tara mellor
@taramellor
Early-career mechanical engineer focused on propulsion manufacturing, hands-on fabrication, and reliable flight-hardware testing.
United StatesWhat I'm looking for
I’m a mechanical engineer with an M.S. from UCLA, drawn to propulsion manufacturing because I enjoy turning designs into buildable hardware. I bring hands-on fabrication, experimental testing, and practical problem-solving to support reliable, manufacturable flight hardware.
In testing and simulation, I’ve used CAD and analysis tools to iterate quickly—combining FEA/CFD workflows in Ansys and COMSOL with Python and MATLAB for validation. My approach emphasizes measurable outcomes, clear documentation, and designs that survive real-world constraints.
From hands-on work aboard a commercial crab vessel to graduate research, I’ve learned to troubleshoot under pressure and restore functionality through root-cause diagnostics, time-critical repairs, and careful process control. I’ve also developed and validated tunable control strategies for precision gene regulation using PID controllers in Python and MATLAB.
In propulsion and materials research, I’ve operated high-enthalpy shock tube experiments for hybrid rocket propulsion studies and used spectroscopy to identify molecules by comparing absorption spectra to benchmark datasets. I’m now focused on early-career propulsion manufacturing roles where my machining, GD&T, metrology, and testing experience can directly strengthen production reliability.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Deckhand
High Hopes Fishing Vessel
Dec 2025 - Present (6 months)
Operated, maintained, and troubleshot hydraulic systems in an offshore environment, replacing seals and filters and using root-cause diagnostics to restore failed equipment. Streamlined deck workflow to improve safety and efficiency under time-critical conditions.
Designed and validated 8 tunable molecular PID controllers in Python and MATLAB to support precision gene regulation and drug delivery applications. Contributed to technical documentation for publication.
Undergrad Researcher (Spectroscopy)
Spearrin Lab, UCLA
Jun 2021 - Sep 2021 (3 months)
Operated a high-enthalpy shock tube to study combustion behavior for hybrid rocket propulsion systems. Verified laser alignment, identified 3 molecules via absorption spectra against a benchmark dataset, and validated results with theoretical simulations for a co-authored publication.
Undergrad Researcher (Materials)
Texas A&M University
May 2019 - Aug 2019 (3 months)
Designed and executed ASTM-compliant fatigue experiments for 3D-printed polymer specimens, rebuilding a fatigue test machine and analyzing fracture surfaces to guide design improvements. Optimized additive manufacturing parameters, reducing build failures by 85% and accelerating the project timeline by 2 weeks, contributing to a publication.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
University of California, Los Angeles
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Grade: GPA: 3.86
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (GPA: 3.86).
University of California, Los Angeles
Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, Aerospace Engineering
Grade: GPA: 3.82; Cum Laude
Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (GPA: 3.82, Cum Laude).
Tech stack
Software and tools used professionally
Availability
Location
United StatesAuthorized to work in
Website
www.taramellor.comJob categories
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