York Zhang Email & Phone Number

El Segundo, California, United States

Technical procurement of hardware and services that bring Radiant's engineers closer to getting the world's first factory-constructed micro-reactor to the market and ushering in a new era for the advanced nuclear industry.

Writing government and commercial proposals to support the development of Verve, a requirements and digital thread software.

Responsible for the verification of performance and functional requirements of the BE-4s delivered for integration with ULA's Vulcan launch vehicle.Data visualization of verified requirements using MATLAB

Connecting clients to Payload's reader via newsletter advertisements across the defense, government and commercial sectors.

Greenbelt, Maryland

Propulsion Integration & Test for the PACE spacecraft, an Earth observation satellite looking at the health of our oceans based on data from phytoplankton and aerosol samples. Set to fly aboard a refurbished Falcon 9 from SpaceX in 2023.Thermal Integration: I work with the Thermal, Mechanical, and Electrical team to ensure their hardware integrates successfully with the Propulsion Module.- Generated interface control documents and memos to describe the roles & responsibilities that ensures thermal compatibility with other subsystems. I track and manage revisions/discrepancies through configuration management to reach a consensus on the actions to be taken.- Responsible for writing, planning, and publishing test procedures for integration of thermal hardware onto the Tank, Fluid Lines, and functional test checkouts for sub-assembly testing.- Led the design, tipping analysis and production of metallic hardware used in ground support equipment for the integration of thermal hardware onto the Tank. - Performed receiving and inspection of flight hardware to ensure specification compliance.- Performed surge testing of Latch Valves to characterize pressure drop and performance during launch pad and in-flight operations.

Huntington Beach, California

Vehicle and Ground Support Requirements:-Generated the system requirements for the entire Vector-R launch vehicle (performance, functional, qualification, acceptance, etc.) and associated ground support equipment from scratch:- Propulsion (engines, valves, heat exchanger, electric pump, reaction control system, thrust vector control (TVC) actuator, fluid lines, pressurization system).- Structures (tanks, interstage, intertank, raceway, and aft skirt). - Mechanisms (stage separation, payload separation, and fairing separation)- Ground Support Equipment (fluid, mechanical, and electrical)Qualification and Acceptance Testing:- Subjected the GPS hardware to thermal cycling/vacuum, random/transportation vibration, and bench-handling shock per RCC 319-14 standard.- Responsible for leading Test Readiness Reviews/anomaly root cause investigations, managing schedule/scope, and tracking test campaign metrics of critical Propulsion hardware to meet internal stakeholder requirements.-

[Propulsion Test Development]- Extensive development testing of over 80+ static fires on a LOX/RP-1 Lightning Stage 2 Engine (heatsink, regen. cooled) since the engine program development inception in August- Assembly/integration of Lightning Stage 2 Engines and fluid instrumentation (pressure transducers, thermocouples, flow meters, load cells, strain gauges, solenoid/other valves) onto Test Stand 1 (including planning and execution of plan)- Monitor/operate/troubleshoot Test Stand 1 and hardware systems (fluid, electrical, data acquisition system) via LabView and National Instruments (NI) to evaluate health and performance pre/post/during tests, and verify all systems are operating as expected- Conducted trade study and data process review in the iteration of Crossfire injector- Creation/review all test operation, test procedure, test sequences and data review process used during development testing of Dragonfly Stage 2 Fuel Main Valve (hydrostatic, fuel flow)-Supported testing of 3D printed gas generator to verify design and effect on turbopump turbine inlet conditions[Propulsion Design Development]- Conceptualized Lightning Stage 2 components (gimbal, turbopump exhaust manifold)- Wrote code in IGOR Pro looking at turbine efficiency vs. overall isentropic velocity ratio for the development of Lightning Stage 2 Turbopump[Ground Support Equipment (GSE)]- Delivered fabrication drawings, fluid schematics (PID), instrumentation list for Firefly's Stage Test Stand (LOX transfer, GN2 instrumentation panels) - Interfacing with vendors in procuring/selecting parts in the development/build of Firefly's Stage Test Stand (cryogenic pump, variable frequency drive, seals, pneumatic actuators, valves, flex lines, fittings, pipe) [Structural Test Development]- Selected commercially available hydraulic actuators/pump in the design of Stage 2 Compression Test Stand- Supported cryogenic testing of Stage 2 carbon fiber tank to operating pressures and temperatures

