Sam’s Path to a Career in Mechanical Commissioning
When Sam first joined the LotusWorks team as an intern, he wanted a role where he could take what he was learning in the classroom and see it come to life . A few years later, he’s now a full-time Mechanical Commissioning Engineer on a leading semiconductor client site in Arizona – still driven by the same curiosity that first drew him to engineering.
Sam’s path began at Arizona State University, where he earned both a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering Systems and a Master’s in General Engineering through an accelerated programme. Engineering has always felt close to home for Sam. “My grandpa was a mechanical engineer and started his own company,” he says. “He loved working on race cars and designed race car tracks around the world. I’ve always been drawn to math and problem-solving, and engineering just felt like the right place to put those skills to use.”
Discovering Commissioning — and LotusWorks
Like many students approaching graduation, Sam explored a wide range of internship options. What set LotusWorks apart, he says, was the chance to be hands-on from the very beginning.
“I came across LotusWorks while looking through internship listings. I’ll admit I didn’t know much about commissioning at first,” Sam says with a smile. “But once I read more about it — being out in the field, working with systems, seeing how everything connects — it really appealed to me. I didn’t want to just sit behind a desk; I wanted to get my hands on real systems.”
During his internship, Sam was based at one of LotusWorks’ client sites, a large-scale semiconductor project – where he gained exposure to multiple systems including electrical, mechanical, instrumentation, and controls. Unlike some of his classmates, whose internships focused on a single project or design exercise, Sam’s experience was broad and hands-on. “What stood out to me,” he says, “was how we weren’t just shadowing others or doing a single project. We got to learn about all the different systems that make the facility work and how they all tie together.”
That experience shaped the way Sam thought about engineering. “It made me appreciate how every part of a system depends on the others,” he explains. “It’s something I still think about now in my work.”
Learning from Mentors
Sam credits much of his early development to the mentors and team members who guided him throughout the programme. “I was really lucky to have some of the best mentors you could ask for,” he says. “Everyone I worked with — electrical, mechanical, waste systems — had such deep knowledge and took the time to explain things in detail. They’d walk us through it in the field, then show us how it all tied together on the drawings later.”
That combination of real-world demonstration and technical review gave him the confidence to step into a full-time role. “Seeing the systems in person and then reviewing how everything connects on paper really tied it all together,” he adds.
From Intern to Engineer
The transition from intern to full-time employee felt smooth for Sam — and that, he says, reflects how well the internship programme prepared him. “Honestly, the internship almost over-prepared me for the job,” Sam laughs. “Stepping into a full-time Mechanical Commissioning Engineer role actually felt easier in some ways — I already knew how the different disciplines fit together.”
Now part of the mechanical commissioning team at LotusWorks, Sam spends his days testing, troubleshooting, and verifying complex building systems at a semiconductor client site in Arizona. “No two days are ever quite the same,” he says. “Lately I’ve been working on fan coil units, exhaust fans, water pumps, air handlers — testing, troubleshooting, making sure every system runs the way it should before handover.”
The variety, he says, is what keeps the role exciting. “Each piece of equipment is different, so you’re constantly thinking: how can this be better, and how can we make it work more efficiently next time?”
The Culture of Quality and Growth
What Sam values most about LotusWorks is how much pride the team takes in what they do. “The level of knowledge on the team is incredible,” he says. “Everyone takes ownership and goes the extra mile to make sure the systems we hand over meet the highest standards. Nothing gets left unchecked or assumed — it’s about doing things the right way and taking pride in that.”
He also appreciates how LotusWorks encourages continuous learning and supports engineers early in their careers. “You can see how much the company values growth,” he says. “The internship gave me the chance to explore different disciplines, and now as a full-time engineer, I’m still learning every day. There’s always room to grow here.”
Advice for Future Interns
Reflecting on his experience, Sam encourages any student or early-career engineer to seize the opportunity.
“Apply,” he says simply. “It’s one of the best internships you can have as a young engineer. You get hands-on experience, you learn from experts, and you see how everything connects.’
Looking back, Sam says the experience gave him more than just technical knowledge — it gave him confidence. “I’m grateful I took the chance,”
His journey from intern to engineer shows what can happen when a company invests in helping young professionals learn, grow, and find their place in the industry.
Sam’s journey is one of many that begin with a LotusWorks internship. Explore our internship and graduate opportunities to start your story.