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Hi, I'm
Nikolai A. Seva

Mechanical/Biomechanics Engineer with a product mindset — MEng Mechanical Engineering (UC Berkeley) & BASc Biomedical Engineering (UBC). I design, prototype, and validate hardware that's manufacturable, reliable, and delightful to use.

Website coded by me using HTML.

Get in touch

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Nikolai on the ice—portfolio cover

About

Nikolai Seva at UC Berkeley graduation

Hello!

I build hardware that ships. My sweet spot is where human factors, mechanical design, and fast iteration meet. I work end-to-end: concept → CAD/FEA → prototyping → validation → DFM/DFA handoff—partnering closely with EE/SW, reliability, and operations.

I've contributed to medical devices, automotive seating at Tesla, and wearables like a prosthetic pointe shoe. I care about clear problem framing, data-driven decisions, and simple mechanisms that perform reliably at scale. I thrive in product teams at Apple, Meta, Google, or Tesla—where craftsmanship, rigor, and user empathy matter.

  • Strengths: CAD & FEA (3DX/CATIA, SolidWorks, Fusion 360, ANSYS), GD&T & tolerance stacks, design reviews, and test bring-up.
  • Build: Rapid prototyping (3D printing, CNC, laser cutting), acoustic fixture design, material characterization, lab instrumentation, EMG/IMU prototypes.
  • Software: MATLAB/Python for analysis (NumPy, Pandas), Monte Carlo simulations, signal processing (EMG), Arduino/C/C++, HTML/JS for tooling, Unity, Unreal Engine 5 for XR/VR simulation and visualization.

My Novel

The Sky Between Us — book cover

The Sky Between Us

Science Fiction Space Travel Hard Sci-Fi

A story about distance — and what survives it.

Read Preview →

Skills

Technical Skills

  • 3D CAD (CATIA v5, SolidWorks, Fusion 360)
  • GD&T, Tolerance Stack-Up Analysis
  • FEA (ANSYS, COMSOL)
  • Rapid Prototyping (3D Printing, CNC, Laser Cutting)
  • DFM/DFA, Sensor Integration, Mechanical Testing
  • Acoustic Fixture Design, Material Characterization
  • Lab Instrumentation (force gauges, micrometers, calipers)
  • Wearables Engineering

Data Analysis Skills

  • MATLAB, Python (NumPy, Pandas)
  • Excel (Pivot Tables, Solver, Graphing)
  • Monte Carlo Simulations, Statistical Analysis
  • Signal Processing (EMG), Experimental Design
  • FMEA, 5 Whys

Software & Programming

  • Arduino IDE, C/C++, MATLAB, Python, R
  • Unity, Unreal Engine 5 (XR/VR prototyping, animation)
  • HTML, Java, JavaScript

Education

UC Berkeley

MEng Mechanical Engineering · UC Berkeley

Aug 2024 – May 2025 · GPA 3.94/4.0

Capstone: Revolutionizing Footwear: Blending Biomechanics with Fashion Design

Coursework: Orthopaedic Biomechanics (A-), Design for the Human Body (A)

Awards: Opportunity Grant $15,000 USD

UBC

BASc Biomedical Engineering · UBC

2018 – 2022 · GPA 3.6/4.0 · Biomechanics & Biomaterials stream

Irving K. Barber Transfer Scholarship (2018)

Work Experience

Incubadora Solutions Inc.

Lead Mechanical Engineer · Incubadora Solutions Inc.

Nov 2025 – Feb 2026 · Vancouver, British Columbia · Hybrid

  • Translate Sky Padel's business goals (durability, installation speed, cost targets, and premium player experience) into clear mechanical design requirements that support revenue growth and brand differentiation.
  • Lead end-to-end mechanical design, FEA/CFD analysis, prototyping, and testing of complex padel systems from concept to launch while meeting performance, cost, and manufacturability targets.
  • Own mechanical project plans—resources, milestones, and deliverables—to ensure on-time, on-budget product releases that keep Sky Padel's roadmap on track.
  • Mentor junior and mid-level engineers, driving best practices and strong design reviews so the team can ship higher-quality designs faster and with fewer iterations.
  • Collaborate with Electrical, Software, Manufacturing, and key suppliers to de-risk integration, uphold ISO/ASME and safety standards, and secure reliable, cost-effective components for scalable production.
Zen Maker Lab

Engineering Instructor & R&D Engineer · Zen Maker Lab

May 2018 – Dec 2025

  • Created hands-on STEM workshops (CAD, 3D printing, Arduino) that reached 300+ students and boosted enrollments.
  • Built robotics and VR demos used in classrooms; helped the lab win additional school contracts.
  • Mentored junior instructors to standardize labs and improve student outcomes.
Salyx Medical

Mechanical Engineer · Salyx Medical

Feb 2023 – Apr 2024

  • Designed patient-monitoring enclosures in Fusion 360; manufacturing feedback loop reduced assembly time by ~15%.
  • Partnered with EE/SW to integrate electronics and accelerate prototype validation.
Tesla

Mechanical Design Engineering Intern - Endorsed for a Return Offer · Tesla (Seating)

Sept 2023 – Jan 2024

  • Prototyped comfort/ergonomics improvements; tests showed reduced pressure points and higher comfort scores.
  • Addressed durability concerns; design tweaks improved cycle life by ~10%.
Texavie

Biomedical Engineering Co-op · UBC / Texavie

Sept 2021 – Dec 2021

  • Integrated IMUs into wearables; produced motion datasets that informed design iterations.
  • Improved harness ergonomics, reducing user discomfort during trials.
Hexis Robotics

Robotics Engineering Co-op · Hexis Robotics

Jan 2021 – Apr 2021

  • Programmed and tested UV-disinfection robots; refined paths to cut cycle times.
  • Built simulations and reports that guided the next-gen platform.
Solaires Enterprises

Product Innovation Engineering Co-op · Solaires Enterprises

Sept 2020 – Dec 2020

  • Drafted patent applications and proposed design improvements adopted into R&D.
  • Generated concepts that contributed to the company's IP pipeline.

Projects

HuddleWrist — Google Pixel Watch displaying a football play diagram next to a gloved hand holding a football

HuddleWrist (In Development)

Wear OS app for the Google Pixel Watch that puts a quarterback's play sheet on the wrist — a digital upgrade to the traditional paper wristband. Co-developed with Trevor Liu.

Meta Quest 3S Prosthetic Ski demo

Meta Quest 3S Prosthetic Ski Fit

Using VR anthropometric analysis to validate prosthetic ski fit for amputees. More visuals and results coming soon!

See More →

Bionic Pointe Shoe prototype

Bionic Pointe Shoe (Jun 2025 – Present)

Upgrading prosthetic pointe shoe with dual MyoWare EMG control; 3D-printed mechanism enables rapid iteration.

Prosthetic Pointe Shoe prototype

Prosthetic Pointe Shoe

SolidWorks design + FEA; prototype withstood ~2300 lbs compression for safe pointe standing.

Watch video →

3D printed dress shoe prototype

Capstone: Biomechanics × Fashion

Rhino modeling and rapid prototyping to evaluate comfort and fit for dress shoes.

AI motion capture demo

AI Motion Capture

MediaPipe-based mocap driving a 3D character.

Watch video →

Arduino obstacle avoidance robot

Arduino Obstacle-Avoidance Robot

Autonomous navigation via simple sensor algorithm on Arduino.

3D-printed face shields for hospitals

Emergency COVID-19 Face Shields

Organized and fabricated mass 3D-printed PPE for local hospitals in Vancouver.

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