The stereotypical characteristics of an engineer differ from the elements that comprise their DNA. It’s not just their attention to detail, analytical mindset or technical competency. It’s not the hard hats they wear or spreadsheets they build. The numbers, the calculations and the problems they solve don’t count towards their DNA, either. For Clarissa Arriaga, the DNA of an engineer is built from their unwavering curiosity and the drive to impact their surrounding communities and the world for the better.
It doesn’t hurt, of course, that both her mother and father are engineers, too.
Growing up in Caracas, Venezuela, Clarissa watched her parents excel in different engineering careers. “As a kid, I used to think engineers could do anything—it all seemed so limitless. My dad worked in construction and my mom was in consulting, so I grew up seeing two very different worlds of problem-solving” she explains. “It opened my eyes that as an engineer I could work in whatever [field] I wanted.”
Clarissa followed her aspirations of becoming an engineer like her parents, beginning her industrial management systems engineering degree in Venezuela before completing it at the University of South Florida. For Clarissa, her degree opened a variety of doors to different careers, but it wasn’t until her interview for an internship at Cummins that she knew manufacturing was the place for her.
“After my first day in manufacturing I thought, ‘this is such a cool job!’ I thought it was the best thing,” she recalls. “What struck me most was how dynamic the field is—every day brings new challenges and opportunities. There's always something different to focus on, keeping the work engaging and fresh.”
In her seven years as an engineer at Cummins, Clarissa has never lost the itch for manufacturing and the teamwork environment it fosters. She relates her experience on the manufacturing floor to the age-old game of Mother May I? “You can’t really make a decision in isolation. I truly value the collaborative spirit it fosters; you have to involve anyone who may be impacted before implementing any changes."
Every decision made has a ripple effect—impacting products, processes, and teams. But at Cummins, change isn't just inevitable; it's embraced. It's all part of the continuous improvement culture. If the company is not consistently evaluating and enhancing work, we're not just standing still—we're falling behind, Clarissa argues. Clarissa herself has implemented changes in each Cummins facility she’s worked at, all for the betterment of the product, the customers and stakeholders, and, of course, the planet.
One of her proudest achievements came from a two-year project to eliminate clear coating of the 6.7-liter engine production process at Cummins’ Mid-Range Engine Plant (CMEP). Clarissa and a colleague, Ashwini Khandelwal, recognized the advancements in material diversity on the 6.7-liter engine and validated that the engine did not require coating. The initiative not only saved Cummins $3 million annually , but more importantly to Clarissa, improved the facility and the product’s sustainability. Ultimately, she and Ashwini were awarded both the Indiana Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award and a Cummins Business Impact Award.
“[The awards weren’t] because of the $3 million we’re saving a year,” Clarissa emphasizes, “but because of the positive impact we were able to make on the environment."
Today, as a Heavy-Duty Machining New Product VPI Leader at Cummins’ Columbus Engine Plant (CEP), Clarissa continues to improve systems for Cummins and the environment.
Her recent work involves leading the installation of a new production line for the cylinder head that will go onto the X15 engine – for Cummins’ new HELM™ engine platforms. This is separate from the legendary X15 line, which has been in production for over 30 years and will continue alongside the new platform.
It’s work that reminds her of the impact a company like Cummins can have on communities around the world. It’s work that reminds her of her role and impact.
“If everybody who cares about the environment works for companies that are already environmentally focused, who will drive change in the companies that need it most?” Clarissa shares. Throughout her time at Cummins, Clarissa has faced questions about working at a diesel engine company while balancing her passion for sustainability. Yet, for Clarissa, there’s no better place to make change than within a company like Cummins. “This is the place where I can make the most meaningful impact - from the inside out.”
Like many power and transportation companies today, Cummins continues to work towards cleaner energy solutions. Many countries and industries, however, do not have the infrastructure or capital to transition to new technologies. Providing solutions that meet customers and communities where they are in the energy transition is critical, something Clarissa argues Cummins is and must continue to take the lead on.
“The infrastructure in the world doesn't allow for everything to be powered through clean energy yet,” she acknowledges, “but Cummins is committed to helping drive that transition.”
Driven by her passion for sustainability, Clarissa has gone beyond her technical role to pursue elective positions as a community involvement leader for the company, even starting a dedicated sustainability team at Columbus Midrange Engine Plant.
Her dedication and stewardship of the planet extends far beyond the walls of Cummins’ plants. Today she serves as co-lead of the Environmental Committee for the Columbus Community Involvement Board, where she orchestrates volunteer opportunities with local organizations focused on environmental impact, from parks and recreation to local conservation efforts.
When she isn’t on the manufacturing floor or out in the Columbus community, you can most likely spot Clarissa, her husband David, their newborn son Nico, her stepson Trey, and their dog Luna traveling the nation in their converted ambulance solar-powered camper – affectionately known as “Amber”, the ambulance camper. Clarissa and her husband saw an opportunity to breathe a second life into the out-of-service vehicle and transform it into a living testament to their passion to explore sustainably.
“We needed something small that would keep us connected to what’s outside,” Clarissa says, laughing as she reflects on a conversation she had with her husband as to why a decked-out RV was not what they needed. “This one [Amber] forces us outside – forces us to bring the minimum necessary to engage with the outdoors.”
Clarissa’s dedication to the planet and sustainability runs deeper than the committees she serves on or her personal pursuits of traveling sustainability. Working with Clarissa, it’s apparent how her passion for the environment is woven into every aspect of her life, be it professional or personal. She is constantly thinking about the next challenge to solve, seamlessly exemplifying the meticulous, tedious nature of engineering and pairing it almost instinctively with creativity, curiosity and a fearlessness to try something new, all for the goal of improving everything she touches.
Whether working to improve the sustainability of a product’s entire lifecycle or supporting a local farmer with solar power, Clarissa is adamant and dedicated to leaving the world better than she found it. As an avid rock climber, hiker and all-around outdoorswoman, Clarissa takes the practice “leave no trace” seriously, always thinking of the impact to the next generation.
As Clarissa looks ahead, she sees environmental pressures as an urgent challenge that affects everyone, particularly those in low-income communities. “Water shortages, for example, have a direct impact on people’s health and education,” she explains. “There are women who can’t work or go to school because they have to walk miles every day to get water.”
Cummins’ future for Clarissa reflects how challenges are interconnected. “Sometimes, seeing the magnitude of the problem we’re facing can feel overwhelming,” she says, “but being able to find even the smallest ways to make a difference – whether in my work or personal life - gives me hope and reminds me that I do have some control, and that even small actions can lead to meaningful change.”
Through her work at Cummins, her commitment to the Columbus community and her pursuit of a more sustainable future, Clarissa demonstrates that meaningful change happens when personal passions and values align with professional purpose. She consistently finds opportunities where others might see obstacles, whether she’s transforming an ambulance into a sustainable adventure vehicle or analyzing how to help Cummins reduce its environmental footprint.
Clarissa says she looks up to the many strong women in manufacturing before her, perhaps without realizing that she is one of those strong women carving a better path forward for those who come next.
