Gillian Pinsky
Mechanical engineer · B.S. Engineering, Wake Forest University, 2026

Hi, I'm Gillian. I design hardware and then build it.

I take parts from CAD to the machine shop: modeling in SOLIDWORKS and Fusion 360, iterating fast with 3D-printed prototypes, and finishing on the CNC mill. Most recently I led mechanical design on a wave-powered battery charger that beat its power target by 2.5×.

See my projects Portfolio PDF Contact
Gillian Pinsky
Projects

Selected work

Each project shows the full loop: define the problem, design in CAD, prototype, test, and iterate until it works.

Float Goat V2: Wave-Powered Battery Charger
Featured · Senior capstone

Float Goat V2: Wave-Powered Battery Charger

A portable wave-energy converter that charges a battery from the rise and fall of a buoy. Senior capstone; I led mechanical design.

0.8 W2.5× the power target
20.57 kgtwo-person lift
SOLIDWORKSGear train designCNC machining3D printingTesting
Custom Cryogenic Sample Holder

Custom Cryogenic Sample Holder

A copper sample mount for a Montana Instruments cryostat that cut measurement noise by up to ~79%.

Fusion 360CreoTormach CNCWaterjetData analysis
Welded Sheet Metal Organizer

Welded Sheet Metal Organizer

A 36-inch steel rack with 19 welded dividers, drawn as a three-sheet drawing package and fabricated by hand.

Sheet metalWeldingTechnical drawing
About

Design, build, analyze, iterate

I'm a mechanical engineer who graduated from Wake Forest University with a B.S. in Engineering in May 2026. I like the part of engineering where a model becomes something you can hold, and I'm happiest switching between CAD, the 3D printer and the mill until a part fits and works.

My projects range from a copper sample mount for a research cryostat, to sheet-metal plates and a service tool for a dental laser, to a wave-energy converter built for off-grid communities. Across all of them I care about designing for the person who has to make, assemble or repair the product.

I'm looking for mechanical and product design engineering roles on teams that prototype quickly and ship physical products.

Skills

CAD & documentation

SOLIDWORKS 2025Fusion 360CreoSheet metalAssembliesDrawings & BOMsReverse engineering

Prototyping & fabrication

3D printingTormach PCNC 440 CNCWazer waterjetDrill press & tappingWeldingDFM

Analysis & testing

Gear train & torque modelingFMEADecision matricesTest designData analysisCost & payback

Leadership & communication

Project managementDesign reviewsTechnical reportsPosters & demos
Resume

Education

  • May 2026Wake Forest UniversityB.S., Engineering
Download portfolio (PDF)

Experience & projects

  • 2025–2026Mechanical Design Lead / Project Manager, Senior CapstoneFloat Goat V2 wave-energy converter. Led CAD, designed and machined all custom parts, sized the gear train.
  • ResearchCustom Cryogenic Sample HolderDesigned and machined a copper cryostat mount that cut measurement noise by up to ~79%.
  • IndustryDental Laser System: Mounting Plates & Service ToolSheet-metal plates designed for manufacturability and a slide-twist-pull nozzle removal tool.
  • Spring 2025Welded Sheet Metal OrganizerThree-sheet drawing package, then cut and welded a 20-part steel rack.
Contact

Let's talk

I'm open to full-time mechanical and product design engineering roles. The fastest way to reach me is email.

gillianapinsky@gmail.com

Email me Portfolio PDF