Thomas Neidlein Email & Phone Number

Hermosa Beach, Ca, Us

Hermosa Beach, Ca, Us

Redmond, Washington, United States

Responsible for building and testing multiple subassemblies for Starshield satellites.

Served as project engineer leading around 50 students and acting as project manager for our Spaceshot conceptual and mission design. Restructured organization to make it more agile by introducing concurrent engineering, de-siloing different groups. Led effort to create command media documentation detailing processes, roles, requirements, and provide resources for new members. Taught introduction to structural analysis, an 8 week course focused on helping students apply their statics and mechanics of materials coursework to high powered rocketry problems. Assisted in creating pareto and cost analysis for space shot rocket.Served as Nosecone Structures Lead designing, prototyping, and flying 3D printed and composite nosecones on high powered rockets.

Remote

Returned remotely to the same team to continue working on testbed monitoring systems and mechanical design tasks.

Pasadena, California, United States

Worked in the Optical Engineering group (s383) in the High Contrast Imaging Testbed cleanroom supporting next generation coronagraph imaging systems that will enable direct imaging of Exoplanets, which could provide the first proof of life on another planet. Programmed drivers and control systems for testbed watchdogs using Python sockets and serial port forwarding, which enables remote monitoring of chiller systems in vacuum chambers. Additionally, learned/applied the basics of optical alignment and optomechanical systems, writing and presenting academic work, and how to work on cutting edge, multimillion dollar scientific instruments.

Chandler, Arizona, United States

Programmed and manufactured over 120 flight and development parts utilizing 3-axis CNC and manual machining methods. Worked with design engineers and planners to quickly turnaround ‘hot’ parts for critical program needs. Stuff I machined went to space!

Chandler, Arizona, United States

Worked as a structural analysis and test engineering intern, releasing multiple structural analyses using self taught knowledge of statics, dynamics, machine design, and FEMAP/NASTRAN. Developed new work packages for testing critical ground support equipment, and redesigned existing testing structures for use with heavier launch vehicles in Siemens NX. Researched, with other engineers, effects of porosity on composite flight structures, developing knockdown curves for both unitape and cloth through doing dozens of layups and tensile tests. Stuff I analyzed went to space!

Responsible for the design and production of multiple water-tight electrical enclosures. Integrated the electrical, drivetrain, and vehicle dynamics subteams to develop safety-critical systems for managing proper power distribution through multiple systems. Validated designs using Solidworks CAD and FEA. Assisted in the creation of the team's first traction control system, focusing on the development of the tire model in MATLAB.

Worked as a Manufacturing Engineering Intern at Hendrickson Bumper and Trim in Joliet IL. Developed skills in FMEA, 5S, Lean Manufacturing, and TPM. Projects included updating 5S standards and implementing them through visual management controls, and designing custom tools to reduce ergonomic strain on operators.

Imsa

Led 70-student team as co-captain during junior and senior year. Responsible for team goals, project management, training, communications with adult coaches and mentors, and leadership of sub-team heads. Led the design team, using Solidworks CAD, electrical and mechanical design principles, and mentor input to design the Titan competition robot. As team captain in 2018, I was a Dean's List semi-finalist, the most prestigious individual award in FRC. My team was the winner of the Saint Louis Regional Entrepreneurship Award. In 2019's competition, my team made it to the quarterfinals of the Midwest region and received the Quality Award for robust mechanical design and manufacturing processes at the Wisconsin regional.

Mhub Chicago

Worked with clients and mechanical engineers to CAD, prototype, and manufacture industrial automation solutions. Learned CNC, laser-cutting, and 3-D Printing while building a robot and other projects in mHUB, Chicago's innovation center for physical product development and manufacturing.

Bachelor'S Degree, Mechanical Engineering

Focus on Aerospace structures, including elective coursework in FEA, thin walled structural analysis, and CFD. A member of Purdue Electric.

Automotive And Aeronautical Design Program

Took several project based courses, gaining familiarity with FEA, CFD, and CAD tools, in addition to signal processing and project.

High School Diploma, 3.75

Activities and Societies: Titan Robotics Team FRC 2022, Allies STEM Leadership Development Organization, Student Ambassador, TALENT.