When Phillip Smith ’21 joined General Motors through its early career program in GPSC, he stepped into a highly technical environment supporting enterprise-scale logistics software systems. Early in his career, he recognized that to stay at the forefront of technology and contribute at a higher level, he needed to go beyond execution and deepen his understanding of complex systems, while gaining expertise in emerging areas such as AI and machine learning.
A year and a half into his role, Phillip enrolled in RPI at Work’s M.Eng. in Systems Engineering & Technology Management (SETM) graduate program—not to step away from his work, but to elevate it. Rather than treating graduate school as something separate, Phillip looked for ways to apply what he was learning in real time. By independently seeking opportunities within GM, he demonstrated initiative through internal networking and aligned his coursework with a project proposal developed by colleagues in GM Motorsport.
As part of a stackable Graduate Certificate in Data Analytics, Phillip developed a Driving Style Analytics Tool using historical Formula 1 telemetry data. The objective: cluster driver behaviors independent of lap time to surface performance insights not immediately visible through traditional metrics.
After completing his graduate coursework, he later demonstrated the project to colleagues supporting GM Cadillac’s Formula 1 entry. Phillip showcased how advanced analytics might contribute to performance insights, revealing behavioral patterns in driving performance that extend beyond traditional lap-time metrics and can support a variety of use cases in motorsports.
“The degree did not pause his career trajectory. It accelerated it.”
From Coursework to Competitive Advantage
The distinguishing factor of the SETM experience is integration. Rather than separating academic study from professional responsibilities, the program is structured around applied execution.
- Project-based coursework tied to real operational challenges
- Faculty practitioners with industry experience
- Stackable certificates in Data Analytics, AI/ML, and Systems Engineering
- Flexible online delivery designed for technical professionals
For Phillip, that meant using his graduate skillset not only to support GM Motorsport-aligned deliverables, but also to go beyond his core responsibilities as a software engineer by exploring proof-of-concept analytics solutions with GPSC’s massive, complex supplier data. In doing so, he progressed from manipulating data to leveraging it for predictive use cases—extracting actionable insights and expanding his analytical expertise and practical capabilities.
“Don’t look at it as just taking classes to get a degree. Use it to reshape the trajectory of your career.”
A Model for Immediate Application
In high-performance industries, incremental capability matters, and applied learning compounds. For professionals navigating advanced engineering systems, value comes not from theory alone—structured, rigorous learning that is directly applied to real-world challenges drives impact.
Phillip has been building a foundation in systems engineering, predictive analytics, machine learning, and AI-driven performance modeling—connecting technical concepts to real-world applications. He is on track to complete his M.Eng. SETM by Spring 2027 and, by integrating learning with hands-on experience, is positioned to contribute meaningfully across diverse engineering and technology initiatives within GM and beyond. The SETM pathway did not slow his pace—it increased his velocity.