Hardware Product Development, thanks to technologies such as Rapid Prototyping, enables the transformation of a simple filament of plastic or any other material, and turn it into virtually any shape you imagine.

Adharsh Suresh Kumar, our next pathbreaker, works on new product development, prototyping, and hardware engineering, as well as modern technologies like 3D printing to create solutions that blend mechanical design with electronic integration.

Adharsh talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about his experiences as a Working Student Hardware Development at JUCR, a company that designs and develops electric vehicle charging stations for Europe.

He adds, for students, textbooks are valuable for building your foundation, but real learning happens when you get your hands dirty, when you take on projects, experiment, and apply what you’ve learnt.

Adharsh,  can you share your background with our young readers?

I grew up in Madhya Pradesh and later moved to Chennai, where I completed my schooling before pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. To be honest, becoming a mechanical engineer wasn’t my first choice. I had always dreamt of working in the field of aerospace engineering. However, after speaking with a few professionals in the industry, I realised that job opportunities in aerospace were quite limited in India. That’s when I decided to study mechanical engineering instead, keeping the option open to specialise in aerospace later through a master’s degree if I still wished to follow that path.

During my college years, I was a very social and active student. I got involved in various co-curricular activities right from the beginning, volunteering for cultural festivals, organising symposiums, and participating in technical competitions like SAE BAJA. Honestly, I spent more time outside the classroom than inside, but I always managed to maintain a balance with my academics. These experiences played a huge role in shaping my leadership skills and helped me understand the importance of teamwork and communication, lessons that continue to guide me even today.

What did you do for graduation/post graduation?

I did BE Mechanical engineering for bachelor’s and am currently pursuing a MSc in Global Production Engineering from Technische Universität Berlin in Germany with focus in New Product Development, Advanced manufacturing processes and Lean manufacturing  

What were some of the influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional, and unique career in Hardware?

Rather than saying that I chose this career, I would say that this career chose me. During the final year of my bachelor’s studies, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and everything moved online. Like everyone else, I suddenly had a lot of time at home. I wanted to use that time productively, so I decided to start freelancing with the skills I already had.

At that point, I was quite good with ANSYS, a simulation software, so I began offering simulation services on Fiverr. Initially, I was hesitant, I wasn’t sure if I could actually provide value to clients. But gradually, I started getting real projects, repeat customers, and even referrals. That experience gave me a huge boost in confidence and taught me the basics of entrepreneurship, how to communicate with clients, manage expectations, and deliver quality work.

As part of those projects, I also had to create CAD designs, which helped me develop strong design skills. A few months later, an interesting opportunity came my way. A friend of mine, who was also freelancing at the time, received a large project from a company in Bangalore to develop an entire hardware device. We decided to collaborate, built a small team, and took up the challenge.

The mission was to develop a computer mouse for people who have either lost their limbs or born so. The challenge was to conceptualise and test the product since there were almost no such products in the market at that time. Our product was a head mount device which could control the mouse movement with the head along with in built speech recognition software for text input.

Until then, I had no real experience with hardware product development. But through that project, I got exposed to the entire process right from design and specification development to prototyping and 3D printing. I acted as a sort of product manager, coordinating between team members and shaping the product requirements. That’s when I discovered my fascination for rapid prototyping, how you could take a simple filament of plastic and turn it into virtually any shape you imagine. The ability to test designs within days, instead of waiting weeks and spending a lot on tooling, truly amazed me.

We even planned to commercialise the product and start a company around it. However, as the pandemic worsened, our client’s business slowed down, and the product didn’t perform as reliably as we had hoped. Despite having a cost advantage, we couldn’t scale it, and eventually, we had to discontinue the project and move on to regular jobs to sustain ourselves.

Although the venture failed, it became one of the most defining experiences of my life. It introduced me to hardware product development, sparked my interest in manufacturing and prototyping, and ultimately guided me toward the career I’m pursuing today.

