Senior in mechanical engineering soars beyond the classroom

Just days before starting his journey at Auburn in August 2023, David Phillips watched an eagle soar across the sky and land at the 50-yard line at Jordan-Hare Stadium. From that moment, Auburn Engineering and Auburn’s Raptor Center would become intertwined in the mechanical engineering senior’s college experience. 

Phillips now serves as a student volunteer and primary caregiver for Petey, a red-tailed hawk. 

“I watched the eagle fly across the stadium and noticed that students were the ones handling the birds, and I immediately knew I wanted to be a part of that,” Phillips said. “I’ve been a student volunteer since fall 2024, where I help with feeding, weight management, training, cleaning, programming and tours.” 

While engineering and bird care may seem unrelated, Phillips sees strong connections between the two. He compares training animals to solving engineering challenges through observations, analysis and constant adaptation.  

“Training an animal is a lot like solving an engineering problem,” he said. “You have to evaluate why something isn’t working, come up with a solution and then adjust on the fly. That’s the same loop used in engineering: diagnose, design a fix, test it and iterate.”  

A native of Niceville, Florida, Phillips knew Auburn was where he belonged after his first campus visit. He explored several paths before finding his footing in mechanical engineering — with stops in chemical and electrical engineering. He said the experience gave him a broader perspective and ultimately led him to a major that aligned with his interests and career goals.  

“Each major change taught me something about how I think,” Phillips said. “I realized I understand things best when I can see them. The moving parts of mechanical engineering click for me in a way that chemistry and circuits didn’t.”  

After earning his degree, Phillips is considering opportunities in defense contracting, underwater exploration and prosthetics engineering. His work in engineering and raptor conservation has drawn him toward projects that tackle complex challenges and create tangible results.  

“What connects everything for me are hard problems that have real impact,” he said. “Mechanical engineering lets me keep all of those doors open.” 

Phillips has built his Auburn experience around curiosity, adaptability and a desire to make a difference. The harder the problem, the more meaningful the solution. 

“There’s something about being in a room full of people who are all on the same sinking ship working on a difficult problem that brings you together,” he said. “Looking back, it’s some of the best times I’ve had at Auburn.”