Hands-on expertise sets Waterloo alumni apart at Google [X]

Google[x] is known as a secretive division of the tech giant that develops everything from robots to self-driving cars. It’s staffed by some of the world’s top innovators — “Peter Pans with PhDs” — who push hardware technology to the bounds of science fiction.

But for University of Waterloo alumnus Rahim Pardhan, the road to Google[x] was more hard work than magic. A graduate of Waterloo’s mechatronics engineering program, Pardhan got started in hardware in the University’s machine shop during his first co-op job.

The machine shop supervisor was so impressed with Pardhan’s work, he wrote him a reference letter.

University of Waterloo machine shop

“At the time, I didn’t think much of it,” says Pardhan. “But, believe it or not, I actually gave that reference letter to Google when I was interviewing with them.

“I learned how to use everything from milling machines to lathes in the shop. I basically learned how things are made. You can have all these great ideas, but you need to be able to build them. That’s why that first co-op job was so great.”

Pardhan works in Silicon Valley within the Google[x] group developing the driverless car. He works alongside other engineers dedicated to Google Glass, the augmented-reality glasses. Google[x] also has teams researching how balloons in space could be used to give developing nations internet access, smart contact lenses and new approaches to wind power.

Google [X]j is a rapid-prototyping hardware lab

“We want people who can translate ideas into actual products — people who want to launch fast and are not afraid to fail,” says Alice Cheung, a Google[x] recruiter. “We want people who have done startups and who have been playing with things for a really long time.”

As innovation moves into the hardware space, Google[x] recruiters are looking north for students, like Pardhan, who have hands-on experience.

“Anything physical at this point is really interesting to us,” says Cheung. “People have the idea that Google[x] is a secret research lab, but it’s actually a really rapid-prototyping hardware lab.

Working with “really smart people”

“The fantastic thing about the University of Waterloo is the calibre of candidates. They have so much hands-on work experience. The co-op program is a brilliant idea. I wish more universities did something like that.”

Meggie Smith, a Google[x] recruiter who works with Waterloo students and alumni, says she’s competing with other companies to get the top talent coming out of Waterloo to help drive the hardware revolution. 

Google has a reputation for perks such as free food, yoga classes and rock-climbing walls. But it’s working on cool, high-impact technology that should spark the interest of potential recruits.

For Pardhan, a committed hardware engineer, Google[x] has given him the opportunity to follow his passion and work with “really smart people.”

“We’ve seen what software can do.’’ he says. “The software is there. Now we’re asking, ‘How do we move the hardware forward?’ Hardware is the next step forward and Google[x] is all about projects that make contact with the physical world.”

Read more about the Hardware Revolution in the latest issue of the University of Waterloo Magazine.