An Institute of Eminence
From BITS Pilani to Mercedes-Benz: A Journey of Passion, Design, and Innovation
Mr. Siddhant S., an alumnus of BITS Pilani (Hyderabad, ‘23) with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, is currently serving as a Product Design Engineer at AMG, Mercedes-Benz R&D. He is a passionate and innovative engineer specialized in automotive design, 3D printing, and high-performance vehicle development. With a strong foundation in mechanical systems and cutting-edge prototyping, he has played a crucial role in designing and refining components for luxury and performance vehicles. His ability to combine technical expertise with creativity allows him to push the boundaries of engineering excellence. Siddhant’s academic journey and professional experiences have shaped his problem-solving approach, making him a valuable asset in the automotive industry.
Could you share your journey to BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, your first-year experience, and how COVID-19 impacted your second year?
I got into the M.Sc. Physics (B5) branch initially, but later managed to switch to Mechanical Engineering during later iterations — something I was really happy about. My first impression of the campus was amazing. My mom is a BITS alum, and she had hyped it up so much, but even that didn’t do justice to how great it felt to be there.
That being said, I was quite an introvert when I joined. I was trying to be more of an ambient, and, luckily, a bunch of super-extroverted friends “adopted” me. They pulled me into all kinds of experiences, and those friendships made my college life incredible.
How important is participating in intercollege fests and clubs? Were you more inclined towards clubs and fests or academics? How did these experiences shape your professional outlook?
You know, during the club orientations, DORA mentioned that they had a free PS4. And I was like, "Okay, all my goals can wait, but PS4 can’t!"
I also joined Shades because I’ve always loved art and origami. But then some seniors told me about a lot of new things like Origami plus and Origami ++, a more advanced version, and I got involved in that too.
What stood out to me was the connection with seniors. The knowledge and insights they shared were incredible. I hadn’t initially realized how strong the BITS alumni network was, but through these clubs, I built connections that helped me later.
Many students grow up fascinated by cars, Formula 1, and Marvel, especially Iron Man. What were some similar or exciting projects you worked on at Mercedes-Benz? What inspired you to 3D-print an Iron Man helmet and a racing simulator steering wheel? What were the biggest technical challenges?
I’ve always been drawn to art — especially the 3D aspect of origami and car design. It’s something that fascinated me from a young age.
My love for cars and machines kept growing, and college played a big role in that. During the lockdown, I got tired of just doing AutoCAD, so I started exploring 3D modeling. When I returned to campus, I connected with Professors and Ph.D. students who helped refine my skills. I had 3D prints lying around at home, and that’s when I realized — I could finally make all the things I had only imagined before!
How did internships contribute to your learning and career trajectory? Could you share key takeaways from your experiences?
Ah, PS-1. Let’s not open that box — it was my first taste of corporate life, and honestly, it was a bit of a culture shock. The biggest thing I learned was how to connect with people who were completely different from me. It was challenging but also valuable.
In my third year, I hit a bit of a crisis — I started wondering if I was on the right path. So many people around me were shifting towards finance, product management, or DSA, and I questioned whether I should do the same. But when I was back home, doing some origami and 3D modeling, it hit me — this is what I enjoy. That’s when I decided to give product design my full effort.
By my final year, I was working on formal product design projects and got guidance from someone doing a PhD at BITS. Of course, my CGPA wasn’t the best. But luckily, I had PS-2 in my last semester, and the CG sorting happened after that. Mercedes was a dream company for me. I had a book where I used to sketch Mercedes cars, and I thought, why not give it my all?
I had good projects, automotive side projects, and garage training. I even did internships in garages just to gain hands-on experience. Before my interview, I called my mom — something I always do before big moments. The interview itself? It was just a conversation with people passionate about the same things as me. They loved my projects, and everything just fell into place.
I have no regrets — although even if I did have some, I won’t say it out loud.
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