Internships

From the racetrack to orbit.

Three internships across three very different industries: NASCAR Cup Series race cars, Caterpillar heavy equipment, and spacecraft destined for the International Space Station.

counterweight concepts developed for the 926 SWL at Caterpillar

NASCAR Cup Series parts inspected for compliance at Hendrick

summers inside Northrop Grumman's 100K cleanrooms in Dulles

major programs touched — Cygnus, NASCAR, & Cat SWL

Northrop Grumman · Summers 2025 & 2026

Satellite Integration & Test

Based out of Northrop Grumman's Dulles, VA facility, I worked in the Integration and Testing mechanical engineering department — spending most of my time in ISO Class 8 (100,000-count) cleanrooms, assisting with assembly sequences and component lifts across Cygnus (Northrop Grumman's uncrewed ISS resupply spacecraft) and several other satellite programs moving through the same facility.

Working on flight hardware is a different discipline entirely: the design phase is over, every fastener torque matters, and the hardware you're handling will never come back for a second look. Two summers of that gave me an incredible appreciation for the complexity in the simple things like torque specs, work instructions, and handling that a classroom never will.

Full write-up & program details

Cygnus ISS Resupply spacecraft in integration

Caterpillar Inc. · May–Jul 2024

Small Wheel Loader Structures

The current 926 Small Wheel Loader uses a cast-iron counterweight, which is expensive to manufacture. I developed nine iterative sheet-metal concepts for a concrete-filled alternative aimed at a lower-priced "general construction" version of the machine, balancing turning clearance, departure angle, and moment while clearing every other component on the back of the machine.

I also investigated a recurring failure in the steering lockout linkage. Hand calculations — based on cylinder bore size and hydraulic pump pressure — gave me the peak stress the linkage saw, and FEA confirmed buckling under a misinstalled condition as the root cause.

Full write-up & FEA results

Hendrick Motorsports · Jun–Aug 2023

NASCAR Cup Series Design Engineering

I designed and detailed components for cars 5, 9, 24, and 48 in Siemens NX, managed through Hendrick's fully digital Teamcenter PLM workflow, and inspected 100+ parts for compliance with NASCAR Cup Series rules. I also supported HMS Defense, contributing to documentation for the Medical Chinook trailer, the STEED wheel hub redesign, and fixtures for GM's Infantry Squad Vehicle program.

Full write-up & fixture details