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PROFESSIONAL RESUME

SKILLSET

First Principals Mastery: solid mechanics / mechanical dynamics / mechanical kinematics / human biomechanics

Robotic Design Mastery: linear and rotary actuators / force and torque sensors / linkage mechanisms / structures

Robotic Replication of Human Motion: knee / ankle / foot / forearm / hand 

Actuator Transmission Competencies: planetary / strain wave / cycloid / roller screw / lead screw / worm 

Actuator Integration Competencies: ball, roller, and spherical bearings / encoders / force sensors / PCBAs / harnessing

Mechanical: high volume manufacturing / part and assembly design for CMs / bolted joints / GD&T / DFMA / FEA / TO

Control Systems: force control / impedance control / model-based control / IMU and encoder sensor fusion

Software: CATIA V6 / 3DX / Solidworks / Inventor / Matlab / Simulink / Vicon

Procedural: actuator bring-up / force sensor calibration / prototyping / experimental design / data processing & visualization / design documentation / human motion testing / motion capture systems / public speaking

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Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering (2022)
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Overall GPA: 4.00

EDUCATION

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M.S. Mechanical Engineering (2022)
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Overall GPA: 4.00

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B.S. Mechanical Engineering (2018)

Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX

Overall GPA: 3.99 (Summa Cum Laude)

GRADUATE COURSEWORK

electromechanical system design / advanced dynamics / linear control / nonlinear control / adaptive control / optimal control / modeling of dynamic systems / user-centered design methods / technology entrepreneurship / neuroanatomy

ACADEMIC HONORS

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Vanderbilt University

Best Paper Award (1st place) - IEEE ICORR (2022)

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2018)

NSF INTERN Supplemental Funding (2022)

Russell G. Hamilton Scholarship (2018)

 

Texas Christian University

Engineering Student of the Year (2018)

McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Scholarship (2016)

Creative Writing Award - Best Fiction Story (2017)

Best Poster Award - Student Research Symposium (2017)

EXPERIENCE

Senior Mechanical Engineer / Figure AI

Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, Optimus Drive Systems / Tesla

Actuator Design Consultant / Ottobock Healthcare

Adjunct Professor / Vanderbilt Mechanical Engineering 

Ph.D. Graduate / Vanderbilt Mechanical Engineering / Michael Goldfarb

Clinical Research Intern / VA Center for Limb Loss & Mobility / David Morgenroth

Founder and President / Veterans in Engineering, Technology, and Science (VETS)

Teaching Assistant / Microelectronics Lab / Texas Christian University

Control Systems Research Intern / Vanderbilt / Michael Goldfarb

Mechanical Design Lead / Senior Design / Texas Christian University

Engineering Intern / UNT Biomechanical Medicine Clinic

Lead Firearms Instructor / U.S. Embassy Baghdad / Triple Canopy

Combat Skills Instructor / U.S. Navy / Linxx Global Solutions

Infantry Squad Leader / U.S. Marine Corps

Senior Mechanical Engineer / Figure AI

  • Design of robotic hardware

Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, Optimus Drive Systems / Tesla

  • Actuator Design: Owned the design of the ankle actuators on Optimus, including integration of custom motors, bearings, roller screws (inverted and standard), PCBAs, input and output encoders, force sensors, and seals

  • Lower Leg Integration: Lead the integration of ankle actuators into the lower leg, which required collaboration on the design of the tibia, foot, and prismatic differential linkage​​

  • Force Sensor Design: Lead designer of all structurally-integrated force and torque sensors on Optimus​

  • Mentorship: Provided design guidance to 3 interns and 6 design engineers on the following topics

    • force and torque sensor design, integration, testing, and calibration 

    • robotic foot design (including compliant heel and articulating toe)

    • prismatic differential linkage design and optimization

    • linear actuator joint design (spherical bearings and U-joints)

    • rotary and linear dyno design for actuator end-of-line testing

    • modeling and testing of foot-strike collisions for walking and running

  • Presentations: Presented the following topics to the Optimus Mechanical Design Team to inspire new designs

    • replication of ankle and foot biomechanics in prostheses

    • toe joint biomechanics and replication thereof 

    • considerations for design and integration of force and torque sensors

    • limitations of the SLIP model of walking

    • modeling of collision dynamics and design of robots for collisions

    • impedance control and its limitations

    • avoiding over and under constraint in parallel prismatic mechanisms

    • error compensation algorithm for a torque sensor

Actuator Design Consultant / Ottobock Healthcare

  • Designed the actuator for a mass-manufacturable version of an under-actuated tendon-driven powered hand orthosis

Adjunct Professor / Vanderbilt Mechanical Engineering

  • Collaborating with Michael Goldfarb on a powered prosthetic knee, providing insight and guidance on mechanical design, control systems, and human-robot interaction. 

