structural engineering - entry level

NIKKO DE CASTRO, E.I.T

linkedin/in/nikkodecastro*1 ● 619-***-**** ● ********@***.***

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE June 2025

B.S. in Civil Engineering - Specialization in Structural Engineering GPA: 3.42

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Programs AutoCAD, RISA 3D, Microsoft Suite, Civil 3D, SketchUp, SolidWorks, EPAnet Relevant Structural Analysis, Soil Mechanics, Mechanics of Materials, Reinforced Concrete Design, Coursework Structural Steel Design, Structural Timber Design, Computer Methods in Structural Analysis, Foundation Design, Introduction to Earthquake Engineering, Advanced Steel Design, Systems Analysis and Decision-Making, Environmental Processes PROJECTS

University of California - Irvine September 2021 - June 2025 Mechanically Stabilized Earth Geowall – Project Manager September 2024 – present

● Led a team of dedicated members within the UC Irvine chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers

(ASCE) to collaboratively plan, design, construct, and test a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) model for the Pacific Southwest Symposium 2025 at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

● Fabricated an upside-down L-shaped moment arm, with other members, for insertion into the geowall to support a 20 lb load, using a bandsaw, drill press, and buffer to ensure precision and accordance with the Geo-Institute of ASCE geowall rules.

● Collaborated with PhD students to design a retaining wall incorporating longitudinal reinforcements to withstand a vertical sand load of approximately 500 pounds, which is translated into a horizontal load, a 50-pound vertical load and the 20-pound load over a 10-inch distance extending beyond the front of the wall.

● Performed sand sample analysis using the sieve analysis procedure (ASTM D422) to determine if the sand grade met specifications for uniformly graded sand, with particle diameters ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 millimeters.

● Crafted and finalized a comprehensive design report detailing the sand and reinforcement material properties, design and construction procedures, and a description of the geometry, ensuring clarity and thorough documentation of all key elements.

Structural Steel Design Final Project – Designer and Drafter September 2024 – December 2024

● Compiled a comprehensive list of loading requirements on google sheets based on the International Building Code (IBC) standards to decide the optimal design of a steel structural frame for a virtual office building.

● Assisted a team of four by ensuring design procedures adhered to Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) principles, utilizing the 16th edition of the Steel Manual by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC).

● Drafted a detailed structural schematic of an office floor and roof using AutoCAD, providing the virtual client with a clear and concise representation of beam placement and their geometric properties.

● Conducted professional hand calculations for the design of exterior beams, applying the LRFD standard, and documented the results in a comprehensive design report. Highway Design Project – Vertical Alignment Designer September 2023 – December 2023

● Designed a vertical alignment for a rural highway with rolling terrain using Civil 3D, connecting the SR-241 toll road to the SR-74 highway near San Onofre, San Diego County.

● Calculated the required flexible pavement thicknesses and estimated associated costs by considering factors such as annual average daily traffic (AADT), road truck composition, design life, axle loadings, and the material properties of the three pavement layers.

ACTIVITIES AND EXTRACURRICULARS

University of California - Irvine, Irvine September 2021- June 2025 Acts2Fellowship, Christian fellowship September 2021 - Present

● Guiding bible studies and 1-on-1 discipleship, serving in the church’s praise band, assisted other under-staffed churches, worked in large groups and led the youth in different camps (volleyball and retreats)

Aerodynamix Acapella - vocal percussionist September 2021- February 2023

● Dedicated to bi-weekly rehearsals, focusing on the development and performance of 3-5 songs per quarter.

● Performed at school events, elderly care facilities, and the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA).

Guest Speaker November 2024

● Volunteered with the Engineering Student Council (ESC) to deliver a 15-minute presentation on civil engineering and my Geowall project to STEM-focused high school students.

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