Briana L.

Experience

• Principal Mechanical Engineer & Founder Solvify LLC · Self-employed Apr 2025 – Present 1 yrs 1 mos Covington, WA, United States Provide independent mechanical engineering consulting services to industrial clients, specializing in design calculations, failure analysis, reliability engineering, and technical leadership.
  
  - Conducted root-cause investigation of equipment failures including recurring seal failures in water recirculation pumps on a large water-bath natural gas decompression skid and identified the probable failure mechanism.
  
  - Developed a comprehensive reliability model for a natural gas decompression skid using Event Tree Analysis to quantify system risks and recommend design improvements.
  
  - Performed design calculations on a camera housing to operate safely inside a high-pressure, high-temperature autoclave, and structural analysis of an aluminum composite housing under internal pressure and elevated temperature.
  
  - Acted as interim Engineering Manager for a client, mentoring a junior engineer by developing a structured training curriculum and delivering ongoing technical guidance.
• Fluid Systems Design Engineer TerraPower · Full-time Jul 2023 – Mar 2025 1 yrs 8 mos Bellevue, WA, United States Designing a sodium-filled nuclear fluid system as part of a first-of-a-kind sodium fast reactor
  project. Roles include research, development, design, analysis, test oversight, and procurement
  support.
  
  - Performed extensive calculations and analysis of thermal hydraulic and chemical systems to make predictions of equipment and system performance for both functional and nuclear safety purposes.
  
  - Conducted and led project-level decisions with team members to evaluate changes to the plant design and combat design issues.
  
  - Wrote several detailed technical reports on topics ranging from licensing and design approach to documenting calculation methodology, results, and discussion.
  
  - Provided test requirements and active feedback to test programs which are studying heat exchanger performance and chemical reaction dynamics.
  
  - Trained in nuclear licensing for light-water and advanced reactors, including a thorough
  understanding of the risk-informed design approach.
• Gas Products Engineer Algas-SDI · Full-time Aug 2019 – Jun 2023 3 yrs 10 mos Kent, WA, United States Propane Gas Vaporizer Product Technical Lead responsible for design, manufacturing, customer
  experience, and quality. Quality standards include ISO 9001 and ANSI ASQ Z1.4:
  
  - Managed design projects with critical timelines requiring deliverables from sales, purchasing, planning, and production. Capable of supplier and laboratory sourcing. Established project budgets.
  
  - Led risk assessments for many projects via Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), resulting in improved equipment reliability and safety. Contributed to continuous improvement of the FMEA process.
  
  - Extensive experience manufacturing products. Competent at evaluating for accuracy and signing many machined part, casting, and assembly drawings.
  
  - Led troubleshooting efforts on-site with customers, providing technical support and solutions to ensure seamless operation and customer satisfaction.
• Power Plant Operating Engineer University of Washington Facilities · Full-time Mar 2018 – Aug 2019 1 yrs 5 mos Seattle, WA, United States Power Plant Operator at University of Washington’s 500 kW steam plant supplying campus heating and cooling.
  
  - Performed equipment testing and maintenance on turbines, boilers, chillers, pumps, blowers, pressure relief devices, polishers, valves, and water treatment systems.
  
  - Mentored by Plant Supervisor on mechanical design of power plant equipment. Accurately estimated boiler pressure relief valve spring rates from both design calculations and empirical test data on safeties post-maintenance.
  
  - Assisted Control Technicians with emissions monitoring and instrumentation.
  
  - Served as Secondary Operator, recording pressure, temperature, and emissions data to confirm reliable plant performance.