Professional Experience

Postdoctoral Researcher

Led the development of multiple robotic and mechatronic platforms, including RaccoonBot and the production scale-up of robots for the Robotarium, taking systems from architecture and prototyping through integration, validation, and real-world deployment.
Led hardware development and prototyping across embedded systems, custom PCBs, electronics, mechanical and mechanism design, manufacturing, and additive manufacturing, driving hands-on integration, debugging, and validation of robotic systems.
Managed supplier relationships and laboratory infrastructure, selecting components, materials, test equipment, fabrication tools, and manufacturing resources based on engineering requirements and project needs.
Built and led multidisciplinary teams of graduate and undergraduate researchers, providing technical direction and mentorship while helping students develop independent ideas, engineering judgment, technical confidence, and ownership of their own research and professional growth.

RaccoonBot and the UCI Robotarium at the Robot Ecology Lab.

With Dr. Magnus Egerstedt during an outreach event at UCI.

Led a multidisciplinary team in the redesign and integration of Jean Luc, an animatronic robot developed for the Winter Lights show at the Discovery Cube in Santa Ana, California, USA, driving mechanical, electrical, embedded, and control development through live operation.
Redesigned the robot’s mechanical and electrical systems to improve ergonomics, reliability, and performance, while developing new capabilities through custom PCB hardware, power-system improvements, and an HMI for live control.
Developed the embedded software that integrated the robot’s subsystems and control, enabling Jean Luc’s performance to synchronize with live audio-visual cues.
Collaborated directly with artists, performers, and production staff to translate creative requirements and stage constraints into robust technical solutions, successfully deploying Jean Luc throughout the live theatrical production.

Jean Luc with the Winter Lights Cast during rehearsals at the Discovery Cube.

Led R&D of miniature autonomous aquatic robots, integrating embedded systems, electronics, MHD actuation, artificial neural networks, control systems, and resin-based additive manufacturing under demanding size and power constraints.
Designed, built, and validated custom power-electronic circuits, PCBs, and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) actuators, developing compact propulsion and control solutions for current and future microrobotic platforms.
Supported the development of a new robotics research laboratory, coordinating vendors and defining technical infrastructure, equipment integration, and electrical requirements to establish its experimental capabilities.
Contributed to the growth of a multidisciplinary research team, providing technical mentorship and hands-on guidance while helping team members strengthen their engineering skills, confidence, and independence as researchers.

Custom driving circuit I designed and built for MHD actuators.

Poster session with some members of the research team at UCI.

Developed embedded software and control systems for reconfigurable Micro-CNC machines, integrating motion control, electronics, sensors, and electromechanical hardware for the Bi-National Laboratory on Smart Sustainable Energy Management and Technology Training.
Supported the full engineering lifecycle through requirements-driven component selection, system integration, technical documentation, validation, and audit processes, helping ensure reliable and reproducible deployment of the platforms.

Micro-CNC machines developed at Tecnologico de Monterrey.

Developed smart power-electronic and motor-drive systems through the full product lifecycle, from circuit design and PCB layout to embedded control, prototyping, system integration, testing, deployment, and end-user training.
Designed, implemented, and validated 400V / 15A power supplies, inverters, and motor-drive solutions for three-phase AC, BLDC, and DC motors, integrating real-time embedded control and power electronics for demanding industrial applications.
Developed embedded control and automated testing solutions using FreeRTOS, NXP microcontrollers, LabVIEW, and NI FPGA hardware, supporting system debugging, reliability testing, and validation across multiple control and modulation strategies.