Mechanical Engineer
Resume:
Barend de Villiers, Canada, available for immediate relocation
TN Visa eligible (requires only a job offer),
*************@*****.*** https://www.linkedin.com/in/barend-de-villiers-74b8835a
Professional Summary
Mechanical Engineer with over 7 years of progressive experience in mechanical design, thermal-fluid systems, and component integration across the water utility, clean energy, and manufacturing sectors. Proven ability to take projects from concept through design, simulation, prototyping, and testing. Skilled in 2Dé3D CAD (Inventor, CREO, AutoCAD), CFD analysis (STAR-CCM+, ANSYS), and application of GD&T for manufacturing and inspection readiness. Experience includes the design of IP-rated outdoor enclosures, system-level integration of mechanical and electrical assemblies, and hands-on prototyping in support of product development and R&D initiatives. Strong foundation in rotating machinery and power electronics, with prior work on micro gas turbines and clean energy systems.
Core Competencies
CFD & FEA Analysis: Star CCM+, MATLAB, SolidWorks, SimXpert, Thermal & Stress Analysis,
CADD: Inventor, CREO, AutoCAD, knowledge of SolidWorks and Fusion 360,
Design & Manufacturing: GD&T, CADD, DFMA, Sheet Metal & Tolerance Stack-Up,
Sizing of pumps & Rotating Machinery Design Exposure,
Mechanical & Electromechanical System Integration,
Hands-on Assembly, Prototyping, & Empirical Testing in Laboratory and Hard Engineering environments,
Documentation: Preliminary & Detailed Design Reports, Technical Presentations,
Experience as a member of a Safety Committee and First Aid Officer.
Professional Experience
Mechanical Engineer
Block Energy Labs LLC • June 2019 – November 2023
Burlington, ON (Serving North American clients)
Delivered engineering solutions for rugged, high-performance power electronics, with a strong emphasis on electromechanical integration, precision fit, and field durability.
Led the mechanical design, DFMA, and testing of IP67/IP68-rated converter/inverter and microgrid housing systems using CREO, Inventor, and GD&T, ensuring mechanical robustness and ease of assembly.
Executed thermal management simulations using Star CCM+ to optimize passive and active heat dissipation strategies for power electronic units and battery packs, integrating CFD results with hands-on empirical testing data.
Designed and prototyped internal components such as busbars, gaskets, heat sinks, and cable management hardware, while coordinating with electrical engineers to meet spatial and thermal constraints.
Design and in-house assembly of an emulating system that simulates ground faults of power utility strikes or accidental grounding during construction near power lines.
Close interdepartmental collaboration for the compact design of a protection device to detect accidental ground faults on power utility lines and to ensure immediate, subsequent power shut off.
Generated and maintained BOMs, integrated GD&T and DFMA principles to streamline assembly and reduce fabrication issues which reduced lead times by 20-25%.
Maintained version-controlled documentation and drawing sets in Windchill PLM, ensuring alignment between production, engineering, and QA/QC teams.
Led QA/QC reviews and collaborated with contract manufacturers.
Produced complete assembly, fabrication, and GA, BOMs, and test setups for prototyping and validation.
Supported interns with design & drafting review, troubleshooting, and operational performance review.
Served as First Aid Officer and active Safety Committee member.
Mechanical Engineer In-Training
Namibia Water Corporation Ltd. • July 2014 – August 2017
Namibia
Engineering, Procurement and Construction of bulk water supply infrastructure projects from concept to conclusion.
Developed preliminary designs which included budgeting, scheduling and concept development through P&IDs.
Designed bulk water infrastructure systems, including schedule 40, 800 NB metering off-take, upgrading of pipework and analogue to digital flow meters of 25 water wells.
Conducted on-site flow measurements to support detailed design and pump sizing, preventing cavitation at a rural pump station. This led to selecting larger pumps with lower NPSH requirements and switching from 2- to 4-pole motors for reduced rotational speed.
Worked closely with contract manufacturers and vendors, ensuring on-time delivery of an emergency pontoon pump station. Coordinated the launch and installation of said pontoon pump station for Ad-Hoc water delivery.
Interdepartmental collaboration and detailed design of a 2-ton overhead gantry crane to support maintenance of a booster station.
Assessment of flow characteristics and collaboration with contractors for the design of cavitation inhibiting pressure reducing valves for a gravitation water pipeline.
Supervised onsite mechanical installations, coordinated with fabrication teams, and conducted QA/QC inspections to ensure reliability under harsh environmental conditions.
Developed and issued tender documents, schedules, and design packages in alignment with utility standards and contractor deliverables.
Assembly Technician
Load Covering Solutions • June 2024 – February 2025
Ontario, Canada
Interpreted engineering drawings to assemble mechanical sliding and retractable systems used in transport and logistics.
Conducted precise manual and semi-automated installation of components, providing insights to improve mechanical fit and field serviceability.
Education (Qualifications assessed by WES as equivalent to Canadian standards)
M.Sc.Eng., Mechanical Engineering,
University of Stellenbosch
Thesis: CFD and mean-line design of a centrifugal compressor for UAV gas turbines.
Achieved required (t-t) isentropic efficiency of 76%, maintained air mass flow rate at 0.319 kg/s, and increased (t-s) pressure ratio by 15%.
Tools: MATLAB, CFD: Numeca FINE/Turbo, empirical testing & prototyping
B.Eng., Mechanical Engineering,
University of Stellenbosch
Additional project
Developed the next generation mobile health clinic for the Western Cape of South Africa. This was part of a course (Global Engineering Teams) during postgraduate studies.
Collaborated with postgraduate students from Pennsylvania State University to design a mobile clinic layout meeting Department of Health standards, including exam areas, storage, power, and lighting.
Managed the conversion of a VW Crafter panel van through a contracted outfitter and supported its commissioning for field trials.
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