Tesla Dream Job for Engineering Graduate

Living His Dream: Recent grad Jacob Garrity discusses his new career at Tesla

Ever since he was in middle school, Jacob Garrity had his sights set on a career at Tesla. His growing interest in robotics and the company's image as an industry leader drew him in and ignited a spark.

Now, less than six months after he graduated from Saint Francis, Jacob is living out his biggest dream as a process technician at the Tesla Gigafactory in Sparks, Nevada. The combination of hands-on learning, leadership experiences, and his own determination have secured him the career he has always envisioned.

Jacob graduated from Saint Francis with both a B.S. in Engineering and a B.S. in Computer Sciences with a focus on robotics, machine learning, and programming languages. This dual degree gave him the knowledge, skills, and experiences that set him apart from other graduates in his field. His classwork, as well as his campus extracurriculars, was a springboard to success. During his time at Saint Francis, Jacob leaned into every opportunity. He was the team captain for the Esports VALORANT team, and he was the drumline captain for the Saint Francis University Marching Band for two years. These leadership roles prepared him for the teamwork and quick decision-making his job requires.

A proud alumnus, Jacob credits Saint Francis with providing him with the tools he needed to turn his middle-school ambitions into the career of a lifetime.

Read our Q&A with Jacob where he discusses his new career and reflects on his time on campus:

SFU: How did you land your job at Tesla?

Jacob: I got my job at Tesla after applying to a wide range of positions they had available. During the interview process, the evaluator suggested I lean more towards becoming a process technician, as it seemed to be a better fit for my knowledge and skill sets. I really appreciated that the interviewing team actually took the time and initiative to learn about me and find a place where I would be a good fit and have the most impact on the company.

SFU: As a Process Technician, what kind of work do you do?

Jacob: As a process technician at Tesla, my job is to improve the way that things are done. While there are people who know the product or machinery better, my role is to understand the "how" of why it all works - how machines work together to produce the results we want; how we as humans interact with the production process; and how that entire process can be improved daily to continue to build a world of amazing abundance.

SFU: You were a double major in General Engineering and Computer Science at Saint Francis. How did these programs prepare you for your job at Tesla?

Jacob: Both the General Engineering and Computer Science programs at SFU prepared me well for my role here at Tesla. In the General Engineering program, the small class sizes gave me a lot of hands-on experience that really set me apart from recent graduates from bigger schools. The problem-solving approach that SFU teaches, especially looking at root cause from the ground up, has helped me to thrive in a manufacturing environment where issues can be incredibly complex and have multiple potential causes. The Computer Science program taught me how to solve problems in much the same way. However, the extra focus on computer systems and coding has allowed me to understand the logic behind the production line much easier than I would have ever thought possible. The combination of these degrees and their different approaches to problem-solving has allowed me to shine in my role here.

SFU: While you were a student, your extracurriculars included the Saint Francis University Marching Band and the Esports team. How did those experiences help to shape you and prepare you for a career post-graduation?

Jacob: Both Marching Band and Esports at SFU taught me some incredible leadership traits. Through Marching Band I learned how to lead large groups through precise and clearly relayed instructions. Through Esports, I led a much smaller team through quick, in-the-moment decision-making. These leadership styles, while very different, complement each other wonderfully in the fast-paced manufacturing environment that is Tesla. There are large goals that the company is working toward that require a longer-term thought process, and some that require in-the-moment problem-solving across multidisciplinary teams looking for quick solutions and task distribution.

SFU: Overall, how did your SFU experience get you ready for a career at a company like Tesla?

Jacob: I think my SFU experience helped me to become a very well-rounded person. I am able to not only deep dive into problems using a variety of tools, knowledge, and techniques that come from multiple resources. I am also able to lead both small and large teams effectively, safely, and efficiently. The hands-on approach to teaching at SFU ensured that I had more knowledge than testing can show. I learned to have a systematic approach to problem-solving that extended beyond classwork and into real-world situations.

SFU: As you look back, is there anything else about your time at SFU that you would like to share?

Jacob: My time at SFU was incredible. The ability to combine faith with schooling, small class sizes, professors who care, and a true hands-on approach made me the best version of myself. I could not have gotten to where I am without my classmates, professors, and coaches - for them I am extremely grateful. I cannot wait to come visit as an alumnus and see how the University continues to grow, and what all we are able to achieve.