Interning at Samuel Engineering
Jafar Makrani is an graduate student in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering. He interned at during spring 2025.
Jafar Makrani, graduate student in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering and intern at Samuel Engineering.
Where did you intern over the summer and what was exciting for you about that opportunity?
This spring, I interned at Samuel Engineering, Inc. in Greenwood Village, Colorado. Samuel Engineering is a multidisciplinary engineering consulting firm that offers services in process, mechanical, electrical, civil, and pipeline engineering for oil and gas, power, mining, and chemical sectors. I worked with the Pipeline Services team, supporting and reviewing projects with clients such as Suncor Energy, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, and Tallgrass Energy.
My role focused on reviewing drawings, getting trained on project design tasks, and building custom engineering tools that enhanced workflows. It was a great opportunity to see how engineering decisions are made in real time on complex, safety-critical projects.
What kinds of projects have you had a chance to work on over the summer?
Throughout my internship, I contributed significantly to several pipeline engineering and trenchless technology projects. One of my main contributions was developing a Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) Geometry Profile Calculator in Microsoft Excel. Unlike commonly available tools such as Technical Toolbox, our calculator could handle compound bends, providing a more realistic and flexible approach to complex HDD designs.听
I also assisted in preparing technical deliverables such as HDD feasibility reports, site-specific bore profiles, bend radius checks, wall thickness calculations, and HDD pullback load analysis. These experiences helped me sharpen both my technical design skills and my ability to present findings clearly to project stakeholders.
Was there a particular challenge you encountered that really pushed you to learn something new?
Before starting my internship, I didn鈥檛 have any background or knowledge in pipeline engineering. I had no idea about the amount of technical detail and planning that goes into designing and executing projects like HDD or open-cut installations. It was a completely new world for me, from understanding bore profiles and clash detection to calculating geometric designs and material specifications.听
At first, it was overwhelming because there were so many factors to consider that I had never encountered in the classroom. But by asking lots of questions, shadowing experienced engineers, and working on these real projects, I was able to bridge that gap. It pushed me to learn quickly, adapt, and build confidence in an entirely new field of engineering.
How did what you learned look different than the way you learn engineering in class?
In class, engineering problems are usually well-defined. You know the starting point, the assumptions you鈥檙e allowed to make, and what a good solution should look like. But during my internship, the real world didn鈥檛 come with neatly packaged problems. Every project was filled with uncertainties, incomplete information, and competing priorities.听
I learned that engineering in practice is much more about decision-making under uncertainty and balancing technical feasibility with client requirements, budgets, and timelines. It鈥檚 less about finding the 鈥減erfect鈥 answer and more about finding a good, practical solution that works within constraints. This experience really changed how I think about problem-solving and showed me how important communication, teamwork, and creative thinking are in addition to technical knowledge.
What advice do you have for other students interested in pursuing a similar opportunity?
My biggest advice is to stay curious, proactive, and committed to learning. Even if you鈥檙e not directly assigned a particular task, don鈥檛 hesitate to ask how you can support ongoing projects or suggest improvements when you see opportunities. Most importantly, chase excellence, not success. If you focus on developing your skills, understanding your field deeply, and consistently delivering high-quality work, success will follow naturally.
I'm proud to share that by maintaining this mindset during my internship, I鈥檓 currently in talks for a full-time position at Samuel Engineering even before my internship has officially ended. It was a rewarding reminder that when you strive for excellence and take ownership of your contributions, opportunities will come to you without needing to chase them. Keep pushing yourself to improve a little every day and doors will open when you least expect it.