Career Path Of A Fuel Cell Engineer At ZeroAvia
William's career path is notably non-linear, starting with studies in business and biology at the University of Alabama, then transitioning through roles as a machinist, sous chef, and production line worker at Tesla, before gaining experience at SpaceX and Electric Hydrogen, culminating in their current position as a Fuel Cell Engineer at ZeroAvia—a journey showcasing diverse skills and a willingness to explore various sectors while pursuing advanced degrees in "foresight" and engineering management. The experience gained from roles such as "a lead prototyping technician" and "lead structures technician" clearly played a role in preparing William for this current role.
Career Exploration, Overcoming Challenges, Resilience, Career Development, Technology
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
William Williamson
Fuel Cell Engineer
ZeroAvia
University of Houston, University of Houston - Clear Lake, University of Texas at Dallas, University of Alabama, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Future Studies, Engineering Management (MS,MS)
Psychology
Aerospace, Aviation & Defense, Energy & Utilities
Research and Development (R&D)
Honors Student, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. William's diverse educational background, including stints in business, biology, neuroscience, behavioral studies, psychology, and foresight, showcases the value of exploring different fields before settling on a career path.
2. His practical experience in various roles—machinist, sous chef, production line worker at Tesla, production coordinator at SpaceX, and technician at Electric Hydrogen—demonstrates the importance of hands-on skills and adaptability in a dynamic career.
3. His career progression highlights the potential for transitioning between seemingly unrelated fields, ultimately leading to a fulfilling role as a Fuel Cell Engineer at ZeroAvia, a company at the forefront of hydrogen propulsion technology.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Please include any internships or jobs you had before your current role.
Out of high school, I went to the University of Alabama. I studied business and biology. I completed my first and second-year coursework and then left Alabama.
I worked in the service industry. I studied neuroscience and behavioral studies at UT Dallas for a little bit but didn't finish there either.
After that, I went to the University of Houston and finished a degree in psychology with a focus on behavioral neuroscience. After graduating, I worked as a machinist for Emerson Process Management, which is a very hands-on job cutting metal.
I left there and went back to the University of Houston to study foresight, which is basically trend analysis. I finished with a master's in that. I also worked as a sous chef briefly.
After that, I worked on a production line at Tesla. I made lead and was then moved to drive unit, flexed into equipment maintenance. While I was working there, I completed a master's in engineering management and a certification in advanced manufacturing.
From there, I went to SpaceX where I was a production coordinator and an operator, and then a lead structures technician. After that, I worked as a lead prototyping technician for Electric Hydrogen, which is a startup in the Bay.
Then I went to Tesla, where I was a technician, three in inverter. Now I'm a fuel cell engineer for a company called Zero Avia, which is a startup that works with hydrogen propulsion.