M.S. Aerospace Engineering · San Jose State University

Hi, I'm Thiviru.

I'm an aerospace engineering student at San Jose State University, where I earned my B.S. and am pursuing an M.S. (expected May 2027).

As a mechanical engineering intern at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, I developed kinematic calculations and designs for a six-strut hexapod and validated them on hardware. In NASA's L'SPACE Mission Concept Academy, I contributed to CAD, drafting, trade studies, component selection, design, and documentation.

My projects span aircraft design, aerodynamics, structures, controls, and embedded systems. I've designed and built high-speed RC aircraft, performed aerodynamic and structural analysis, developed control systems in MATLAB and Simulink, and built and tested sensor hardware. These experiences have given me hands-on experience taking engineering projects from analysis and CAD through simulation, manufacturing, integration, and testing.

Experience

  1. Jun 2025 — Aug 2025

    Mechanical Engineering Intern

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

    • Derived and implemented kinematic models for a six-strut hexapod parallel manipulator, enabling 6-DOF motion control.
    • Integrated the kinematic equations into a Micronics hexapod system and experimentally validated positioning accuracy.
    • Designed mechanical components with linear actuators for automated motion in Creo Parametric.
    • Performed structural and modal analysis in ANSYS to improve system stiffness and dynamic response.
    • Ran heating experiments on neodymium magnets to characterize their demagnetization, and presented results to engineering staff and at a research poster session.

    Creo ParametricANSYSFEAModal AnalysisExcel

    SULI Research Project · Summer 2025

    Kinematics and Automation of Six-Strut Systems

    Berkeley Lab's six-strut supports position Advanced Light Source magnets in six degrees of freedom, but they're adjusted by hand and every strut affects the others. I derived the kinematics to calculate the strut lengths for any target position, then selected linear actuators and designed ANSYS-tested adapters to automate them.

    Research poster preview
    Research report first page preview
  2. Jan 2025 — May 2025

    L'Space MCA - Mechanical Engineer

    Virtual NASA workforce program

    • Built most of the spacecraft CAD assembly in Siemens NX, including the main structure and solar-panel deployment mechanism, and produced the PDR engineering drawings.
    • Selected and integrated the sample pump and the germanium infrared window for the longwave infrared camera.
    • Selected the battery and solar panels through trade studies, sized the array, and ran charge/discharge analysis to confirm 48 hours of endurance.

    Siemens NXCAD DraftingTrade StudiesPower Systems

    NASA L'SPACE · Team 28 · Spring 2025

    Venus Atmospheric Probe Mission Design

    Designed a robotic aerobot that studies volcanic activity and atmospheric chemistry in Venus's cloud layer, through Preliminary Design Review. I was the team's mechanical engineer, with a secondary role in power.

    Siemens NX assembly drawing of the Venus aerobot
    Venus aerobot mission timeline, phases 1 to 6
    Read the full PDR report (PDF, 14 MB) ↗

Projects

Skills

CAD & design

SolidWorksCreo ParametricSiemens NXAutodesk Inventor

Analysis

ANSYS (FEA, Modal)SimulinkXFLR5Propulsion

Software

MATLABC++Embedded SystemsMicrosoft Office Suite

Build & assembly

Hardware IntegrationSolderingPrototypingCarbon Fiber Layup3D Printing

Contact Me

I'm open to internships, research projects and engineering roles. The best way to reach me is by email.

thivirudon@gmail.com