Mechanical Design Engineer, FEA Analyst, Configuration Manager

+27-82-866-**** ************@*****.*** www.linkedin.com/in/michael-andrew-hills

Mechanical Design Engineer • FEA Analyst • Configuration Manager

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

I am a vibrant person with a determination to succeed, possessing a sound knowledge of designing, prototyping, and testing designs for overall effectiveness, cost, reliability, and safety. I function well under pressure and enjoy working in a well-structured environment at a fast pace. I believe in a firm set of moral values and can motivate those around me to create a well-functioning and determined team.

KEY SKILLS

Computer-Aided Design (CAD)

Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)

Structural Design

Mechanical Engineering

Positive Stress Tolerance

Creative and Analytical Thinking

Excellent Communication Skills

Research Skills

Troubleshooting

Technical Documentation

Project Management

Leadership

MS Office Suite

Time Management

Problem-solving

Collaborative Team Player

NX Siemens & SolidWorks

Great ability to work under pressure

Strong work ethic

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Jonker Sailplanes January 2018 – August 2020

A privately owned South African company that designs, manufactures, and maintains sailplanes.

Mechanical Design Engineer

Supervised production workers to identify regular problem areas and implemented solutions to optimize production time.

Created parts for various fabrication methods, including machining, 3D-printing, sheet metal fabrication, composite materials, and injection moulding.

Tested the functionality of completed projects and developed improved production methods to resolve any problems.

Designed and changed production tools which decreased production time by 75%.

Implemented a surface treatment method prior to adhesive bonding that is 20% more efficient and decreases production time by 90%.

Managed 4 different job descriptions at the same time while completing my master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Assigned as the only engineer on the JS3 RES (Rear Electrical System) project, a battery-powered sailplane with the potential to self-launch, one of the first of its kind.

Took the JS3 RES (Rear Electrical System) project from concept to production within 8 months.

Appointed as Configuration Manager which involved managing quality data for the engineering department and for production to ensure a smooth-running production line and compliance with certification requirements.

Assigned as the support engineer for the wing section which involved creating drawings, writing procedures, developing new manufacturing methods and designing new or improved tooling.

Assigned as control system engineer which involved performing simulations on the kinematics of all the controls in the sailplane to ensure that there were no interferences between any controls.

Explored and developed a new method to calculate all load factors for the control system which reduced the calculation time by 50%.

Applied Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and hand calculations on both metal and composite parts to ensure the structure will work for the desired design intent.

Authored technical certification documents for certifying sailplanes in Europe (EASA).

Proofread, edited, and evaluated final copy of aircraft maintenance manual to verify that content aligned with established guidelines.

Authored and performed multiple tests on sailplane parts for certification purposes and to measure parts against design intent.

Applied mathematical skills and understanding of engineering principles to design new products, tools and systems.

Identified and planned for acquiring of all materials essential for project manufacturing.

ETA Operations June 2016 – July 2016

An independent company that works to enhance the efficiency of operations in resources, logistics, energy, environment, health and safety.

Internship

Optimized power usage at a mining plant and managed to reduce the power cost by 30%.

Created an automated Microsoft Excel database to generate client reports after raw data is received.

Visited on-site locations to verify the efficacy of the power-saving process.

Gained experience in various software packages, performing research, and assisting with engineering work.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Master of Engineering (M. Eng.) Mechanical Dissertation, North-West University 2018 – 2019

Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng.) Mechanical, North-West University 2014 – 2017

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Article published in International Conference on Composites, Bio-composites and Nano-composites (ICCBN) proceedings. 2018

Presented an article at the International Conference on Composites, Bio-composites and Nano-composites (ICCBN). 2018

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