Aerospace engineer · B.S. University of South Carolina · May 2026
Om M. Patel
Propulsion, aerodynamics, and structures. I build the models, run the tests, and write up what the data actually showed.
- Focus
- Propulsion & fluid dynamics, aerodynamic performance, structural analysis
- Analysis
- ANSYS Fluent, Abaqus, MATLAB/Simulink, Python
- Design
- CATIA V5, Creo Parametric, SolidWorks
- Hands-on
- 6 years maintaining live fuel delivery and mechanical systems
Selected project log entries
Three of six entries
Each entry covers how I ran it, what the numbers came out to, and where the model and the test didn't agree. The full log adds structures, aerodynamics, and circuits.
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Systems engineering · Spring 2026 · CATIA V5 · Python · Arduino
High-Altitude Balloon Flight System
Mechanical design and integration lead for a recoverable 30 km payload covering structure, thermal, avionics, telemetry, power, and recovery. Built, integrated, and ground-tested in 16 weeks. ATC denied airspace access on launch day, so it never flew.
11/22 REQTS VERIFIED · 4 PARTIAL
~7 h ENDURANCE · ±10 m GPS Never flew, ATC scrub Read entry → -
Propulsion · Fall 2025 · ANSYS Fluent · MATLAB
Multi-System Propulsion CFD Analysis
A ramjet, a chemical rocket, and a resistojet in 2D reacting-flow CFD. I swept Mach number, fuel, mixture ratio, and chamber geometry across 15 cases to see what each cycle is actually sensitive to.
122,211 N PEAK THRUST
Isp UP TO 2,492 s Mesh-independence verified Read entry → -
Aircraft design · Fall 2025 · CATIA V5 · MATLAB · JavaFoil
General Aviation Aircraft Conceptual Design
Led the full FAR Part 23 conceptual design of a 4-seat GA aircraft: constraint sizing, drag buildup, propulsion trade study, tail sizing, and a stability check on the selected low-wing T-tail.
1,600 km RANGE · 410 m TAKEOFF
3,000 lb MTOW Low-wing T-tail selected Read entry →
Capabilities
Technical skills
Propulsion & fluids
Propulsion system sizing, thermodynamic cycle analysis, reacting flow simulation, combustion modeling, CFD (ANSYS Fluent), porous-media flow (Darcy–Forchheimer), internal and pipe flow, fuel system safing
Structures & materials
Stress and deflection analysis, FEA (Abaqus), Euler buckling, modal analysis and damping, structural margins, load path evaluation, tensile and hardness testing
Testing & instrumentation
Subsonic wind tunnel force-balance testing, pitot-static velocimetry, three-point bending, strain gauges, steady-state and transient thermal measurement, LabVIEW data acquisition, uncertainty analysis with t-distribution confidence intervals
Manufacturing
VARTM composite layup and permeability characterization, CNC machining, GD&T, 2D drawings
CAD & software
CATIA V5, Creo Parametric, SolidWorks, MATLAB/Simulink, Python, LabVIEW, Arduino
Systems engineering
Requirements traceability, verification planning, trade studies, N² interface analysis, risk analysis, FAA Part 101 / FCC Part 15