Grandma’s support paves the way for Bosch internship
Niner intern discovers his future in facilities engineering
Davey Sides is on the cusp of a new beginning. While looking forward to his new career, he keeps an eye on the people and moments that encouraged him while earning a Master of Science in Construction and Facilities Engineering. Soon, he would walk across the stage with a master’s degree in hand, a testament to years of dedication and, more profoundly, to the unwavering influence of his family.
From a young age, Sides was captivated by the hum of machinery and the intricate dance of manufacturing systems. “My father is a quality engineer. He’s been engineering all his life, and I think that’s what piqued my interest in the field,” Sides reflected.
His childhood was filled with visits to manufacturing plants in Charlotte and Lincolnton. “I’ve always had this industrial and technical mindset and wanted to work in manufacturing and with the different systems,” he said.
Charlotte, with its burgeoning industrial landscape, became a natural magnet for his ambitions. “Charlotte really opened my eyes and motivated me to push myself and further my education as far as I can.”
The most impactful step in his job search came not from a career fair, but a local newspaper. It was his grandmother, vigilant for opportunities, who spotted an advertisement and knew it would be a fit for her grandson. “The first company that called me was Bosch Tools in Lincolnton,” he said, “which is where I’ve lived all my life.”
This led to an internship in facilities management, a field he hadn’t known existed. “I didn’t even know that was a thing … I’d never heard of facility engineering before. So I worked there as an intern for two years, and that opened a whole new world of engineering to me.” The fast-paced, multidisciplinary nature of facilities engineering, dealing with everything from HVAC to electrical systems, suited his problem-solving spirit.
A seamless advancement
Sides’ internship evolved into a full-time job offer with Bosch. “I had been interning through the undergraduate program at William States Lee College of Engineering,” he recalled. “In 2023, right before I completed that degree, a permanent position came open at Bosch. I was hired full-time into the same department where I’d already interned as a facility engineer.”
Sides’ internship evolved into a full-time job offer with Bosch. “I had been interning through the undergraduate program at William States Lee College of Engineering,” he recalled. “In 2023, right before I completed that degree, a permanent position came open at Bosch. I was hired full-time into the same department where I’d already interned as a facility engineer.”
While his transition to professional position was seamlessly unfolding at Bosch, Sides’ time at UNC Charlotte was solidifying his career aspirations. The vibrant campus life and the “excellent professors” were pivotal. “That’s where it started,” he recalled, “and that’s what ultimately pushed me to do well in school and pursue a master’s degree.”
With his internship boss now becoming his supervisor, Sides experienced a smooth continuation of professional growth. Meanwhile, on campus, he entered the graduate program in facilities engineering, switching later to distance education, which made it possible to excel professionally while pursuing an advanced degree.
Support from all sides
Sides’ connection to UNC Charlotte ran deeper than his education. “My father graduated from UNC Charlotte with my same degree, a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering technology. My aunt completed the nursing program, and my little brother is attending Charlotte now for accounting. We’re very attached to Charlotte. It’s nostalgic and very sentimental to me. It just feels like home.”
One supportive Niner was Jim Hartman, director of the UNC Charlotte senior design program, whose personalized approach impacted Sides’ undergraduate capstone experience. Sides had discovered that one of the available senior design projects was a challenge sponsored by his employer, Bosch, and focused on the company’s oscillating multi-tool saw blades. After learning of Sides’ internship with Bosch and his interest in this particular project, Hartman made a quick decision to assign him to the project team. This decision and the resulting project experience gave the intern an expanded view of manufacturing while creating a mutual benefit for both student and industry partners. Now, as a graduate, Sides periodically checks on the current senior design teams assigned to Bosch challenges, bringing his journey full circle.
The graduate level faculty also connected with Sides and watched how the master’s student tailored his own academic and professional growth. “Davey Sides is absolutely outstanding,” said Jake Smithwick, who directs the M.S. in Construction and Facilities Engineering program. “Due to the program’s flexibility, Davey was able to pursue his studies, lead the development of a new facility, and apply what he learned to role as a facility engineer for Bosch USA. His choice of this program has been instrumental to his career.”
As Sides prepared to graduate with an advanced engineering degree, he shared this advice for career advancement: “Never stop taking classes. Just take one at a time if you need to. The load is bearable. Even if you work on it for just a couple of hours every day, you’ll be finished before you know it.” For Sides, graduation is a significant milestone in a journey still unfolding. “I don’t think this will be the end. There are still a lot of opportunities I want to explore, whether in manufacturing or quality or electrical engineering.”
His path, paved by family influence, nurtured by Charlotte faculty and driven by an insatiable curiosity, is just the beginning for Davey Sides.
