Leo Calaj Blends U-M Academic Insights with Real-World Expertise to Improve Vehicle Performance at GM
For Leo Calaj, returning to higher education has been a real GAME changer.
Calaj, 30, is grateful he enrolled in the Global Automotive and Manufacturing Engineering (GAME) graduate program in the University of Michigan College of Engineering in 2023. Lessons learned include improving his knowledge, expertise, skills and work performance as a full-time Vehicle Mass Engineer at General Motors.
In this role, he is responsible for verifying the mass of BEV (Battery Electric) and ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles. The weight of the vehicle will have a big impact on performance, safety and certification. He collaborates with various team members to track changes throughout the program lifecycle while also ensuring accurate reporting of mass. Calaj is also responsible for providing updates to various GM stakeholders and identifying and monitoring risks and opportunities to various metrics.
‘One of the Best Engineering Colleges’
For Calaj, who graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 2018, GAME was the perfect choice to advance his education because of its close partnership and collaboration with General Motors in helping to design a curriculum that directly translates into the field. At U-M, he learns firsthand from among the world’s leading academic minds in automotive and manufacturing and the program’s hybrid format offers much-needed flexibility, allowing him to seamlessly balance rigorous academics with his demanding role at GM.
His graduate academic pursuits have refined his ability to articulate ideas about new technologies and sustainability effectively, allowing him to apply those lessons directly to his career in automotive.
“GAME is an excellent program,” he said. “The lessons I learn immediately transfer into the field. My coursework has given me a new perspective and allows me to speak more intelligently about new technology and hot button issues. This is one of the best engineering colleges in the world.”
Shaping the Automotive Landscape
In the rapidly evolving world of automotive engineering, Calaj is at the forefront of innovation and expertise. His decision to enroll in GAME was driven by the seismic shifts in the automotive industry. With the rapidly changing regulatory landscapes, the need for carbon-reducing, net-neutral vehicles like EVs (electric vehicles), hybrid and even autonomous technologies has never been more pressing.
The GAME program is instrumental in shaping Calaj’s skills, equipping him with deep insights into new automotive technologies while he grows academically and professionally. These experiences set him apart from peers and enable him to actively contribute to the future of vehicle technology at GM by collaborating across departments to implement processes that assure compliance without stifling innovation, a feat that underscores his belief in the power of cross-functional teamwork and effective leadership.
“I have a lot of experience in various aspects of vehicle development and performance,” he said. “Electric vehicles are much heavier than those with combustion engines. My role is to determine how we are meeting performance and safety requirements. Our metrics are greatly influenced by the propulsion system. Battery vehicles present new challenges. My U-M course work helps me be more quick to react. How can we make the battery lighter and less expensive?”
Accelerating the Path to Sustainability
With a career trajectory enriched by diverse roles in product development and vehicle performance, Calaj has developed a unique perspective. Transitioning from the challenges presented by heavy electric vehicles to meeting stringent performance requirements, his work exemplifies the crucial nature of adapting quickly to changes. He credits the coursework at U-M with this agility, empowering him to think strategically, intellectually and predictably about complex problems, such as opportunities to make batteries lighter and less expensive.
Calaj’s contributions are pivotal.
By working cross-functionally with teams to leverage benchmarking opportunities and pushing for mass reductions where possible, he has helped to enhance vehicle efficiency, safety and performance. His academic pursuits have refined his ability to articulate ideas about new technologies and sustainability effectively, affording him more success in his career and making him more resilient and adaptable to major changes in the automotive sector.
Moving forward, Calaj believes new technologies will continue to drive future vehicle advancements.
“Artificial Intelligence will revolutionize the automotive world,” he said. “Cars will become more efficient and smarter, like smart phones. AI will improve autonomous driving capabilities and you will see robo taxis in the future.”
Impact and Innovation
Eager to leave an indelible mark on the automotive industry, Calaj’s goals are to make batteries lighter with more range and make electric vehicles less costly. Lighter battery technology will greatly improve performance and boost the transition to all-electric. He is also interested in using software to model vehicles.
“A lot of automotive companies are moving away from hardware to test vehicles through model simulation,” he said. “It’s less costly and better for the environment to create virtual models, but they have to be accurate. Models are only as good as the inputs.”
One area he would like to see the nation improve is adding more electric charging stations.
When asked to list his career goals, Calaj included leading groundbreaking projects, securing patents, and mentoring the next generation of automotive engineers.
Balancing his passion for engineering with a zest for culinary exploration and cultural experience as a foodie, he embodies a multidimensional approach to life and work that exemplifies how the convergence of higher education, industry, and innovation can drive sustainable advancements in automotive engineering.
His story is a testament to the transformative power of continuous learning and interdisciplinary collaboration in shaping not just vehicles, but the very future of mobility, adaptability and sustainability.