Dual Engineering and German Major Jackson Burnett’s Transformative Internship in Acoustics

Burnett in the acoustics lab where he conducted experiments at Kärcher in Germany.

Mechanical engineering student Jackson Burnett recently completed a six-month internship at the Alfred Kärcher Company in Winnenden, Germany, diving deep into the specialized field of acoustics. His time at Kärcher not only broadened his engineering horizons but also underscored the importance of linguistic skills in a global professional environment.

Kärcher is renowned in Germany for its high-quality cleaning equipment for the home and workplace, to the extent that some native speakers use the name of the company as a synonym for “to clean.” During his internship, Burnett worked primarily in the company’s acoustics laboratory, where he engaged in a variety of tasks related to sound measurement and optimization. He was involved in setting up microphones in the anechoic chamber, preparing devices for testing, and conducting detailed sound measurements. A significant portion of his work focused on the SE3-18, a versatile vacuum cleaner capable of water intake. Burnett also contributed to acoustic simulation by creating and analyzing 3D models using CATIA V5 and SIEMENS Simcenter 3D, which was essential for testing different design parameters.

Reflecting on his experience, Burnett shared, “This internship opened me up to a new field of mechanical engineering that I had never considered before. It was a deep dive into acoustics, vibrations and even a bit of electrical engineering. I would definitely consider working abroad, and I believe I am capable of doing so if I choose to later on.”

One key takeaway from Burnett’s experience was the importance of language skills in an international work setting. He emphasized the value of having a solid foundation in German, not only to secure the internship but to fully engage with the team and enrich his overall experience. “While technical skills are important, being able to communicate effectively in the local language makes a significant difference,” Burnett noted. “I believe my proficiency in German played a crucial role in landing the opportunity and making my time at Kärcher more enjoyable.”

This story also appeared in the University of Arkansas News publication.