Welcome to #DelphiTalks!

Interview no.5

At Delphi, innovation is driven by passionate engineers who push the boundaries of technology. In this edition of #DelphiTalks, we sit down with Levi Hudlin, a young and talented Product Engineer from our Fuel Injection Systems team.

From developing test plans for Common Rail Injectors to embracing the latest advancements in AI and hydrogen propulsion, Levi’s career is already off to an exciting start. Join us as we dive into Levi’s insights, experiences, and aspirations for shaping the next generation of automotive technology.

Levi, tell us what inspired you to pursue a career in engineering, and what excites you most about working in the automotive industry?

During my studies, physics was always my strength, I wanted to understand how the world works and quickly realised I have a logical way of thinking. Engineering was the natural career path for me, and the breadth of the subject excited me. At the time I was unsure where exactly I wanted to specialise, but the room for growth in the automotive sector is what excites me the most. The world is rightly dealing with more stringent regulations which will make getting closer to carbon zero a crucial task for all companies. As I am relatively new to the corporate world, I can grow with the development of current propulsion technology, and work with the emergence of new technologies such as hydrogen propulsion.

What drew you to the aftermarket sector specifically, and what do you find most rewarding about working in this space?

The dynamic nature of the aftermarket was appealing to me, no two days are ever the same. Being an Aftermarket Engineer allows me to work on a wide variety of products and projects, and to travel the world, so work is always interesting for me. The automotive aftermarket has so much technical information to immerse yourself in and I find the learning process to be very rewarding. The team feel like a big family, and we are constantly supporting each other’s professional development.

Can you share a project or accomplishment at Delphi that you’re particularly proud of?

I am particularly proud of the first Common Rail Injector test plan I developed for the CRI-Pro in 2023. I was relatively new to the business and had to quickly learn the functionalities of the product and test bench, and the process of test plan creation and validation to release a high-quality product to the AP market. Given this was my first project of significant size I am proud of the speed in which I was able to execute it.

What advice would you give to young engineers who are considering a career in the automotive industry?

Never stop learning – there is so much information out there and so much to take in, listen to your more experienced colleagues but also to those who are just as early in their career, as different perspectives can offer different solutions. I would also advise that you learn about modern technology and techniques. I believe what makes young engineers so useful to the corporate world is their affinity to new technology. For example, being able to utilise AI and machine learning to streamline processes will make you an asset to any company, use your strengths to your advantage.

What role do you see young engineers playing in shaping the future of the automotive aftermarket industry?

I think young engineers will bring innovation to what is a traditional industry. Technological developments are growing exponentially, and young people are growing with them. With this natural ability and an engineering mind the possibilities for growth are endless. I see processes within the automotive aftermarket industry becoming more automated and less manual and I see the push for sustainability being accelerated in the coming years to help tackle the global issues that young people will need to face more and more.

...your face might look familiar to some people - how does it feel to be both an engineer and a model for 'Masters of Motion'? Do you think your modeling career might take off, or will engineering keep you grounded?

The ‘Masters of Motion’ programme was a fantastic experience for me! It was a great opportunity to do something outside of my normal day-to-day activities in a productive way. It is a perfect example of the great opportunities available at PHINIA and I hope to do more activities like this going forward. Some people may recognize my face, but I’d like to think it is my work that stands out, being an Engineer is what excites me most, but I see no reason why I can’t help the ‘Master of Motion’ campaign where possible.

Thank you Levi! See you next time!

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