ASHVIN SELVAKANNAN STILL REMEMBERS HIS FIRST GO-KART RIDE. The speed was fun, but the part that stayed with him was the question behind it: Why was it going fast?
“I was more curious about [that] than being in the driver’s seat, as much as I enjoyed it,” he said. “I think that’s where my engineering love started.”
Engineering as a way to turn questions into solutions led Selvakannan to study mechanical engineering at the University of Glasgow, following a path shaped in part by his father, who is also a mechanical engineer. “My parents are pretty much the pillars behind everything I’ve done,” he said. “They’ve supported me and kind of shaped me into who I am today.”
His first glimpse of industry came through Autodesk, where he was invited to join the first U.K. testing venture for Fusion 360 (now Autodesk Fusion) while still at university. As a beta tester, he got an early look at the pace, collaboration, and iteration behind product development of the 3D modeling, CAD, CAM, and CAE software.
“That was where I first understood what it means to work agile, what it means to work in research, and what it means to understand what goes into developing a product before it goes to market,” he said. “I realized that being a good communicator is kind of a cornerstone to engineering. You can’t be a good engineer if you can’t express your opinion or explain your solution well.”
Today, Selvakannan works at an aerospace, defense, and information security company. Working within the Naval Ships unit, he contributes to programs and helps mature systems from concept to final completion. His day-to-day can range from technical reviews and supplier coordination to site work, safety checks, design discussions, and presentations.
“Every day is different,” he said. “I could be on the ship on site doing some work, making sure all of the quality [and safety] is up to par. And another day I could be presenting to senior stakeholders across the business.”
“Being a good communicator is kind of cornerstone to engineering. You can’t be a good engineer if you can’t express your opinion or explain your solution well.”
—Ashvin Selvakannan, a mechanical engineer in the defense sector
Selvakannan loves karaoke; his go-to song is “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls. He also enjoys Formula One, travel, food, windsurfing, and hopes to return to playing violin.
Engineering Connections
Selvakannan shared that he has found himself drawn to the human side of engineering. “What I found most natural to me, most at home, is probably being the bridge between people and technical knowledge,” he said. “How do you translate that to people?”
Last year, Selvakannan took that question to heart when representing his company at one of the world’s largest defense exhibitions. Standing by the company’s products, he said, also meant standing by the engineers behind them.
“My job was all about storytelling. It was about telling our customers what it is we’re really doing,” he said, highlighting the engineering innovations around radars and cockpit equipment systems, extra-large autonomous underwater vehicles protecting critical undersea infrastructure, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) satellites designed to detect threats and relay intelligence.
Selvakannan has carried his communication-forward mindset into outreach and leadership. Beyond his day job, he’s been an active volunteer with the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), contributing to workshops and events across Hong Kong, Dublin, London, and Birmingham. He also co-leads an innovation and entrepreneurship initiative for startups and founders in the U.K.
Alongside his IET work, he has judged F1 in Schools, reviewed Engineers Without Borders submissions, and supported STEM advocacy initiatives. He also leads his company’s reverse mentoring program, which connects junior team members with senior leaders.
“Reverse mentoring is really about realizing that everyone has something valuable and tapping into that difference that makes us so unique,” he explained. The idea flips the traditional mentoring model: A younger professional may not have decades of experience, but they may bring a perspective a senior leader has not considered.
“You come from a different era of society, a different school, a different upbringing, different values. So, you’ve got a different take to it,” he said.
His own perspective has been shaped by an international upbringing. Born in Belgium, Selvakannan moved often growing up, living in places including India, Canada, and the U.K. He said that experience influenced how he sees change, risk, and decision-making.
“The best advice I’ve received and shaped by me having an international background and moving a lot is realizing that growth only comes from change and stepping outside your comfort zone,” he said. “I’ve only grown when I’ve done something new or tried something I’m not very comfortable with.”
That also influences how he thinks engineering societies should reach the next generation. Selvakannan has volunteered with multiple societies, and believes the profession needs to move past surface-level outreach and toward real engagement.
“Social media should be used to make engineering feel more human like,” he said. “We’re very good at showing the tip of the iceberg. But we need to show that there is a place for everyone.” Beyond the polished achievements, he said, it’s important to portray the uncertainty, vulnerability, and challenges behind engineering careers too.
Sarah Alburakeh is strategic content editor.
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