# Nicholas Ortiz

> --Formula Electric at Berkeley - University of California, Berkeley

Location: United States, United States
Profile: https://flows.cv/nicholasortiz

I’m a Mechanical Engineering student at UC Berkeley and an engineer on the Formula Electric at Berkeley team, where I design and manufacture key driver-focused and structural components for our all-electric race car.

As a Brakes & Ergonomics Engineer, I use SolidWorks, FEA, and GD&T to design safety-critical assemblies like our brake pedal and firewall, optimizing each for strength, weight, and manufacturability while coordinating with chassis and accumulator teams.

As a Composites Engineer, I lead carbon-fiber layups and resin-infusion processes, improving surface finish and reducing component weight by 37% through precise resin control and DFM/A optimization. My work takes place in a high-cadence manufacturing environment, where I emphasize safety, process repeatability, and quality control.

I’m deeply interested in advanced manufacturing, mechanical design, and electric vehicle systems, and I’m eager to apply my hands-on experience and analytical mindset to innovative product development in the automotive, aerospace, or sustainable-energy sectors.

## Work Experience
### Brakes and Ergnomics Engineer @ Formula Electric at Berkeley
Jan 2024 – Present | Berkeley, California, United States
Brakes Application Project:
-Designed and optimized a brake pedal capable of withstanding 2,000 N of driver input force, using SolidWorks and FEA to balance strength, stiffness and weight under straight competition constraints. 
-Conducted Finite Element Analysis to validate pedal geometry to reduce mass while maintaining a 3.9x factor of safety

Ergonomics Project: Firewall
-Modeled and Fabricated the vehicle firewall, the primary safety barrier between the driver and high-voltage accumulator, ensuring full compliance with FSAE competition rules and ergonomic standards
-Collaborated with the Chassis, Accumulator, and Ergonomics sub teams to guarantee dimensional compatibility and integrate fasteners, mounting points n and service access.
-Applied Design for Manufacturability and Assembly (DFM/A) principles throughout CAD modeling and machining. 
-Personally manufactured and installed the final firewall assembly on the vehicle
-Leveraged DG&T, tolerance stack-ups, and SolidWorks PDM to ensure precise fitment

### Composites Engineer @ Formula Electric at Berkeley
Jan 2024 – Present | Berkeley, California, United States
- Helped transition the team’s composite manufacturing process from traditional wet layups to resin infusion, achieving greater resin control, improved surface finish, and 37.2% weight reduction on equivalent structural components.
- Collaborated within a high-cadence manufacturing and testing environment, maintaining production quality under tight fabrication and competition deadlines.
- Gained extensive hands-on experience with composite tooling, vacuum bagging, and cure cycles, optimizing parameters to enhance product strength.
- Strong understanding of safety protocols, PPE usage, and handling procedures for high-temperature, chemical, and hazardous environments, ensuring team and lab compliance.

### Dining Room Server @ Mission Viejo Country Club
Jan 2025 – Jan 2025 | Mission Viejo, California, United States
- Delivered high-quality service in a fast-paced, member-focused environment while consistently meeting strict timing, accuracy, and professionalism standards

- Demonstrated reliability and accountability by managing multiple tables, handling payments accurately, and maintaining attention to detail during peak service hours

- Collaborated closely with kitchen staff and fellow servers to ensure smooth operations, clear communication, and a positive guest experience


## Education
### Mechanical engineering in Mechanical Engineering
UC Berkeley College of Engineering

### Mechanical Engineering
University of California, Berkeley


## Contact & Social
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nicholas-ortiz-mechanical-engineer

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Source: https://flows.cv/nicholasortiz
JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/nicholasortiz/resume.json
Last updated: 2026-04-10