Ph.D. Graduate / Vanderbilt Mechanical Engineering / Michael Goldfarb

  • Pursued a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering under Michael Goldfarb’s mentorship

  • Focused on the mechanical design and control of lower-limb prostheses

  • Designed the hardware and control system for a variable transmission powered knee prosthesis that offers passive performance similar to a state-of-the-art passive prosthesis while offering powered functionality concomitant with powered prostheses

Clinical Research Intern / VA Center for Limb Loss & Mobility / David Morgenroth

  • Worked directly with a physiatrist and research prosthetist in a clinical research center to expand my understanding of the needs of amputee populations

  • Conducted human subject testing with various patients with below-knee amputation

  • Designed an optimal topology bracket for a force plate for a robot used to characterize prosthetic foot stiffness

  • Designed a touch-sensing handrail for an instrumented treadmill used in human subject experiments

Founder and President / Veterans in Engineering, Technology, and Science (VETS)

  • Founded a non-profit organization to support veteran success in STEM majors

  • Focused on social, professional, and academic networking to create cohesion from over 40 members during the first semester of operation

  • Collaborated with the college dean and departmental chairs to establish the V.E.T.S. Study Center and a Math for Adult Learners course

Teaching Assistant / Microelectronics Lab / Texas Christian University

  • Taught hands-on applications of circuit design to groups of over 30 students

Control Systems Research Intern / Vanderbilt / Michael Goldfarb

  • Developed a finite state-based control system for a powered ankle prosthesis that provides stair ascent and descent capabilities, as well as user-controlled transitions

  • Conducted an experiment with a subject with below-knee amputation, using a motion capture system to gather kinetic and kinematic data, and processed the data with Vicon Nexus, Visual3D, and Matlab. 

  • Results showing controller efficacy were published in IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engr.​

Mechanical Design Lead / Senior Design / Texas Christian University

  • Designed, manufactured, and tested a smart tool for manufacturing use by Lockheed Martin Manufacturing Technologies as the project mechanical team leader

  • Prototype was produced by Lockheed Martin, saving $20M for the F-35 program

Engineering Intern / UNT Biomechanical Medicine Clinic

  • Worked alongside prosthetists and the clinic Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine on engineering design projects for patients needing prosthetic devices.

  • Designed and manufactured two specialty prosthetic hands for a child amputee patient and a mobility-improving harness for a hemicorporectomy patient.

Lead Firearms Instructor / U.S. Embassy Baghdad / Triple Canopy

  • Provided mission support, security, and live-fire training to U.S. State Department agents and contractors

  • Held the position of Lead Firearms Instructor for the State Department Range at the U.S. Embassy

  • Functioned independently, maintaining the company/brand image and staying current on all field related competencies and qualifications

  • Held personal accountability for company/government property (valued in excess of $1M USD).

Combat Skills Instructor / U.S. Navy / Linxx Global Solutions

  • Provided live-fire and combat-simulated training to U.S. Military personnel

  • Taught curriculum focused on dismounted patrolling, mounted patrolling, VIP protection, fixed site security, mission planning, and leadership fundamentals

  • Coordinated and functioned within various professional instructor groups

  • Conducted large-scale training operations in austere environments for extended periods of time

  • Noteworthy Achievement: Worked as an instructor group team leader during urban movement training operations

Infantry Squad Leader / U.S. Marine Corps

  • Completed three deployments to Iraqi cities in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom

  • Developed detailed mission plans, coordinating with adjacent elements, briefing senior officers, and disseminating instructions to subordinates

  • Conducted large area zone clearances, maintaining a security posture for extended periods of time while simultaneously coordinating with adjacent units

  • Maintained, expanded, and mastered subject matter skills and knowledge, broadening my understanding of the complex modern battlefield and how its components function together

  • Noteworthy Achievement: Oversaw operations as the Officer in Charge at a combat outpost in Hit, Iraq from Jan to Mar 2008

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