How did you plan the steps to get into the career you wanted? Tell us about your career path.

My first proper job was at one of the largest IT consulting companies in India. I had been hired as a mechanical engineer for a specific project, but after joining, I was unexpectedly transferred to an IT project,  something I had absolutely no background in. I felt quite disheartened and out of place. Although I was repeatedly promised a transfer back to a mechanical role, it never happened. After almost a year of waiting, I decided to take control of my own career instead of relying on others to make it happen.

Around that time, I often reflected on why the small startup I co-founded earlier had failed, and how established companies managed to develop entirely new products successfully. I was particularly fascinated by the research and development phase, the journey of transforming an idea into a real, working product. This curiosity became the turning point that motivated me to pursue my master’s degree in Germany, a country known for its engineering excellence and innovation.

In 2022, I resigned from my job and moved to Germany to begin my master’s studies. I chose courses that focused on new product development, design, and prototyping, and I also developed a deep interest in additive manufacturing, especially 3D printing. While studying, I began searching for working student roles related to hardware product development, and that’s how I landed my first job in Germany at a company that built hardware solutions for Fortune 500 clients.

The experience there was incredible. We were a small, close-knit team, and my manager was very supportive. Each day brought new challenges that kept me engaged and learning constantly. My work involved designing small tools, fabricating them through 3D printing or CNC machining, and occasionally working on outer casings for electronic products. Although I had learned the theoretical foundations in my lectures, it was this hands-on experience that truly shaped my technical and problem-solving skills. I was also introduced to emerging technologies such as NFC and E-ink displays, which further deepened my interest in hardware development.

I am bound by a confidentiality agreement so unfortunately cannot talk about the products or whom we made it for in this case, but yes they were for OEMs.

After about a year, I transitioned to another startup, one that developed electric vehicle charging stations. This was a dream come true, as it allowed me to work on a next-generation, customer-facing hardware product. I was entrusted with high-impact projects, such as designing and prototyping tools for production and testing processes. What made this experience even more special was seeing my designs directly improve production efficiency in real time.

This company also introduced me to SLA 3D printing, which I found even more fascinating than traditional filament-based FDM printing. I spent countless hours mastering it, reading online blogs, manuals, engaging in online maker communities, and troubleshooting problems through experimentation. I often stayed in the office late into the night, simply because I loved what I was doing. Working closely with the company’s CTO also gave me a glimpse into the entrepreneurial side of things, understanding what it takes to run a successful hardware business and learning from both the right and wrong decisions made along the way.

Overall, my career path wasn’t a straight line, it was shaped by curiosity, adaptability, and a strong desire to create tangible products. Each step, from freelancing and working in startups to studying abroad, brought me closer to understanding where my true passion lies.

How did you get your first break?

While studying, I began searching for working student roles related to hardware product development, and that’s how I landed my first job in Germany at a company that built hardware solutions for Fortune 500 clients.

What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?

Challenge 1: Moving to a new country with a foreign language. When I first moved to Germany, I was confident that my English skills would be enough to get by. I had completed the A1 level of German in India and thought that would be sufficient, but I soon realised that wasn’t the case. Daily life in Germany requires at least a basic command of the language, whether it’s grocery shopping, reading official letters, or simply making new friends.

So, I decided to take proper German lessons after moving here. It wasn’t easy, I was studying full-time, working part-time, attending language classes, and managing all the daily household tasks like cooking and cleaning. During exam periods, things became even more intense, and I often managed with only four hours of sleep for several weeks.

The beginning was incredibly tough. I took up odd jobs with irregular shifts to support myself, but over time, I learnt an important lesson, success comes down to priorities and discipline. Everyone has the same 24 hours, yet some people manage to achieve extraordinary things. The key lies in how we plan and stay consistent. That mindset helped me balance everything and keep improving. I’m still working towards mastering the language, but I can already see how far I’ve come since those early days.

