# Andrew Zakoor > iPhone Product Design Engineer @ Apple Location: San Francisco, California, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/andrewzakoor I enjoy designing cool things... especially to help our planet. ## Work Experience ### Product Design Engineer - iPhone @ Apple Jan 2022 – Present | Cupertino, California, United States ### Master's Thesis @ UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering Jan 2021 – Jan 2022 | San Diego, California, United States • Designed a novel and inexpensive testing enclosure for perovskite solar cells to accelerate perovskite commercialization • Saved lab >$10k through custom design and low-cost parts, will publish open-source design for universities to use • Increased testing throughput >10x; enabled parallel testing of temperature, light, and voltage bias • Created parametric CAD model in SolidWorks; collected, managed, and analyzed large I-V datasets using Python • Solved complex, multi-disciplinary problems: thermal analysis, solar simulation, inert-gas sealing, PCB design, maximum power-point tracking, size & cost constraints, DFA, DFM. • Complete ownership of product lifecycle from concept to 45-cell capacity. Scaled design for >450 cell manufacturability • Addt’l project to optimize metallization for perovskites; wrote Python program to query Griddler simulation, find convex efficiency maximum, analyze sensitivity, and compare results of large datasets with Python; will publish to GitHub • Worked independently, integrated feedback from PI, communicated to team of 10, presented to team of 25 ### Technical Team Lead @ Electromotive Force at UCSB Jan 2019 – Jan 2021 | Goleta, California, United States • Co-founded electric vehicle club, recruited 25 members, led team of 5 to add regenerative braking to e-bikes • Invented innovative two-way clutch to toggle regenerative braking and freewheeling; provisionally patented • Increases range ~10%, reduces brake wear ~80%, saves consumer ~$100; awarded “Outstanding Technical Innovation” • Performed stress, impact, and fatigue analysis on steel parts through FEA, hand-calculations, and S-N curves • Led concise meetings, implemented schedules and task management; presented technical design choices to professors • Updating design to increase reliability and make wireless, in pursuit of licensing agreement ### Associate Mechanical Engineer @ Apeel Jan 2020 – Jan 2021 | Goleta, California, United States • Researched and prototyped systems to reduce the need for heated convective drying • Technical lead on R&D electrospray and heated deposition projects, safely used high voltages and temperatures to deposit a thin film of product onto produce while ensuring produce and product quality • Iterated on several experimental designs, collected data, and optimized parameters to maximize deposition quality • Prototyped sanitary application hardware to reduce technician cleaning time and installation costs by 50% • Assessed financial and manufacturing feasibility; presented technical data to diverse audience ### Cell Equipment Engineering Intern @ Tesla Jan 2020 – Jan 2020 | Palo Alto, California, United States • Designed prototype testing fixture for custom 4680 Li-Ion cells to update battery testing for high-capacity cells • Updated cell heat spreader for new geometry; reduced thermal mass & gradient, response time & oscillations by 25% • Modeled thermal resistance networks in MATLAB to assess solution viability; quantified thermal stresses in ANSYS • Expanded temp. range to -30ºC, increased system safety and efficiency; worked with technicians to ensure robust design • Resolved daily equipment problems; designed and assembled electromechanical testing fixtures • Troubleshooted lab and production equipment to meet tight deadlines; enhanced first principles understanding • Worked multiple projects simultaneously and independently in a fast-paced environment ### F-35 Stress Analyst Intern @ Northrop Grumman Jan 2019 – Jan 2019 | Palmdale, CA • Performed MRB stress analysis to ensure the structural integrity of repairs during aircraft production • Experience with FE models using PATRAN/NASTRAN analysis of various metallic and composite materials: woven and uniaxial lamina properties, laminate construction, ILS, ILT calculations • Used Lockheed Martin IDAT (IBOLT, SFBOLT) analysis tools to optimize metallic shim thicknesses at various composite duct – substructure interfaces ### Flight Dynamics Team Lead @ Rocket Propulsion Laboratory at UCSB Jan 2018 – Jan 2019 | Goleta, California, United States • Founding member of student rocketry club, led sub-team members in design and analysis of nose cone + fins • Coded extensive Python flight simulation, utilizing Euler time steps to predict forces, atmospheric conditions, and acceleration during flight from changing thrust, weight, and angle of attack • Communicated and presented professionally for university faculty, industry professionals, NAVAIR & NAVSEA ### Senior Counselor @ Outpost Summer Camps Jan 2018 – Jan 2018 | San Diego, CA • Worked as an outdoor camp counselor for children ages 11-12 • Learned to juggle multiple projects simultaneously and improved skills of solving problems spontaneously • Encouraged kids to accomplish personal goals, always maintained safety and inclusive environment ## Education ### Master of Science - MS in Mechanical Engineering UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering ### Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering UC Santa Barbara ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/andrew-zakoor-54061313a - Portfolio: https://arzakoor0.wixsite.com/portfolio --- Source: https://flows.cv/andrewzakoor JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/andrewzakoor/resume.json Last updated: 2026-03-29