My Experience

XL Aero Inc. | Aerospace Engineering Co-op

Abbotsford, BC | Sep 2024 - Dec 2024

During my final co-op at Waterloo, I had the opportunity to work in the aerospace industry at XL Aero. XL Aero provides solutions for the repair and modification of aircraft parts. I gained mechanical design experience by reverse engineering a fitting used for securing helicopter seats to the floor in Bell 214ST helicopters. I performed detailed dimensional inspections, static load analysis, and drafted a tight tolerance manufacturing drawing. This was followed up by writing technical reports that got approved by Transport Canada allowing QTY 200 fittings to be installed on this model of aircraft. I evaluated the feasibility of using a 3D scanner for reverse engineering applications. I also got to make CAD models and assemblies in SolidWorks of structural helicopter components. Through this process I learned to read technical OEM drawings while also taking my own reverse engineering measurements. FEA was required for the development of a test fixture that tests the elastomeric stiffness of these components. In this role, I gained an appreciation for all the engineering work must be done to ensure safe air travel.

OtO Lawn Inc. | Mechatronics Product Design Co-op

Toronto, ON | Jan 2024 - Apr 2024

At OtO, I worked as a Mechatronics and Product Design Co-op. OtO is a start-up that has designed and produces a smart sprinkler system for residential lawns. This wifi-connected device is controlled through an app, and is a great product where I got to develop tests to improve it's reliability. The first test fixture I built was to cycle hot and cold water through their units to try and invoke failure. I worked with solenoid valves and wrote scripts in Python to build this test. I also designed and built a fixture that drops a steel ball on their unit from different elevations. This test was used to validate the safety characteristics of the product. The main project I had while at OtO was to improve the connector that is used to charge the device. I developed many tests to narrow down potential options, and gather data to prove which connector performed best. The primary test consisted of submerging connectors underwater while providing a fixed voltage to see which connectors corrode fastest. I applied DFM and worked in SolidWorks to develop a new method of attaching the connector to the product using a plastic snap that will be injection-moulded.

Woodbridge Foam Corporation | Mechanical Engineering Co-op

Mississauga, ON | May 2023 - Aug 2023

In my fourth co-op at Woodbridge, I worked as a Mechanical Engineering Co-op in their technology development department. Woodbridge is a global supplier of foam solutions primarily to the automotive industry. They have facilities worldwide containing hydraulic equipment called "pourheads" that mix and pour foam chemicals into moulds. I had many responsibilities such as investigating the causes of failure of pourheads after millions of cycles in the plant. I developed and presented solutions to prevent failure mechanisms and extend the lifetime of this equipment. I worked on R&D projects such as creating a nozzle testing fixture. This test would gather pressure and flow data from precisely machined nozzles to verify whether the resulting liquid jet is within specification. I also got to develop a pourhead design from scratch including the CAD assembly in SolidWorks, sourcing of mechanical seals, and other project management tasks. I gained technical hydraulic, manufacturing, and industrial design experience in this co-op that I hope to expand on in future opportunities.

Cover Technologies | Production and Quality Co-op

Los Angeles, CA | Sep 2022 - Dec 2022

I had the unique opportunity to work at Cover Technologies as a Production and Quality Intern for my third co-op. Cover makes elegantly designed pre-fab homes in a factory which then get installed on-site in less than a month. I worked on the factory floor in Los Angeles where I got exposed to a manufacturing environment that is transitioning towards mass production. The main project I worked on was the information delivery process between the floor and the production team. I gathered data and worked within their ERP system to plan production and estimate throughput. To better monitor progress I worked on dashboards in Metabase that display how the current build is progressing. To improve efficiency, I developed new processes to ensure parts, BOMs, and work orders are ready before they reach the floor. Lastly, I worked with the quality control team to identify recurring issues and how to mitigate them. I enjoyed my time working at an ambitious startup, and learned a lot about manufacturing and production from a group of experienced engineers and technicians on the operations team.

Canada Post | Process Engineering Co-op

Mississauga, ON | Jan 2022 - Apr 2022

My second co-op term was at Canada Post as a part of their Process Engineering team. I worked hands-on in Canada Post's unionized mail sorting facility. I began by learning the many processes that are required to sort and deliver mail. I then got to work on plant layout designs in AutoCAD improving the processing capability and efficiency of the facility. My main project was repurposing available space by designing and setting up a new sorting process that would replace an industrial machine. This required extensive data gathering and analysis of the mail volumes being sorted on machines to influence process design decisions. This project had to go through many iterations and approvals but was eventually implemented with good results on the floor. Even though this was not a traditional manufacturing environment, this experience translates well to creating an efficient production line with large-scale machines and equipment.

Lorcan Technologies | IoT and Automations Co-op

Waterloo, ON | May 2021 - Aug 2021

My first co-op term is where I had the privilege of working at Lorcan Technologies as an IoT and Automation Engineering student. Lorcan is making a transceiver to transmit data from environmental sensors in remote areas of the world. There were many projects on the go at this start-up revolving around hardware and product design. My main task was to build the first prototype of a long-range mesh network. This involved working with a TI microcontroller and building a dashboard in React to remotely monitor the network. I did extensive field testing in which the range between nodes was increased by 50m during my time at Lorcan. I also prototyped with solar panels and charging circuits to see if the batteries would receive sufficient power in the wilderness to recharge. I also did some mechanical design work in Solidworks creating the first draft of an IP-rated enclosure to house the electronics, batteries, solar panels, and antenna.

University of Waterloo | Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Student

Waterloo, ON | Sep 2020 - Apr 2025

In April 2025 I graduated from the University of Waterloo where I studied mechanical engineering for the past five years. I have learned many new skills throughout my schooling such as being introduced to SolidWorks and AutoCAD in first year, getting to fabricate parts in the student machine shop, and using MATLAB for mathematical models. I learned the most during a fourth year design project where I got to design and build the electrical system for a canoe paddle assist device. I developed my circuit design skills in KiCAD, learned how to spec a motor and battery, and also programmed an ESP32 MCU. Some of my favourite courses include Electromechanical Devices, thermodynamics, and mechanical design. I enjoyed these courses because they were very new concepts to me such that I learned new skills that were applicable to real-life engineering. I am very proud of my academic success, achieving the Dean's Honour List twice, and a cumulative GPA of 88%.