The Mechanical Engineering major found all he needed at JDB Engineering, housed at Knowledge Park.
Christopher Magaha ‘27 has always wanted to build things. While growing up in Westminster, Maryland, he spent years tinkering with robotics, experimenting with computer-aided design, and fashioning items from aluminum and steel.
With a family full of STEM professionals, engineering felt like a natural choice for him.
“I was into Legos as a kid,” Chris says. “I was always interested in how things worked and how to build them.”
The Mechanical Engineering major at York College of Pennsylvania is delving into those interests in a professional setting through an internship with JDB Engineering, a consulting engineering firm in Knowledge Park on the campus.
Chris secured the opportunity after interviewing with the company at the end of the 2025 Fall Semester. Within days, he received an offer. He began working with the firm’s team in January.
The experience has introduced him to a side of engineering that students do not encounter in the classroom.
“A lot of mechanical engineering experience I saw was in automobile design,” Chris says. “This internship is focused on mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and process engineering. It’s been a completely different perspective.”
The many aspects of engineering
Working alongside professional engineers, Chris assists with projects involving building systems and infrastructure. He has gained experience using industry modeling software such as Revit and engineering analysis programs while helping develop plans for HVAC systems and building layouts.
One of his first assignments involved a 10-story structure in Baltimore. He also contributed to a project for a food manufacturer in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.
“I was drawing schematics showing how chilled water and hot water systems would connect and where piping would be located throughout the building,” he says. “It was exciting to work on a real project and see how everything fits together.”
The internship has helped him understand the practical considerations that accompany engineering decisions.
“In class, you’re focused on solving the problem,” Chris says. “In the industry, you also have to think about budgets, risks, timelines, and how your work affects the client.”
Beyond gaining technical skills, he has developed a greater appreciation for communication and collaboration.
“Working with a team and seeing how engineers communicate with clients has been a valuable learning experience,” he says.
An internship marked by involvement
JDB Engineering designs its internships to provide students with meaningful, hands-on work rather than simple observation.
“We treat them as entry-level employees,” Dan Hanley, Mechanical Department Manager, says of the interns. “Our goal is to expose students to the full scope of consulting engineering, from design calculations and drawings to site visits and field investigations.”
That approach reflects JDB’s broader commitment to developing future engineers. According to company President Tim Warren, building-design engineering is a field many students do not initially consider.
“Our goal is to help students understand the opportunities available within the industry,” Warren says. “Mentoring and training the next generation is part of our responsibility as professionals.”
Chris says the internship has reinforced his passion for engineering while helping him better understand potential career paths. With JDB’s office located in Knowledge Park, balancing coursework, tackling projects, and gaining professional experience has been especially convenient for him.
“It’s within walking distance of my classes, meetings with advisors, and other campus commitments,” he says.
As his internship progresses through the summer, Chris is gaining the type of experience that comes from connecting classroom learning with professional practice, while also discovering the many possibilities in the engineering field.
