CV & CAREER
ESHETU
MEKONNEN
Senior Automotive Engineering & Production Planning Leader
From my studies in Ethiopia to international automotive engineering and sustainable industrial cooperation.
Mercedes-Benz / Daimler · 1995–present
Sindelfingen, Germany · German · English · Amharic
ENGINEER. PROJECT LEADER. BRIDGE BUILDER.
31+
years at Mercedes-Benz / Daimler
5
countries across my professional journey
1995–TODAY
an ongoing automotive career
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
From technical detail
to production readiness.
I am a senior automotive engineering and production-planning professional with more than 30 years of experience at Mercedes-Benz/Daimler. My international work spans Germany, France, China and the United States, across R&D, industrial engineering, assembly planning and project leadership.
My expertise includes End-of-Line equipment and processes, cockpit and door assembly, aggregates, production equipment, assist devices, technical specifications, feasibility assessment and supplier coordination. I combine practical shop-floor understanding with structured planning and multicultural teamwork.
I am also committed to electric mobility, sustainable manufacturing, technical training and knowledge transfer between Germany and Africa. This experience informs my work through FAMMEK and UEMT.
THE JOURNEY
A career across countries
and cultures.
Career milestones and international assignments, starting with my studies in Ethiopia.
THE FOUNDATION
Ethiopia
Studies in Computer Engineering & Communication Systems
My professional journey began with studies in Ethiopia. Computer engineering and communication systems provided the technical foundation for my later work in broadcasting, automotive engineering and industrial planning.
EARLY CAREER
Ethiopia
Ethiopian Television (ETV)
Technical Supervisor for outside-broadcast (OB) vans. This early role brought practical experience with communication systems and technical operations.
1995–1998
Germany
Mercedes-Benz / Daimler
Research and development, industrial engineering and production planning. The beginning of an automotive career that continues today, connecting vehicle requirements with practical manufacturing solutions.
1998–2005
France · Hambach
smart: vehicle & production planning
Vehicle and production planning at smart in Hambach, with a focus on electrical/electronic requirements and End-of-Line equipment and processes.
2010–2015
United States · Tuscaloosa
MBUSI: production planning & project leadership
Production-planning and project-leadership work at Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI), covering End-of-Line and assembly topics and coordination with plant teams and suppliers.
2016–2023
China · Beijing
Production planning & international project leadership
Cockpit and door assembly planning, production equipment, assist devices and supplier interfaces. Working with German and local teams to translate manufacturing requirements into practical plant solutions.
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Working across cultures strengthened my belief in clear responsibilities, shared engineering standards and knowledge that stays with local teams.
Personal photograph from China.
2023–PRESENT
Ethiopia · Addis Ababa
UEMT: CEO & Co-Founder
Alongside my automotive career, I co-founded Universal Engineering Manufacturing and Training PLC (UEMT). The focus is local capability for electric mobility, vehicle-conversion concepts, technical training and cooperation with Ethiopian industry and vocational-education partners.
2024–2026
United States · MBUSI
Project Group Leader / Assembly Planning
Assembly-planning and project-group leadership for U.S. manufacturing programmes, coordinating cockpit, door and aggregates-related work packages, equipment requirements, suppliers and plant interfaces.
TODAY
Germany & Ethiopia
Engineering experience with a practical purpose
My ongoing Mercedes-Benz/Daimler career is complemented by FAMMEK Green Engineering Consulting in Germany and UEMT in Ethiopia. My focus is cleaner mobility, sustainable manufacturing, technical training and knowledge transfer between Germany and Africa.
EXPERTISE
What I bring to a project.
Manufacturing & assembly
End-of-Line · Cockpit & doors · Aggregates · Production equipment · Assist devices · Process and layout planning
Project leadership
Cross-functional coordination · Supplier interfaces · Feasibility · Technical specifications · Installation & commissioning · Production readiness
Future mobility & skills
Electric mobility · Sustainable manufacturing · ICE-to-EV concepts · Technical training · Germany–Africa knowledge transfer
LET’S CONNECT
Experience is most useful
when it moves things forward.
Explore my current work or contact me to discuss engineering, manufacturing, mobility or training cooperation.
© 2026 Eshetu Mekonnen
Engineering. Knowledge. Sustainable progress.