Challenge 2: Finding a Working Student Job. When I started looking for a working student position, it was difficult at first. My professional experience in India was mostly in IT and freelancing, and I didn’t yet have deep experience in hardware product development. On top of that, not knowing German well limited my opportunities even further.

However, I wasn’t just looking for any job, I wanted a role where I could truly learn about product development and innovation. So, I changed my strategy. Instead of sending out dozens of generic applications, I focused on quality over quantity. I personalised every single application I sent, carefully reading the job description and reflecting on how my skills could add value to that role. Sometimes it took me one or two hours just to prepare one application.

This process not only improved the quality of my applications but also helped me reflect deeply on my own strengths, interests, and what kind of engineer I wanted to become. Eventually, this approach paid off, I landed my first working student job in a company that perfectly matched my aspirations.

Where do you work now? 

Currently, I’ve made a temporary career shift due to personal reasons, but I plan to return soon to my intended career path in hardware product development. So, let me tell you about my previous job at JUCR GmbH, which had a huge impact on my professional growth.

JUCR is a small but ambitious company of about 50 employees, with a big dream, to bring 100,000 electric vehicle charging stations to customers across Europe. Because we were such a small team, everyone had to contribute to multiple areas, and that’s something I really loved. There was no concept of “this isn’t my responsibility”; instead, it was a culture of collaboration and initiative.

What problems did you solve at JUCR GmbH?

My main role was to support the hardware engineers with prototyping activities, conduct market research, develop new product features with my research and so on. On my very first day, I noticed that even though we had many 3D printers, the workspace lacked structure and organisation. This led to a lot of time being wasted in setup and preparation, what we call non–value-added time in lean manufacturing.

So, I approached my manager and proposed a plan to reorganise and optimise the entire lab. He supported the idea immediately. Over the next few months, I designed a structured workflow for the lab, created standard procedures, and implemented lean principles. As a result, we reduced setup times significantly and improved the overall efficiency of prototyping operations. In one project I also researched about the painting techniques for our charging station to make it more reliable to outdoor weather. This required working with suppliers, paint companies, decision on manufacturing technique, technology and understanding the difference between the paints. Though I had no experience on all these I learnt on the way.

After a certain point, I began identifying my own projects to work on from designing tools and jigs for production and testing, to improving component assembly processes. Occasionally, I would visit charging stations in the field to observe real-world performance and identify areas for product improvement. I then translated those insights into design recommendations and product specifications for the R&D team.

What are the skills required for thor role? How did you acquire them?

To succeed in a role like this, I’d say you need a few key skills:

  • CAD design skills, to create mechanical components and prototypes.
  • A basic understanding of electronics, since hardware products often involve electro-mechanical integration.
  • Hands-on experience with 3D printers, especially understanding the difference between technologies like FDM and SLA printing.

Most of these skills I acquired through self-learning and experimentation. For anyone interested in 3D printing, my biggest advice is, don’t just print; build your own 3D printer. There are plenty of open-source kits and resources available online. When you build one from scratch, you don’t just learn how to print, you understand the mechanics, electronics, and calibration processes behind it. Those are lessons no textbook can teach you, and it’s exactly the kind of practical knowledge companies value in new graduates today.

What did you love about your work?

What I loved most about my job at JUCR was the sense of ownership and freedom. I could identify a problem, propose a solution, and actually implement it. The fact that my ideas directly influenced real products and processes gave me immense satisfaction. And above all, being surrounded by passionate people working towards a sustainable future through electric mobility made every day feel meaningful.

How does your work benefit society? 

Electric cars are undeniably the future, there’s no question about that. But for electric mobility to truly succeed, people need to trust that they can charge their cars easily and reliably. One of the biggest reasons many people still hesitate to buy electric vehicles is the limited availability and reliability of charging stations.

