It was a fascinating opportunity to get hands-on manufacturing experience and learning how the manufacturing floor operates. It was my first glimpse into battery production on a massive scale, offered an inside look at the battery industry and its growth, and allowed me to see how other roles fit within the industry. Panasonic treats its interns very well .
What I wish was different
In my circumstance, my intended mentor quit before I arrived onsite, which meant project goals were lost and unclear at the start of the internship. As I worked to reacquire those project goals, I ended up taking on a very strongly CS-oriented role, which isn't inherently bad, but I desired closer experience with the battery electrodes and other components.
Advice
I would highly recommend interning at Panasonic, as the perspective it offers into the battery industry is fascinating. Be prepared with a strong sense of independence and a willingness to dive deep into technical details, as there's a lot to unpack in the Gigafactory's operations!
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Proceess Engineering Intern
June - August 2021 • Sparks, NV
What I liked
I was with a very competent team and had the privilege of understanding the battery industry
What I wish was different
I wish there wasn't as high turnover in the battery industry. It seems everyone is on the move and would like for the environment to have more stability
Advice
Make sure to stay in contact with your team members as they will serve as great resources in this industry.
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Quality Engineering Intern
May - August 2020 • Sparks, NV
What I liked
I had the opportunity to have a personal mentor, we received weekly “class” sessions about life/careers from a different executive member, I learned a new programming language, and I had my own project that I could manage based on my own pace! Everyone at PENA is extremely friendly and more than willing to help you with anything. The work pace is fast and innovative, and it was fascinating to work at the world’s biggest lithium-ion battery plant.
What I wish was different
If we weren’t in a global pandemic, I know that we (intern cohort) would’ve done more team-bonding activities (like test-drive Tesla cars on the Fernley race track). Our coordinators tried their best, but there were a lot of restrictions that they couldn’t maneuver around, such as social distancing protocols.
Advice
Put yourself out there and meet as many people as you can!
