Leadership | Sept 2021 - Present

R&D Technical Lead 

Illinois Tech Rocketry

Research & Development 

• Designed and modified a dual-stage rocket capable of launching to 35,000 with STM32 custom flight computer for in-flight data collection, GPS position tracking, recovery system, and live telemetry

Propulsion

• Built a CNC filament winder from 3D printed parts to make composite tubes from carbon fiber tow and epoxy resin for rocket motor case 

• Designed and constructed a motor test stand on SolidWorks with custom PCB for remote ignition and a software application for data collection and analysis on Python 

• Formulated custom APCP propellant formulation and mixing procedure based on the property of each chemical component

Project | Jan 2024 - May 2024

System Engineer

2023-2024 AIAA Undergraduate Team Spacecraft Design 

• Design mission requirements, architecture, and CONOPS as well as performing functional, cost & risk analysis and verification & validation planning to compile RFP for a manned Venusian mission with a Variable Altitude Aerobot 

• Perform thermal calculation to design thermal control system with passive (sun shield, chemical coating, Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI)) and active system using closed-loop ammonia to reject heat 

• Perform trade studies to design telecommunication systems with Ka, X band antennas, UHF software-defined radio and calculate link budget, RF path loss using RF propagation to establish real-time communication

Internship | Sept 2023 - Dec 2023

Manufacturing Engineer Intern 

S&C Electric Company - Chicago, IL

• Investigate manufacturing process methods for new technologies and perform associated data tasks in on 3DX and oracle as well as working with factory personnel to troubleshoot old and new CNC programs 

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to advance new processes and technologies and oversee small-scale process improvements to provide engineering support to a team of Manufacturing and Project Engineers

Leadership | Sept 2021 - Sept 2023

Propulsion Lead

Spaceport America Cup 2023

• Identified risk and reliability concepts associated with the project and defined mitigation approach by process and design for each risk identified, as well as recorded all identified failure modes which pose a risk to mission success in a matrix, organized according to the mission phases identified by the CONOPS.

• Developed documentation and safety procedures for hazardous material handling, transportation and storage, and any other aspects of the design which pose potential hazards to operating personnel 

• Compiled detailed checklist procedures for final assembly, arming, launch, and recovery operations with alternate process flows for dis-arming the system based on identified failure modes (e.g., off-nominal situations)

Leadership | Oct 2021 - Oct 2023

President & System Engineer

Scarlet Spacehawks - NASA Robot Mining Competition

• Scarlet Spacehawks is an interdisciplinary team representing Illinois Tech at NASA's annual Robot Mining Competition at the Kennedy Space Center. The team works together to build an autonomous robot capable of traversing the arena, mining an icy regolith simulant, and returning the collected substance to the collection bin. 

Apprenticeship | Sept 2022 - Dec 2022

Thermal Engineer 

NASA L'Space - Remote

• Modified a low-mass, high-reliability thermal management system with a 15-year life in a Near-Earth orbit environment that uses pumped liquid ammonia to perform heat collection, transportation, and rejection 

• Performed material trade study for chemical coating and thermal path on the solar panel to increase heat insulation by 300% and emissivity by 88% and provide sufficient power for orbital spacecraft

Apprenticeship | Jun 2022 - Aug 2022

Project Manager & Science Team Lead  

NASA L'Space - Remote

• Managed 2-months project with 12 members to deliver a professional and technical 7-page concept proposal for research and development of a Telescoping Thrust Arm that increases ISS’s stability and enforces space travel 

• Collaborated with Business Administration Team and the executive board to create the Team & Mission Gantt Charts and Technology Merit & Workplan that effectively plan and control resources, costs, profitability, and risks

Research | Jan 2022 - May 2022

Undergraduate Researcher 

Illinois Institute of Technology

• Conducted research on solar sensors to automate the solar tracking process and optimize sunlight absorption

• Designed remote control system for misaligned correction via optical transmitter and detector with continuous data processing to increase sunlight reflectivity and electric generation