I'm David, an Aerospace Engineer specializing in UAVs. I'm an RPI graduate with a dual B.S. in Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering, and a Master’s of Engineering in Aeronautical Engineering. I'm interested in the Space and Aeronautics Industry and have experience with rocketry and robotics design teams. I've worked on all sorts of projects from rovers to rockets, and have knowledge from design and analysis to fabrication.
Aeromechanical Engineer III• July 2021 - Present
I currently work as the team lead for the Jump-20 maritime aircraft project team and am responsible for the design, prototyping, and testing of a new aircraft variant that is capable of operating in maritime environments, including shipboard launches and landings. I lead daily scrums for a team of five engineers and two engineering development technicians, plan and execute flight testing events, and develop/manage project timelines and budgets.
I was previously the project team lead for a development effort that increased the Jump-20s cold weather tolerance. I led a team of 2 engineers and two technicians to design and prototype a ‘bolt-on’ cold weather kit for existing aircraft. We were successful in lowering the aircraft temperature limitations from +32f to -40f with a 1% increase in weight and less than a 5% decrease in endurance. In addition, I handled multiple mishap investigations, applying root cause analysis techniques to prevent future incidents and optimize safety protocols.
My previous role at AeroVironment was as a Mechanical Engineer II working in the special projects division where we completed clean-sheet design projects from start to finish, including design, analysis, testing, and manufacture. This was a hands-on process, and where I gained valuable fabrication knowledge that aids in my ability to rapidly manufacture prototypes.
Aeronautical/Mechanical Intern• May 2019 - August 2019
I worked as an Engineering intern for AEROSONIC, a Florida-based engineering firm which specializes in aircraft instrumentation. I specifically designed, built, and analyzed engineering test fixtures for experimental Pitot-static and angle of attack sensors. Additionally, I worked in Solidworks to create engineering models and drawings, and worked closely with a manufacturing team to fabricate these test fixtures.
Rensselaer Architecture Shop Assistant• May 2018 - March 2020
I worked as a Fabrication Assistant in the Rensselaer Architecture shop. I fabricated various models and experiments designed by professors. I also worked as a shop supervisor, overseeing various student projects. I also worked in shop upkeep, installing pressurized air lines and various laser cutters, including designing air filtration and exhaust systems. Additionally, I designed an automation system to allow personnel who have been trained in a machine to activate said machine using their school ID.
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow• May 2017 - August 2017
At NIST, I worked in the Engineering Laboratory as a part of their Flammability Reduction group. Using Thermogravimetric Analysis, I performed high precision laboratory experiments on different samples of vegetation. I then wrote several scripts in python to determine the kinetic parameters of several different species of vegetation, in order to use NISTs fire dynamics simulator to more accurately predict wildfire behavior.
Masters of Engineering in Aeronautical Engineering• 2020-2020
GPA: 3.66
I completed a Master’s of Engineering in Aeronautical Engineering in December of 2020. My Master’s project was analyzing the control systems of a realistic multibody model of a CubeSat.
B.S. Dual Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering • 2016-2019
GPA: 3.65
I completed my undergraduate education in December of 2019, graduating with a dual major of Mechanical and Aeronautical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Programming languages
Experience programming in C, MATLAB/Simulink, and Python
Web design in HTML
Programs/Applications
CAD including Siemens NX (including NASTRAN FEA package), SolidWorks (including Solidworks Simulation), and Autodesk Inventor
Circuit simulation in PSPICE
Orbit modeling with AGI Systems Tool Kit (certified)
Microsoft Office, including Excel
Fabrication and Manufacturing experience
Extensive hands-on rapid prototyping experience
Proficient with metalworking, including using lathes, vertical/horizontal mills and welding
Skilled with composite fabrication, including wet open layups as well as pre-preg
Experiened with Computer aided manufacturing, including 3D printing, laser cutting, and CNC milling.
I am skilled at soldering, wiring and drawing circuit diagrams
I have extensive experience woodworking
Project Managment
Adept at working with Agile/Jira tools
Additional skills
Experience using and configuring microcontrollers inclulding Arduino, Raspberry pi, and OpenPilot CC3D Flight Controller.
I am proficient in public speaking.
During the 2017-2018 winter, I built a custom quadcopter for personal use, and to learn more about embedded control on UAVs in a hands-on way. The quadcopter uses an Ardupiolot flight controller for autonomous control.
Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering
In the summer of 2017, I built a FDM 3D printer. I used a Tevo Taratnula frame, and modified the firmware, extruder, and bed in order to fit my specific project needs.
Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
I made a small box that is mounted by a door to automatically greet people as they come in. Powered by a Raspberry Pi Zero, it chooses a pseudo-random greeting and plays it out loud when movement is detected. The program will auto-run on startup, so the unit can easily be unplugged and moved without hassle.
Electical Engineering
I built a mirror with an Android tablet embedded to display the date, weather, and news headlines. The mirror is a thrift-store picture frame, treated with 1-way glass film. The android tablet is mounted with custom 3D printed brackets to mount flush to the glass without exceeding the frame depth.
Mechanical Engineering
I built on a line follower for a class on engineering design. This was one of my first Arduino projects. The line follower is built from laser cut acrylic. The Arduino runs a PID control loop, which receives data from an 8 sensor IR array, and controls the motors via a motor shield.
Electrical Engineering, Programming
One of my first projects. In high school, I used a high-altitude weather balloon to launch a capsule containing a camera, GPS tracker, and internal heater. Unfortunately, a change in wind direction resulted in an ocean landing, and no footage was recovered.
Aeronautical Engineering
During the summer of 2019, I worked at AEROSONIC as an aeronautical/mechanical engineering intern. One part of my responsivities was designing test fixtures. This is an example of one fixture, a mount for a leaf-blower, including a custom flow-straightener for the turbulent outflow. This was used in the testing of a combination angle of attack/airspeed indicator.
Mechanical Engineering
In the spring of 2019, I made maple syrup from scratch via tapping maple trees and processing the sap into syrup. To make the project more environmentally friendly, I chose to keep the entire endeavor zero waste (no garbage could be produced as a result of the project). I 3D printed these maple tree taps to thread onto soda bottles, which were scavenged from recycling bins. The taps were printed from corn-based PLA, and when the project was finished, they were recycled into new 3D printer filament.
Mechanical Engineering, Forestry
I worked as part of a team in an embedded control class to program a C-based microcontroller for autonomous obstacle avoidance and path following via onboard sensors.
Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering
As part of a school project, I wrote a full-state feedback control algorithm to balance this Segway, which is controlled by an Arduino. The code was written in MATLAB and Simulink.
Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering
As the final project for an introductory FEA course, I created a model of a Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe in NX, and then used the NASTRAN Finite Elements package to analyze the stresses on an Ice Axe during various use cases.
Mechanical Engineering, Electrical EngineeringLike what you see? Want to find out more? Email me!