Erick Mahnke portrait

Empowering Imagination Through Engineering

Engineering leader who thrives at the crossroads of creativity and scale — from Coca-Cola’s R&D labs to Walt Disney Imagineering. Passionate about taking bold ideas from prototype to market-ready systems.

Mechanical Engineer · Master of Arts (Art & Technology) · PMP

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Select Projects

A few highlights—more available on request.

Coca-Cola Spirited prototype

Spirited — Technical Program Lead

Prototype-to-production platform for self-service cocktails at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta). Led cross-functional engineering through venue deployment.

Watch Demo About Spirited
Immersive TikiTech bar experience

TikiTech — Immersive Bar Experience

Unreal Engine + Arduino/Raspberry Pi control. Guests drive the story while lighting, audio, and set pieces respond in real time.

Watch Demo
Projection-based hologram effect

Star Wars Hotel: Galactic Starcruiser Patent Design

Co-inventor on projection patent enabling real-time targeting of fast-moving objects for ultra-low latency effects.

View Patent Watch Demo
Pandora — The World of Avatar

Pandora — The World of Avatar

Special Effects Designer (Walt Disney Imagineering). Area-development contributions to Disney’s Animal Kingdom noted for bioluminescent environments and signature attractions.

About the Land
Project Horizons concept

Project Horizons — Themed Entertainment Venue

Blending physical and digital worlds: guests create avatars and interact via VR and physical gameplay. Storyland Studios design contest entry (2024).

Watch Concept Video
Pirates of the Caribbean refurbishment

Pirates of the Caribbean — Animatronics & Effects

Refurbishment of the auction scene—integrating special effects and animatronics for show quality, reliability, and maintainability.

Attraction Info

Background

Roles leading innovation, manufacturing operations, and immersive show systems.

Coca-Cola ATS

Senior Engineering Manager, Advanced Technology Solutions

The Coca-Cola Company — Atlanta, GA 2022 – Present
  • Lead innovation pipeline and R&D from idea → prototype → market across multiple product lines.
  • Drive AI, automation, and emerging tech to accelerate prototyping and unlock new consumer experiences.
  • Guide cross-functional squads through experimentation, user validation, and design optimization.
  • Manage build-vs-buy and global vendor partnerships; own budget, contracts, and delivery.
Disney Manufacturing

Manufacturing Manager, Engineering Services

The Walt Disney Company — Orlando, FL 2021 – 2022
  • Managed 300,000 sq. ft. manufacturing/refurb facility (100+ team members) to meet production & quality targets.
  • Coordinated scheduling & logistics for complex overhauls and repairs to return assets on time.
  • Oversaw fabrication/maintenance of advanced mechanical systems; improved safety and reliability.
Horizons

Cofounder & Technical Director

Horizons Design Initiative — Orlando, FL 2021
  • Engineering consulting & technical leadership for complex mechanical & integrated systems.
  • ROMs, scopes, and resource plans aligning budget, schedule, and ops with objectives.
  • Led prototyping, integration, and fabrication; vendor management for safety, quality, delivery.
WDI Show Mechanical & SFX

Show Mechanical & Special Effects Designer

Walt Disney Imagineering — Orlando, FL 2015 – 2020
  • Delivered large-scale mechanical, control, and integrated systems for global projects.
  • Managed multi-year vendor partnerships and resolved complex engineering/fab challenges.
  • Led installation, testing, and commissioning; ensured maintainability and show reliability.
  • Upgraded electromechanical systems to reduce downtime and extend lifecycle.
Moon Studio Network

Creative Collaborator — Moon Studio Network

Global/Remote Ongoing
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  • Concept collaboration across experiential, set/prop, and interactive builds.
  • Rapid prototyping + technical direction for immersive installations.
Early Career Disney

Early Career — MK Project Team & EPCOT Attractions

Walt Disney World 2013–2015
  • Magic Kingdom Project Team (2015): hands-on engineering support for on-site projects.
  • Attractions Cast Member, EPCOT (2013–2014): Sum of All Thrills; operations & guest experience foundations.

Education & Certifications

Formal training plus practical credentials in leadership, safety, and applied AI/ML.

MA — Art & Technology

University of Oklahoma

Interactive media & experience design, game engine and 3D design tools, artificial intellegence, and fabrication workflows.

BS — Mechanical Engineering

Auburn University

Mechanical systems design, advanced manufacturing processes, automation and control systems, and rapid prototyping.

Professional Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP)

  • Cornell — Applied Machine Learning & AI
  • OSHA 30 — Construction
  • Disney Leadership Program
  • IDEO U — Ideas to Action; Leading Teams to Innovation

Awards & Recognition

External validation across themed entertainment and community service.

2025
🏆 Coca-Cola — Change Champion
2023
🏆 TEA — Brand Experience: Galactic Starcruiser
2022
🤝 Disney VoluntEars — 50 for 50 Volunteer Recipient
2021
🏆 TEA — Attraction: Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
🏆 TEA — Attraction: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
2020
🏆 TEA — New Park Land: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
2019
💡 Walt Disney Imagineering — Inventor Award
2018
🏆 TEA — Attraction Reimagining: Frozen Ever After
🏆 TEA — Area Development: Pandora — The World of Avatar
🤝 Points of Light — Presidential Volunteering Service Award

Off the Clock

A peek at the fun side — builds, outdoors, experiments, and life

Overlanding trail and camp setup
Overlanding & hiking — testing gear and human-centered design in the wild
Restoring a 2005 Mini Cooper S
Restoring a 2005 Mini Cooper S — design, fabrication, and a little mischief
Family adventures outdoors
Family adventures!

About

I’m an engineering leader who thrives at the crossroads of creativity and scale — from Coca-Cola’s R&D labs to Walt Disney Imagineering. As a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), I bring structure and leadership that take bold ideas from prototype to market-ready systems.

Focus: UX for equipment, human-centered operations, and scalable prototypes.

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Erick Mahnke portrait

Contact

Connecting with peers and collaborators in engineering leadership, program management, and innovation. Experience spanning R&D, themed entertainment, and large-scale manufacturing. Atlanta-based, with a global perspective.

Email Me Resume available on request