---
title: "Varun Pokala - Technical Team Member in Oxford | Tal"
description: "Meet Varun Pokala, Postgraduate in Automotive Engineering @ Oxford Brookes University | Ex-Project Intern @ Mahindra Last Mile Mobility | Motorsport Powertrain and Aerothermal Engineer | based in Oxford."
image: "https://tal.club/meet/varun-17/share-image"
---

# Varun Pokala on Tal

## Headline

Postgraduate in Automotive Engineering @ Oxford Brookes University \| Ex\-Project Intern @ Mahindra Last Mile Mobility \| Motorsport Powertrain and Aerothermal Engineer \|

## About

I’m not your classic behind the desk, tweak a spreadsheet kind of engineer\. I’m the guy who wants to model it, build it, test it, break it \(just a bit\), and then fix it better\. I like getting my hands dirty just as much as running clean simulations\. I’ve worked across powertrain simulation, regenerative braking, battery management, and vehicle dynamics using tools like GT\-SUITE, MATLAB, Simulink, and Multisim\. But tools are just tools\. What excites me is seeing the theory come to life\. At the end of the day, I don’t just want to be told how a system works, I want to prove it\. I want to feel it\. I want to see it do its thing, fail gloriously, and come back with a better version\. That’s where the fun is\. I’m the engine boy, obsessed with powertrains, gear ratios, and the magic that happens when mechanical and madness meet\. I love working on next\-gen engine tech, especially sustainable fuels\.

## Location

Oxford

## Work experience

Technical Team Member at Oxford Universities Motorsport Foundation, Sep 2024 \- Present · 1 yr 10 mos, Oxford, England, United Kingdom, • Identified suboptimal damping ratio for Elva Courier\. Vehicle exhibited poor chassis in cornering\. • Selected dampers by calculating per\-wheel loads and using mounting ratios from control arm geometry\. • Performed precise engine timing and synchronization on Riley engines to ensure optimal ignition and valve operation\. • Enabled full race\-prep functionality through hands\-on restoration across mechanical, structural, and aesthetic domains\.

Technical Team Member at Oxford Brookes Racing, Sep 2024 \- Sep 2025 · 1 yr 1 mo, Oxford, England, United Kingdom, Part of Firewall team and worked on material selection and testing of firewall for Formula Student car

Project Intern at Mahindra Last Mile Mobility, Mar 2024 \- Jun 2024 · 4 mos, India, • Manual endurance testing of throttle systems lacked repeatability and repeated physical intervention\. • Designed Arduino\-controlled automated rig to simulate throttle actuation over extended periods\. • Built a custom test setup integrating sensors, electric circuits and embedded Arduino logic\. • Achieved consistent, repeatable, and hands\-free testing cycles, enabling robust endurance validation of throttle mechanisms\.

Automotive Technician at The Garage, Mar 2023 \- Dec 2023 · 10 mos, India, • Swapped 1\.2L Gypsy engine with 1\.6L Baleno engine by redrilling mounts to accommodate differing bolt patterns\. • Restored key components of Mercedes W123/W124 including engines, interiors, and body kits\. • Assisted in Engine rebuild of Skoda Octavia 1\.6L TDI with carbon cleaning\. • Built cross\-functional expertise across engine swaps, restorations, and automotive customization\.

Student Intern at Ziegler Aerospace, Jun 2022 \- Jul 2022 · 2 mos, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, ● Studied aircraft aftermarket industries and acquired knowledge of aircraft components\. ● Designed Airbus A300 and Boeing 777 components using Catia, AutoCAD, and SolidWorks\. ● Proposed and executed cabin modifications, incorporating market trends and innovative ideas\. ● Implemented 3D printing of Drone using Ultimaker Cura\.

## Education

Master of Science \- MS, Automotive Engineering, Oxford Brookes University

Bachelor's Degree, Mahindra University

[View the original profile](https://tal.club/meet/varun-17)

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