Greater Los Angeles Area

[Bellows Test Stand Development]- Built and tested fluid systems for bellows development (high-pressure air, low-pressure water)- Tested the system's pressure transducers using National Instrument hardware - Performed cost trade study on AN fittings from commercial suppliers to determine best price, shortest lead time

Austin, Texas Area

[Propulsion Stage 2 Engine CAD Management]- Point-of-contact between the design office and test site in support of Firefly's transition from research to flight hardware- Maintained accurate and up-to-date CAD of Test Stand 1 for Alpha Stage 2 developmental engine (regen. cooled)[Propulsion Components Design Engineer and Project Management]- Conceptual development of test stand components (clevises, brackets)- Provided CAD model for CFX analysis of Stage 2 LOX pintle injector to reduce manufacturing time from a 4-week lead-time to just a single week. - Supported the development of system requirements for roll control using heritage technologies- Updated Stage 1 and Stage 2 Engine PID for Test and Flight- Created Excel spreadsheet detailing the Stage 2 Engine development progress for presentation in weekly director's and Responsible Engineers meeting

Usc Viterbi School Of Engineering

[Lead Engineer - Ignition Subsystem]- Developed system requirements and designed an augmented spark-plug ignition system called Prometheus for a 500 lbf pressure-fed LOX/IPA liquid engine using a commercial car spark-plug (NGK-33)- Manufactured the body using SS 304 on a CNC lathe machine- Built and tested the ignition system using gaseous oxygen/kerosene and Arduino breadboard for 3s at Mojave's Friends of Amateur Rocketry (FAR)[Propulsion Engineer]- Supported the founding of USC's first liquid rocket engine lab that is entirely student-run- Procured ground support equipment (GSE) from Norton Sales (various valves, flex lines, fittings, etc.) - Leak-check propellant feed lines and pressure transducer check-out using gaseous nitrogen (GN2)- First successful horizontal static test fire of our water-cooled gaseous oxygen/kerosene liquid rocket engine in June 2016

Usc Rocket Propulsion Lab

- Supported the fabrication of aerodynamic control surfaces using carbon fiber- Casted solid rocket propellant within the mandril for upcoming horizontal static firing

Usc Viterbi School Of Engineering

This was my first experience using FEA software where my team and I simulated a catalytic membrane reaction involving the conversion of hydrocarbon gas to two purified streams. The reaction efficiency needed to be determined using boundary conditions and Navier-Stokes equations. The results and model were presented to several attending professors from the chemical engineering department.

Usc Viterbi School Of Engineering

Heard about DIY additive manufacturing lab that used commercial printers to print metalContacted grad student working in the lab for lab tour. Later offered and accepted a research position at the end of the tour. Applied material science, chemistry, and basic safety trainingIdentified most penetrating solution to inhibit sintering. Formulated ideal ratio based on most consistent depth. Achieved greater printing resolution and reduced printing layers by 30%.

Usc Viterbi School Of Engineering

Investigation of materials with interesting magnetoelectric properties

Quickly learned to perform nightly internal audit of company's account. Sought to quickly and professionally serve guest during their stayContributed upward ranking from 10th to 6th best hotel in San DiegoEarned a "Guest Service Agent Recognition" award and a return offer for if I want to return to my position after leaving.

San Diego

Interested in manufacturingLearned to dial swap & calibrate QMS ISO 9001:2008 temperature and pressure instruments Timely completion of all customer orders Earned first paychecks, return offer, and considered career in manufacturing

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering major who designed, built, and tested rockets in his senior year. Advanced Courses: Spacecraft Propulsion.

Education record

Activities and Societies: VP & Secretary of Phi Theta Kappa (Academic Honor Society); Club Liason to Miramar Associated Student Council.