Charlotte Savigny ’26, a School of Engineering and Computing mechanical engineering student, recently completed her second summer internship at Accurate Lock and Hardware, an architectural hardware company. The unique internship opportunity, offered through the School of Engineering and Computing, spans three summers from 2023 to 2025, allowing Savigny to gain hands-on experience across multiple disciplines.
Initially, Savigny began the internship as part of a one-month program in June 2023, alongside two other students. Following the one month program, she was offered an extension for the rest of the summer. Over the additional eight weeks, she expanded her role beyond mechanical engineering, gaining invaluable exposure to marketing, sales, and manufacturing.
One of the highlights was working on a doorstop project using SolidWorks Designer, a task that involved designing, assembling, and creating engineering drawings for validation before manufacturing. The doorstop, which features a top inspired by the Thom Filicia collection, is now available for purchase on Accurate’s website.
"This project involved the creation of a doorstop in SolidWorks Designer consisting of three parts that were assembled together. The assembly needed to include a top resembling an existing finial design from Accurate's Thom Filicia collection. Then, I made and printed engineering drawings for each part and the assembly itself for validation before manufacturing," she explained.
Another significant project Savigny worked on for Vice President Rodd Salvatore was the development of Accurate’s Smart Entry system. Here, she learned how to configure Android devices to communicate with electrified locks via Bluetooth, enabling users to control their home security from anywhere through the SmartEntry app. This project showcased Savigny’s growing technical proficiency, as she gained experience coding and debugging connected devices. She noted, "Through this project, I learned how a phone can talk to an electrified lock through Bluetooth, and how the SmartEntry app can allow families to unlock and lock their homes from anywhere in the world."
In addition to her engineering tasks, Savigny had the chance to participate in Accurate’s marketing photoshoots, showcasing door and cabinet hardware, with her hands featured in several promotional images shared on the company’s Instagram page.
The internship also allowed Savigny to enhance her skills in CAD design, CNC machining, teamwork, and problem-solving. Moreover, she gained practical experience in Spanish, an unexpected but valuable asset in her daily interactions at the company.
Savigny credits the guidance of CEO Reed Salvatore, VP Rodd Salvatore, and company founder Ron Salvatore '64 for her personal and professional growth during the internship. “I was able to enhance my engineering capabilities and learn how a vision and passion for something can turn into a successful worldwide business,” she remarked.
Savigny’s opportunity at Accurate Lock and Hardware was made possible through the support of the School of Engineering and Computing and Shahrokh Etemad, PhD, chair of the Mechanical Engineering Department. Savigny is looking forward to continuing her internship next summer and utilizing the experience gained to tackle her upcoming Senior Design Project.
Savigny’s experience at the company stands as a testament to the value of real-world, interdisciplinary learning, equipping her with the tools and knowledge to thrive as an engineer in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven landscape.
Learn more about the School of Engineering and Computing at fairfield.edu/engineering.
