By Em Jankauski
Seven BattChallengers have been hired by Stellantis. Let’s catch up with David DeLisle, recent hire and BattChallenge alum, who now joins Stellantis as a cell product engineer. DeLisle was the project manager for The Ohio State University & Columbus State Community College team from 2023-25.
Let’s hear from him in a fun Q&A.
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Q: You interned with Stellantis prior to being hired. What was your internship focused on, and how did it impact your career readiness?
A: “My internship with Stellantis was a great opportunity to learn how the company works, connect with a strong network of professionals, and gain real-world experience in engineering.
“I supported the Battery Management Systems Controls team, working on programming, model-in-the-loop testing and CAN (Controller Area Network) vehicle network integration. My experience with Stellantis taught me how to work effectively in a large engineering organization and prepared me to step into my current role with confidence.”
Q: How did being involved in the BattChallenge prepare you for your role at Stellantis?
A: “The BattChallenge gave me hands-on experience leading a multidisciplinary team and developing a high-voltage battery system from the ground up.
“I learned how to coordinate technical work, manage stakeholders, and find practical solutions under real deadlines. Those same skills carry over directly to my work today.”
Q: What made you want to work for Stellantis?
A: “I’ve always been passionate about electrification and advanced vehicle engineering. Stellantis offers the chance to work on meaningful projects in mobility electrification, and the cell product engineering role was the perfect fit to make a direct impact on the future of automotive technology.”
Q: What’s the coolest or most interesting part about working for Stellantis?
A: “The employee ride-and-drives are hard to beat. Getting behind the wheel of everything from high-performance cars to the latest EVs is a great reminder of the variety of products and the customer experiences Stellantis creates!”
Q: How does your work at Stellantis make a difference in our everyday lives?
A: “I work on software development and modeling of battery cells to understand their performance in applications like vehicles. This work can directly affect the development of new, safer and more efficient technologies. I’m building on my BattChallenge experience to deliver results that make a difference for drivers.”
Q: What advice do you have for current BattChallengers?
A: “Stay engaged and put in the effort. The experience, skills and industry connections you gain will be worth it. Treat every project like it matters, because it does!”
