I am Aditya Agarwal, currently in my fourth year (after third year when I did the internship). At the end of my third year, I interned at Bajaj Auto Ltd as a CAE-CFD intern working on accelerating simulations using deep learning. This article gives an overview of how I got this internship and my experience during those two months.

About the Internship:

Company: Bajaj Auto Ltd
Role: CAE-CFD Intern (Accelerating simulations using deep learning)
Duration: 2 months (May - July 2025)
Mode: On-site
Company Type: MNC

How I Got the Opportunity:

I secured this opportunity through on-campus placement - one of the structured recruitment processes available to IIT students.

Selection Process:

1. Technical test
2. Resume screening
3. Technical interview
4. HR round

Preparation:

Academic Preparation:

• Second year mechanical course revision - Focused on core mechanical engineering concepts
• Foundation knowledge from thermodynamics and fluid mechanics courses

Previous Experience That Helped:

Strong Academic Background:

• Two second-year university remote internships - Provided research experience
• Publication in fluid domain - Demonstrated research capability and subject matter expertise
• AP (Advanced Performance) in Thermodynamics - Strong academic foundation

Primary Responsibilities:

Main Project: Implementing Deep Learning for Aerodynamic Simulation Acceleration

Objective: Develop deep learning models to accelerate traditional CFD aerodynamic simulations by 2000 times - a revolutionary improvement in computational efficiency.

Technical Approach:

• Deep Learning Integration with traditional CFD methods
• Aerodynamic Simulation Optimization for automotive applications
• Custom Pipeline Development - Created complete in-house pipeline for Bajaj Auto
• Academic-Industry Bridge - Perfect blend of academic research with real industry applications

Work Culture & Experience:

Work Environment:

• Pretty chill onboarding process and overall work culture
• Proper mentorship structure - Both mentor and reporting manager allocated
• Daily guidance - Regular support for day-to-day activities
• Collaborative atmosphere - Conducive to learning and innovation

Meeting Structure:

• Weekly meetings with reporting manager - Regular progress tracking
• 2 review meetings - Formal project evaluation sessions
• Soft skills development through professional presentations

Key Learnings:

Technical Expertise:

• Deep Learning Mastery - Much deeper dive than institute projects
• CFD-ML Integration - Unique combination of computational fluid dynamics with machine learning
• Pipeline Development - End-to-end system creation for industrial use
• Research-Application Balance - Understanding how academic research translates to industry solutions

Professional Skills:

• Weekly presentation skills - Regular manager interactions
• Review meeting management - Formal project evaluation experience
• Soft skills enhancement - Professional communication and collaboration
• Industry research methodology - Systematic approach to problem-solving

Unique Achievement: Created a complete in-house pipeline for Bajaj Auto - a significant contribution that demonstrates both technical capability and practical implementation skills.

Career Impact:

Career Decision: I would like to continue with Bajaj Auto for a career in the automobile industry - This internship provided clear direction toward automotive sector specialization.

Industry Clarity: Gained valuable insights into how automotive companies approach computational challenges and innovation.

Recommendations for Juniors:

Primary Strategies:

• Prioritize campus hiring - Structured and reliable pathway
• Company portal applications - Direct applications through official websites
• LinkedIn referrals - Leverage connections for referral opportunities

Advice for First-Time Interns:

Interview Preparation:

• Be very clear about your purpose of application during interviews
• Future commitment clarity - Especially important to articulate whether you’d like to continue with the company
• Genuine interest demonstration - Show authentic interest in the role and company

Application Approach:

• Purpose-driven applications - Apply to companies you’re genuinely interested in joining long-term

Common Misconceptions:

Stipend Reality: Core companies usually pay less during internships (like Bajaj Auto), but PPO (Pre-Placement Offer) compensation is quite different from internship stipend.

Important Understanding: Don’t judge core company opportunities solely based on internship stipend - the full-time offers are typically much more competitive.

Core vs Non-Core Decision:

Personal Recommendation: Depends on the individual for sure.

Important Consideration: If you have interest in core and you’re going for non-core just because of low pay in core, then that’s something I might not approve of.

Key Principle: Make career decisions based on genuine interest rather than short-term financial considerations, especially regarding internship stipends.

Final Thoughts:

This internship was transformative in demonstrating how cutting-edge technology (deep learning) can revolutionize traditional engineering problems (CFD simulations). The 2000x speed improvement project showcases the potential of interdisciplinary approaches in modern engineering.

Key Takeaway: Core engineering internships, especially in established companies like Bajaj Auto, provide excellent opportunities to work on innovative projects that bridge academic research with practical industrial applications.

Contact Information:

• Email: 22b2195@iitb.ac.in