Brandon Loy, a York University alumnus who graduated in 2021 from the Lassonde School of Engineering's Electrical Engineering program, successfully leveraged his education to secure a position in the competitive tech landscape. Currently, he is a technical lead at Tesla’s headquarters in Austin, Texas, placing him at the centre of cutting-edge automotive innovation.
“Working at Tesla’s headquarters is a lot of fun – it’s where all the cool things happen,” says Loy. "I get the chance to see new infrastructure and witness occasional visits from very important people.”
In his position, Loy plays a crucial role in deploying vehicle software and ensuring compliance with manufacturing standards. He is also responsible for guiding and mentoring junior engineers in their new roles. “I most enjoy applying a wide range of engineering skills to make an impact on global software manufacturing,” he says. “It’s also rewarding to see my work expand to large-scale operations.”
Loy did not always believe he was destined for this path. In fact, his future direction was undefined when he began his engineering education. “My experience at Lassonde was critical in guiding me to my position at Tesla,” he recalls.
A major turning point for Loy happened during a co-op placement at Celestica, an electronics manufacturing company where he developed data acquisition software aimed at improving manual processes. It was here that he developed a deep interest in electronics and tech.
Prior to his co-op experience, Loy pursued research with Professor Mark Gordon in the Department of Earth & Space Science & Engineering, developing and fine tuning his data analysis and programming skills. This eventually led him to create a ground monitoring system to generate vertical wind profiles.
Loy’s connections with faculty members at Lassonde proved invaluable to his education and career, offering mentorship, guidance, and crucial opportunities for research and internships. His experience highlights how York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering equips students to enter the workforce and drive innovation in their fields — just as he is doing at Tesla.