What were they thinking?

I think ALL automotive designers should have to be fulltime mechanics for 10 years before they can even design a bolt

Detroit would have none of that. I interviewed with Ford as an ASE Certified Master Tech who was getting his Mechanical Engineering degree. I was told that I would not be allowed to touch wrenches at work because the union would not stand for such a thing. That, and interviewing in Detroit in February pretty much sealed the deal for me.