Skip to content

From Baja SAE to the Engineering Workforce | Oshkosh Corporation

Episode 233 · September 17th, 2026 · 53 mins 40 secs

About this Episode

What happens when the lessons learned building and competing with a Baja SAE vehicle carry over into a professional engineering career?

On this episode of Beyond the Competition, Mike Sorg and Scott Schultz are joined by Baja SAE Program Manager Damon Andring and members of the Oshkosh Corporation team to explore how the Baja SAE experience prepares students for the engineering workforce.

Todd Cimermancic, Zac Hassman and Jake Gates share their experiences with SAE University Programs, including their journeys from student projects and competition weekends to engineering careers with Oshkosh Corporation and JLG. They discuss how skills such as problem solving, communication, teamwork, design iteration and project management translate directly into professional engineering environments.

The conversation also explores Oshkosh Corporation's continuing involvement with Baja SAE, its memorable custom competition trophies, the new “Hammered Back” endurance award and the importance of building genuine relationships between students and engineers at competition.

Plus, the group looks toward the future of mobility and engineering with discussions about autonomy, active safety, connected equipment, electrification and the technologies today's students may soon be developing themselves.

For students preparing for their own careers, the message is simple: get involved, ask questions, talk to the engineers around the paddock and make the most of every opportunity Beyond the Competition.