Imagine this: you’re driving with only 5% battery left, and you locate the nearest charging station, calculating that you’ll arrive there with just 1% remaining. You make it, only to find that the charger isn’t working. That moment of frustration and helplessness is exactly what we at JUCRwanted to eliminate.

JUCR’s  vision is to build a name that people could trust, so that whenever someone sees a JUCR charging station, they have complete confidence that it will work. Achieving that level of reliability, however, doesn’t just happen at the final stage of production. It begins much earlier, in the smallest details, from the design of internal components to the precision of manufacturing tools and testing processes.

Every tool I designed, every process I optimised, contributed in some way to making the charging experience seamless and dependable for users. And that’s what made my work meaningful. Because when you think about it, reliability isn’t just a feature, it’s a promise to the customer, and keeping that promise is how technology truly benefits society.

Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you!

One of the most memorable projects I worked on was when our office purchased a new MSLA 3D printer. The goal was to develop prototypes that required very fine details. Unlike conventional FDM printers that use melted filament, the MSLA printer uses liquid resin and UV light to cure and solidify each layer, a fascinating technology to work with.

While experimenting with it, a thought struck me: don’t printed circuit boards (PCBs) use a similar process? In PCB manufacturing, a photosensitive layer on the FR4 board is exposed to UV light to define the circuit traces before being etched. The resemblance between the two processes caught my attention.

Curious, I began researching whether it was possible to use MSLA printing technology to produce PCBs. To my surprise, I found that a few individuals had already experimented with this concept, and some had achieved limited success. That motivated me to try it myself. I realised that if I could produce simple PCBs in-house, it would significantly reduce our dependency on external suppliers and save weeks of waiting time for prototype boards to arrive from China.

Over the following weeks, I worked tirelessly on this idea. We ordered an entire PCB fabrication kit, including all the necessary chemicals and materials. The process was messy and challenging. I spent long hours in a closed lab, wearing a gas mask and lab coat, carefully experimenting with UV exposure times, etching solutions, and curing parameters.

Eventually, I managed to produce a two-layer prototype PCB. It wasn’t perfect, of course, nowhere near the quality of a professional PCB that undergoes multiple industrial-grade processes. But for me, success lay in the learning. I had managed to combine two manufacturing principles, 3D printing and PCB etching, into a working prototype.

This experience was deeply meaningful because it reminded me why I chose this career in the first place: the thrill of experimentation, the joy of solving problems with creativity, and the satisfaction of transforming ideas into tangible results. It was less about the outcome and more about the journey of discovery, one that still motivates me to explore new technologies and push boundaries.

Your advice to students based on your experience?

My best advice to students would be this: don’t rely solely on textbooks. Textbooks are valuable for building your foundation, but real learning happens when you get your hands dirty, when you take on projects, experiment, and apply what you’ve learnt. Practical experience helps you understand concepts deeply and remember them for life. Look around you, there are countless everyday problems waiting to be solved. Use your creativity and skills to tackle them. That’s how true engineers, innovators, and thinkers are made.

Also, if you haven’t yet figured out what exactly you want to do in life, that’s completely fine. Many people feel lost at some point, what’s important is to keep exploring. Try different things, experiment with new fields, and if something doesn’t feel right, don’t be afraid to switch paths. There are endless possibilities out there. At the end of the day, choose to work on something that makes you proud, not just something that pays well. Passion and purpose will always take you further than money alone.

One of the most important lessons I learnt after moving to Germany is that nobody will teach you things once you graduate. You have to take initiative, take risks, and keep learning on your own. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, they’re a natural part of growth. Especially early in your career, mistakes are inevitable, and everyone goes through that phase. What truly matters is that you learn from them, stay curious, and keep moving forward.

Future Plans?

As you might have already guessed that I am super curious into hardware technologies and prototyping, I always wanted to make my own tiny devices and something that is blocking me is my expertise in electronics, I am planning to learn electronics from scratch and build small fun home projects so that I can apply my concepts, and hopefully I could one day convert these skills in professional environment.