Hi, I'm
Nikolai A. Seva

Mechanical & Biomechanics Engineer | MEng Mechanical Engineering, UC Berkeley · BASc Biomedical Engineering, UBC. I bring a product mindset to hardware — designing, prototyping, and validating systems that are manufacturable, reliable, and genuinely satisfying to use.

Website coded by me using HTML.

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About

Hello!

I turn ambitious ideas into hardware people can actually hold. From a prosthetic pointe shoe that withstands ~2,300 lbs of force to seating prototypes at Tesla that cut measurable pressure points and added ~10% cycle life, I own the full arc — concept, CAD/FEA, prototyping, validation, and DFM/DFA handoff — and I refine the small details that make a product feel inevitable.

What sets me apart is range: deep mechanical rigor paired with a biomechanics background and the software fluency to prototype, simulate, and instrument my own ideas. I move fast, ground every decision in data, and care deeply about the simple, reliable mechanisms that scale. I want to do the best work of my life on a team that holds the same bar — Apple, Meta, Google, Tesla — where craftsmanship, rigor, and genuine user empathy are the standard, not the exception.

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, and EMG/IMU prototypes.
Software: MATLAB/Python for analysis (NumPy, Pandas), Monte Carlo simulations, signal processing (EMG), Arduino/C/C++, and HTML/JS for tooling, plus Unity and Unreal Engine 5 for XR/VR simulation and visualization.

My Novel

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

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

BASc Biomedical Engineering · UBC

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

Irving K. Barber Transfer Scholarship (2018)

Work Experience

Nikolai presenting prosthetic ski leg to the Microsoft Inclusive Tech Lab team

Invited Presenter · Microsoft Inclusive Tech Lab

May 2026 · Redmond, Washington

Selected as an invited presenter to showcase a custom prosthetic ski leg to the Microsoft Inclusive Tech Lab team, demonstrating real-world applications of assistive and adaptive technology.
Shared insights on the design, engineering, and biomechanics behind the prosthetic ski system, sparking conversations around inclusive hardware innovation and accessibility engineering.

Lead Mechanical Engineer · Incubadora Solutions Inc.

Nov 2025 – Apr 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.

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.

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.

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%.

See fixture design from Tesla's social media →

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.

Mechanical Design Team Member · UBC Sailbot

May 2019 – Dec 2021 · 2 yrs 8 mos · Vancouver, Canada Area · Concurrent with co-op placements

Designed and manufactured a carbon fibre hull engineered to voyage autonomously across the Pacific Ocean from BC to Maui.
Contributed to an autonomous sailing system that adjusts sails dynamically to maintain heading and speed without human input.
Designed the gasket and conducted IP68 waterproofing validation for the battery box enclosures, verifying the seal by submerging the assembly to 1 m depth for 24 hours.
Waterjet-cut the aluminium battery box lid with precision-located fastener holes to create a uniform compression seal against the gasket and enclosure mating surface.
Applied two-part epoxy marine paint (the same family of coatings used on sail battens and hull topsides to repel water ingress) to the outermost battery box lid, preventing fiberglass weave absorption and surface leakage.

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.

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

watchOS app for the Apple Watch that puts a quarterback's play sheet on the wrist — a digital upgrade to the traditional paper wristband. Available on the Apple Watch App Store! (Android version coming soon)

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