Elias Nicolas
Mechanical Engineering · Data Science · Physics
“Maybe you can have it all.” Entourage
I'm currently a student enrolled in the dual degree engineering program at the University of Redlands with a passion for building. I will be receiving a B.A. in Physics and Data Science (double major) from Redlands along with a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis after everything is all said and done. I am consistently improving my CAD and FEA workflow as I continue my education, and am well versed in Python for data analytics. Recently, I have been experimenting with AI coding tools like Claude Code and Cursor to expand upon my projects software so I can focus on the physical side of things.
I'm particularly drawn to either the robotics or aerospace sector (with a mixture of both being my dream scenario), as I want to gain experience in multiple different roles to further develop my design skills and mechanical intuition.
I am actively seeking internship and research opportunities for the 2027 year where I can apply my technical skills and leadership experience to real-world challenges at a place looking for someone young to make an impact.
Outside of academics and engineering, I love to stay active by running and exercising as I want to live a balanced life. Recently I have taken up gardening as a hobby in my free time to source better ingredients for my meals.
Curation of Campus Involvement and Professional Experience
Mechanical Engineering Intern
- ▶Designed a hydraulic tool for press tooling changed to reduce the floor workers needed from 3 to 2
- ▶Drafted and procured a replacement part for the plant's 60 in. Ring Roller that had no documentation
- ▶Reverse-engineered 4 undocumented business assets in Inventor to be used by facilities for future repairs
- ▶Laid out a building relocation for the maintenance team in AutoCAD to maximize a 7000 sq. ft storage space
Makerspace Assistant
- ▶Utilizes 3D slicing software to cut down print times by 50%, leading to both filament and time saved
- ▶Instructs classes to 10+ students, teaching them how to use Virtual Reality equipment for classroom simulations
- ▶Maintains lab equipment, troubleshooting hardware for 3D Printers, Laser Cutters, CNC Mills, and etc.
Mechanical Engineer
- ▶Worked in an interdisciplinary team to deliver a chassis designed in Siemens NX for our lunar mission concept
- ▶Ensured the deliverable was less than $150M allocated by tracking the total materials cost in Microsoft Excel
President and Lead Engineer
- ▶Designs 3 drone frame iterations in Onshape that are tested to ensure press fit and fastener tolerances are correct
- ▶Collaborates with 8 team members to develop projects with the University of Redlands GIS Department
- ▶Directs the assembly process of an FPV drone to integrate hardware with AI and object detection capabilities
AI and Automation Extern
- ▶Configured AI workflows to automate data extraction and document classification using Python and NLP tools
- ▶Assessed top open source AI models for document processing and recommended key optimization strategies
President
- ▶Spearheads aerospace engineering projects producing validated CAD designs for rockets, rovers, and drones
- ▶Plans 5+ on-campus events including stargazing nights and engineering expos to cultivate a sense of community
Volunteer Center Intern
- ▶Utilized Microsoft Excel to complete data entry for various volunteer events to track student engagement
- ▶Spearheaded community outreach campaigns with 100+ volunteers recruited for various organizations
Academic Presence
San Francisco Spring 2026 Bulldog Trek
Visited Stripe, Nixon Peabody, The Rickshaw Shop, Guide Dogs for the Blind, and Marin Community Action. Connected with some cool people and got some great career insight for my future in robotics.
Spacevision 2025
Got to meet some of the most influential people in the aerospace sector, connected with peers doing amazing work at other chapters, and got to see a panel regarding the use of robotics in space (my favorite panel of the conference).
Esri Developer and Technology Summit 2026
Met some talented software engineers and data analysts doing some amazing things in the GIS sector. It was really intriguing to see how Esri products are being utilized from Virtual Reality to Drone Applications as it really broadened my view of GIS as a whole
Selected Work
Autonomous Hexapod with Lidar Navigation
In Progress
Japan Natural Disaster Analysis Dashboard
Complete
Academics
3.8 / 4.0
Cumulative · 4.0 Scale
- Calculus I, II, III
- Linear Algebra
- Differential Equations
- Physics I, II, III
- Electronic Circuits
- Data Structures & Algorithms
- Machine Learning
- Java Programming
- Maroon and Grey Student Ambassador
- Redlands Robotics and Drone Club
- SEDS (Students for the Exploration and Development of Space) Redlands Chapter
- Town & Gown Scholarship Recipient
- Hispanic Student Leader
- Spring 2026 Bulldog Trek Participant
Technical Skills
Mechanical Engineering
Programming
Data Science & ML
Tools & Platforms
Let's Work
Together.
Open to internship opportunities, research collaborations, and projects.