter Manoeuvring.” As part of this, I analysed the
structural loads on a quadcopter arm during high-speed manoeuvres using MATLAB for
dynamic simulation. This involved modelling the drone arm as a pin-supported
aluminum beam, calculating forces like thrust and aerodynamic drag, and determining
the optimal structural strength to ensure safety without overdesign -- key aspect for
engineering roles focused on product development and validation.

Additionally, I also lead a society at my university called the Krishna Consciousness

society. I regularly give talks and lead meditation sessions to a group of about 15-20
students. We try to utilise ancient eastern wisdom and philosophy to bring about
mindfulness and cultivate a good lifestyle in the lives of students, so that they can
contribute positively to the society as responsible citizens.

Why are you interested in this Role?

I’m excited about this role because it offers the opportunity to work on engine
performance, emissions, and validation, which aligns well with my passion for solving
complex engineering problems. I’m particularly drawn to the hands-on nature of the
role, from calibrating engines to conducting failure analysis and collaborating with
global teams.

What also stood out to me about the Product Engineering department is its focus on
cutting-edge engine development and its collaborative environment. I’m eager to learn
from experienced engineers and subject matter experts who are at the forefront of
engine technology.

Caterpillar’s reputation as a global leader in innovation and sustainability is what truly

inspires me. I’m excited to be part of a company that aligns with my values of
excellence, teamwork, and sustainability, and I look forward to contributing to
Caterpillar’s mission of building a better world through advanced engineering solutions.
The future of the engine industry, with its focus on reducing emissions and improving
efficiency, is something I’m passionate about, and I’m thrilled to be part of that journey.