Recent graduate
Where is he today?
Maxwell Lee is a design engineer and engineer in training, working at a company that is dedicated to creating and operating the world’s first automated oil rig.
Creative juices satisfied through engineering design
I am a 2017 graduate from the mechanical engineering MSc program at U of C, currently working as a design engineer (EIT) at a company dedicated to creating and operating the world's first automated oil rig. Ever since I was a kid, I have been fascinated with creating new things and seeing them come to life. That feeling of seeing something that you spent hours upon hours making perfect successfully achieve the task that you designed it to perform, it's like you're on top of the world.
Studying mechanical engineering was the logical choice for me to turn this passion into a career. I am lucky that I made that choice and stuck with it, because every day presents a new challenge and opportunity to learn through solving challenging design problems that end up materializing in the real world to achieve something great.
Ever since I was a kid, I have been fascinated with creating new things and seeing them come to life.
Maxwell Lee
BSc (Eng)’15, MSc (Eng)‘17
How did UCalgary’s Schulich School of Engineering prepare you to be an engineer?
It mainly taught me to problem solve and try new things, in addition to providing the fundamentals required for my line of work.
What were your Schulich School of Engineering highlights?
The one that stands out the most was my internship opportunity in Switzerland. It gave me a chance to learn and work in an international environment, and it was also the beginning of my career in engineering design. I got to work on some cool projects out there that inspired me to pursue the work that I currently do.
Who were your UCalgary mentors?
The most influential mentor that I had during my time at U of C, was my supervisor, Dr. Simon Li. His guidance and insight during both my master’s degree and final-year capstone project helped me succeed in my educational career.
What is your advice for new engineering students?
Work hard, ask questions, don't take the easy way out and try to learn things from people with various backgrounds.
What is your life beyond engineering?
Lots of my volunteer work and hobbies have been somewhat engineering related. I have volunteered with organizations that teach STEM concepts to youth, and have built several 3D printers in my own time. Outside of this, cooking and trying new foods, family and friends.
What does it mean to you to be an engineer?
It means being a good problem solver, finding the best solution to the problem at hand. Being a design engineer (EIT) really reinforces this everyday, being challenged to create designs that perform a function, while satisfying several requirements/constraints.