Erick Mahnke portrait

Building Systems That Bring Ideas to Life

I’m an engineering leader who turns complex ideas into launch-ready systems. Across The Coca-Cola Company and Walt Disney Imagineering, I’ve led multidisciplinary teams spanning mechanical, electrical, software, and embedded systems, bringing clarity to ambiguity and delivering solutions that scale in real-world operations.

Mechanical Engineer · MBA (International Business, In Progress)
M.A. (Art & Technology) · PMP

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Select Projects

Selected work across R&D, immersive experiences, and scaled deployment.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

Leadership roles spanning innovation, manufacturing operations, and integrated show systems.

Coca-Cola ATS

Senior Engineering Manager, Global Equipment Innovation

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
Visit
  • 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

Education and credentials supporting engineering leadership, innovation, and scaled delivery.

MBA — International Business

Louisiana State University Shreveport (LSUS)

In Progress · Expected 2026

Focus: strategy, finance, global operations, and organizational leadership.

MA — Art & Technology

University of Oklahoma

Interactive media & experience design, game engine and 3D design tools, artificial intelligence, 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

Recognition across themed entertainment, engineering, 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

Personal projects and experiences that reflect how I think, build, and recharge.

Overlanding &
Restoring a 2005 Mini Cooper S
Restoring a 2005 Mini Cooper S
Family adventures outdoors
Family adventures!

About

I’m an engineering and delivery leader operating at the intersection of creativity, scale, and execution. My work spans global brands and permanent installations, from early R&D and prototyping through deployment into always-on, real-world environments where performance, reliability, and operational impact matter. With a background that blends mechanical engineering, immersive experience design, and an MBA, I bring both technical credibility and business judgment to complex delivery challenges. As a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), I’m known for bringing structure to ambiguity, aligning diverse stakeholders, and translating ambitious ideas into durable, market-ready systems. My focus is on human-centered equipment UX, operational excellence, and scalable platforms designed to be built, deployed, and sustained at enterprise scale.

Focus: Designing and delivering human-centered systems that scale operationally and perform reliably in real-world environments.

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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