Projects

Project Overview: Design, manufacture, and test a liquid bipropellant (liquid methane and liquid oxygen) rocket that beats the collegiate methalox altitude record of 13,205 ft.

Role: Lead Propulsion Engineer & Test Engineer

Duration: June 2025- Mar 2025 (test engineer); April 2025-Present (lead propulsion engineer)

My contributions: Task creation & delegation, design test procedures, execute test campaigns (pressure decay, cold flow, test fire, component-level-tests, etc.), machine components (i.e. fluid system manifolds, engine injector plates, engine shell, ablative), perform cryogenic chill and fill operations (loading propellant into tanks), fluid system design and assembly, high pressure component proofing tests (of propellant main valves, manifolds, pilot regulator), engine igniter and igniter retention mechanism design & fabrication

Skills Developed: 

• Fluids

  • hardware procurement and piping design- creating assemblies with various tubes, NPT, AN, JIC, and Swagelok compression fittings & interfacing with valves/instrumentation 

  • operating cryogenic dewars (liquid nitrogen, liquid oxygen, liquid natural gas) observing boil off and cryo behavior 

  • conducting pressure decays and leak checks (spraying fittings, torquing when necessary)

•  Manufacturing

  • utilizing aluminum bandsaw and lathe to machine showerhead injector outer ring and backplate 

  • using a mill to machine aluminum engine shell, and a lathe to machine canvas phenolic ablative for engine 

•  Data Analysis 

  • analyzing injector, tank, and copv (composite overwrapped pressure vessel) data to make conclusions and decisions on regulating pressures and feed system modifications between test campaigns 

• Testing

  • developing qualification test procedures for cold flows and hot fires to meet success criteria for launch

  • writing test plans with test article, materials, procedures, results/conclusion, analysis and recommendations for proofing propellant tanks, conducting an injector water flow test, setting pilot regulator for dome loaded pressure regulator

  • directing propulsion subteam members to achieve various tasks during cold flows including performing leak checks, torquing fittings and injector pre-load bolts, setting up main valve actuation system, operating GN2 bottles, etc.

Project Overview: Design and manufacture a solar powered racing vehicle, and compete in Formula Sun Gran Prix 2025.

Role: Aerobody Engineer

Duration: Spring 2024- Fall 2024

My contributions: Composed a CAD assembly of the aerobody shell, chassis, front suspension, and wheel fairing (my designated part) with careful consideration of position and orientation to minimize drag force and flow velocity under the car. Performed simulations with my team using ANSYS testing to evaluate how the aeroshell responds to drag, lift, downforce, etc. and used the collective data to help identify the minimum optimal ground clearance for the vehicle (125 mm). Started a composite manufacturing methodology for the aeroshell of the vehicle. 

Skills Developed: 

• Composite manufacturing

  • created male/female mold for composite layups 

  • experimented with different fiberglass layup techniques using different directions, applying resin/epoxy to test piece, and conducting stress/deformation tests

•  CAD

  • Used Solidworks to assemble various subteams' parts and subassemblies into a larger assembly to analyze system integration 

•  Simulations 

  • Analyzed various external forces acting on aerobody geometry using ANSYS Mechanical FEA 

Project Overview: Design and manufacture and launch a CubeSAT with a thermal systems research payload.

Role: Structures Engineer

Duration: Winter 2024- Fall 2024

My contributions: Executed materials research to identify the most effective electromagnetic radiation protection for electronic components in low earth orbit, and decided on silicon conformal coating due to high heat, abrasion, and corrosion resistance. I evaluated the chemical and physical properties of various polymers and their survivability in a low earth orbit and determined the use of an aluminum alloy shield to protect the Raspberry Pi component in the PCB stack. 

Skills Developed: 

• Simulation

  • Analyzed material components of the satellite (aluminum 6061-T6, black oxide steel, 302/304 steel, and SBR rubber) in accordance to various parameters: vibration, acoustics, shock, thermal vacuum, etc. using ANSYS mechanical and Thermal Desktop.

•  Research & Documentation

  • Technical documentation of material choices and how they interface with power and electrical systems