Hi, I'm Shashank Serangulam Nikesh, a Mechanical Engineer from Dallas, TX.
Hi, I'm Shashank Serangulam Nikesh, a Mechanical Engineer from Dallas, TX.
I am aspiring Mechanical Engineering student in my second year at The University of Texas at Dallas, deeply passionate about everything relating to vehicle design and performance. From the steering wheel to the power reaching the tires, I am deeply fascinated by every component that brings a machine to life.
Driven by a hunger for innovation and improvement with every given opportunity, I am constantly working myself towards growing as an engineer and teammate. I believe that great results come from the respect towards said project, dedication, and passion, and that delivering high quality results matters, regardless of the resources or challenges at hand.
Outside of engineering and academics, I am an avid soccer and tennis player. These sports help fuel my competitive spirit and help me learn the value of teamwork, precision, and discipline-qualities I bring into every engineering project I take on.
2026 FSAE Air Intake
FSAE Internal Combustion Powertrain Lead Engineer July 2024 - Present
Dallas Formula Racing
Overseeing the planning, direction and execution of the powertrain sub-team.
Led weekly sub-team meetings, delegated tasks, and tracked progress of design and analysis to meet team goals.
Developed and implemented a multi year roadmap for the 2028 program, guiding the team’s transition to a 2 cylinder turbocharged architecture.
Introduced prototyping as an essential part of the design cycle for the first time in team history, enabling early validation of concepts and packaging.
Designed and optimized a new intake system for 2026 IC car that was 21.5% lighter compared to the previous year’s design
Used SOLIDWORKS CFD simulations and fluid dynamics principles to entirely redesign the intake geometry to achieve equal airflow distribution to all cylinders which has never been done before in the team’s history.
Designed the intake system within strict competition rules and constraints, including stock fuel rail compatibility, packaging constraints, and air intake restriction.
Did material analysis, stress analysis, and FEA simulations to meet a team standardized Factor of Safety to ensure durability under load while minimizing weight.
I was also part of the manufacturing team, where I TIG welded the 2025 and 2026 IC and EV chassis. Throughout this process, I was responsible for test-fitting components to ensure precise alignment, confirming that every part met both design specifications and FSAE regulations.
In addition to welding, I machined a variety of components on the manual CNC mill, including parts for the steering, powertrain, suspension, and pedal box subassemblies. This work required interpreting and creating detailed engineering drawings, using them to accurately manufacture each component to tolerance. These experiences strengthened my understanding of design-for-manufacturability, GD&T, and the importance of precision and verification in the build process.