Li Jiang’s work is critical to help keep things moving. “Our main goal is to look out for the technology road map for North America so we can develop technologies that lead to more efficient powertrains,” says Jiang, manager of engineering for gasoline systems at Bosch.

“What really motivates me is developing technologies and getting them into the field, meaning to the end customer. I'm passionate about making technology where people benefit from it.”

Long interested in engineering, Jiang received her master’s degree and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering; it was an internship at the Bosch research and technology center in Pittsburgh, PA researching data-driven modeling for engine diagnosis, that drew her to the field of automotive engineering.

“The complexity of the system was very interesting for me from an engineering standpoint. All engineers like complex issues and problems to solve,” she explains.

“The automotive field provides me plenty of those complex opportunities on an on-going basis, and [it] attracts me because of [the] complexity and the impact of these improvements on broader society.”

Particularly in her powertrain work, Jiang finds the diversity of technology, as well as the opportunities to impact the future through technologies to reduce emissions and improve efficiency while keeping vehicles affordable and fun to drive, an interesting challenge.

“How you balance the different market-driven factors is very interesting,” says Jiang, who holds more than a dozen patents for her work.

“Nobody has a crystal ball on where specifically technologies will go, but as an engineer, you have the power to shape change in the future.”

Following her internship, she was excited at the prospect of working full-time at Bosch, which has U.S. headquarters in Farmington Hills, MI. With the global company since 2008, she was originally drawn to Bosch for both its focus on the future and culture of innovation.

“The company's ‘Invented for Life’ mantra attracted me because the company wants to make a positive impact on society in the long-term,” she says.

She also appreciates how, at Bosch, everyone's opinion is valued.

“Leadership is open to new ideas, so I’ve never been in a position where I’ve been afraid to raise my opinion because it’s a safe, open environment,” says Jiang. “I’ve been presented with great opportunities to develop a fulfilling career within Bosch.”

While technical skills are important for success in engineering, soft skills are even more important, notes Jiang. “Technical skills can be learned through education or on the job.”

A strong passion and curiosity for engineering is also a must, and that includes, she points out, not always accepting the status quo.

“You have to be brave enough to challenge it,” she advises.

Find career opportunities at Bosch at bosch.us/careers. Connect on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.