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Nicholas C.

Experienced mechanical / design engineer looking to help companies realise their design goals

Birmingham, United Kingdom

Global rank:

8,085 / 126,615

Skill pts: 5

ANSYS Mechanical APDL CAD Design Mechanical Engineer Mechanical Engineering Product Design

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About

I am a highly motivated and fast learning engineer in the pursuit of an exciting, design-based opportunity. I have 5 years of experience working with hydro-pneumatic suspension systems in design and R&D roles, having previously completed a Year in Industry placement at Rolls-Royce Controls and Data Services, followed by a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London.

Experience

Design Engineer Horstman Defence Systems · Full-time Oct 2023 – Mar 2026 2 yrs 5 mos Bath, England, United Kingdom ● Designed and delivered a track tension ram and gear idler system for a main battle tank that is currently undergoing vehicle testing. This was achieved by modelling parts and performing FEA in SOLIDWORKS, running mass optimisation studies, creating part and sub-assembly configuration drawings, and creating a rotating hydraulic system, which was validated through in-house testing.
● Designed and developed a hydro-pneumatic suspension system for an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) to satisfy spring rate and damping requirements by creating an assembly in SOLIDWORKS, performing flow calculations and FEA, which culminated in the sale of a set of dampers to be tested on the prototype vehicle.
● Responsible for all additive manufacturing (AM) activities at the company, including operating FDM and SLA machines and providing training, coaching colleagues on design for additive manufacture (DfAM) best practices, creating production parts, rapid prototypes, scale models and tooling, and attending AM events.
Development Engineer Domin Fluid Power · Full-time May 2020 – Sep 2023 3 yrs 4 mos Bristol, England, United Kingdom ● Designed and commissioned a hydro-mechanical rig to characterise active suspension systems by modelling parts and performing FEA in PTC Creo, creating part and sub-assembly drawings and communicating with fabricators and machinists, which enabled three generations to be developed and tested.
● Designed, built and commissioned a hydraulic rig to characterise a radial piston pump by modelling parts in PTC Creo and procuring parts from suppliers, which enabled the successful delivery of a working pump for a customer’s use in a brake-by-wire application.
● Collaborated with a luxury car manufacturer on active suspension projects over a three-year period, culminating in six suspension units being tested on their demonstration vehicle, which was subsequently displayed at the Cenex Low Carbon Vehicle Show in 2022.
Electronic Engineer Rolls-Royce Controls and Data Services · Aug 2013 – Aug 2014 1 yrs Birmingham, UK • Tested and analysed electronic components used in Rolls-Royce jet engines.
• Presented component failure data to department managers at an annual review.

Education

Imperial College London Master Of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering , Upper Second Class Honours (2.1) 2014 – 2019 Activities and Societies: Hockey and swimming

Other experience

Canoe Slide • Third year group project.
• Manufactured a portable canoe slide to be used by the British Canoeing team.
• Responsible for critical aspects of the design and for producing the relevant components.
• Created a CAD model in SolidWorks, comprising of multiple subassemblies, to produce technical drawings for parts to be 3D printed and CNC milled.
Moss Screen Installation • Final year individual project – designed a structure to improve urban roadside air quality by utilising moss as a biological filter to capture particulate matter.
• Produced a CAD model in SolidWorks and tested a prototype in a wind tunnel.