4/29/2025 Max Dudley
Written by Max Dudley
MechSE alum Kenneth Cooley (BSME 2018) has received a 2025 Outstanding Young Alumni Award for his innovative work in automation engineering and leadership.
Cooley’s passion for mechanical engineering concepts and designs began when he played with LEGO® bricks as a child. During this time, his father inspired his interest in engineering by connecting it to the creation of his LEGO® projects. Cooley pinpoints this moment with his father as the start of his goal to become a mechanical engineer.
During his time at Illinois, Cooley engaged in challenging laboratory classes and gained real-world experience through internship opportunities. He remembers his favorite class being ME 370 (Mechanical Design I). He was also a member of the Illini Motorsports team one year.
“University of Illinois is home for me,” he said. “I grew up in a small town outside of Urbana. It made sense that when I had the best mechanical engineering school in the country in my backyard, that’s where I was going to go.”
When reflecting back on his favorite course, it is easy to see how he ended up in a career building life sciences machines. Cooley started his journey as a mechanical engineer with ATS Life Sciences Systems, quickly taking on initiative to grow in the company. After becoming a team lead and engineering manager, Cooley accepted his current role as the director of engineering last year.
Cooley primarily enjoyed problem-solving and design creation, and his transition into leadership was difficult at first—until mentors and peers helped him realize that he could apply those same interests, at a higher level.
“The common theme in my career was that my passion in my role relied on the ability to build something,” Cooley reflected. “Whether I was building up a team or a department, I didn’t need to be the person who created the design. In my leadership team, my role is to help build the business and provide strategies for success. Now, I find satisfaction in not only the work that I have done, but also the work of my entire team.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cooley and his team had to find ways to navigate remote work in their projects and work culture. Being involved in life sciences engineering during a pandemic meant that the turn-around time for their work was significantly reduced to fulfill growing health needs. For Cooley, this meant that he worked long hours driving constant communication and efficient team management.
Cooley has been able to work with many interns during his time at ATS. His own experience in internships helped him understand and relate to their perspectives. On his team, he noted that interns have opportunities for mechanical engineering and controls positions that provide ample real-world experience.
“Internships are a great way to get a flavor for what you want to do and what excites you,” he said. “It helps you focus on your studies and the aspects of mechanical engineering that interest you specifically. I definitely recommend pursuing internships, as I had a great experience with internships during my time at Illinois.”
Cooley wants current students to remember that while they are in school to learn about technical concepts, they will also have developed problem-solving and independent learning skills by the time that they finish their degree.
“The mechanical engineering program at Illinois did a wonderful job preparing me for the future,” he said. “I would encourage students to embrace independent learning. All skills that you gain from your degree will be applicable to any future career and life journey, whether you are in a traditional career or not.”
When thinking about the future of his career, Cooley hopes to eventually collaborate with his wife, who earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Illinois in 2023. With expertise in their respective fields, they aspire to open veterinary clinics that would demonstrate the intersection of business, mechanical design, and veterinary medicine—the culmination of both their interests and career experiences.