Mechanical engineering · CWRU
I’m Ciaran Nimick, a mechanical engineering student combining six years of engineering software experience with hands-on design, analysis, manufacturing, and team leadership.
Click on a project to reveal the more information about the requirements, design story, and analysis.
CWRU Motorsports · Suspension
Developing and validating the 2027 Rear Upright using assembly-level load cases, ANSYS submodeling, and wheel-force inputs.
01 / Design context
The upright connects the suspension, shafts, and wheel into one tightly packaged system. The project addresses geometry and clearance requirements while balancing stiffness, mass, serviceability, and manufacturability.
02 / Structural analysis
I am building the analysis around the complete rear outboard assembly, including the rim, hub, and upright—then using ANSYS submodeling to isolate the upright and provide loading conditions for downstream components. We use peak wheel force transducer load cases help represent the forces the component sees on the vehicle.
This project is currently in development, come back later for updates!
CWRU Motorsports · Suspension
Defining requirements, iterating parametric CAD, and validating a lighter, more serviceable Baja SAE component.
01 / Requirements
I was responsible engineer for the research, development, validation, and manufacturing of the 2026 front lower suspension arm for CWRU Motorsports. I derived vehicle-level goals into requirements focused on 5% increase in ground clearance, a 10% weight reduction, improved maintenance, and practical manufacturing.
02 / Design cycle
I reviewed previous CWRU Motorsports designs and concepts from other Baja SAE teams, generated and selected concepts, then built parametric Siemens NX models so the design could evolve as suspension geometry was finalized. By introducing a unique double-bend design and relocating the spherical joint from the upright to the arm, we achieved a 10–20% increase in ground clearance along with a 15% weight reduction year over year.
02 / Structural Analysis
Using ANSYS, I conducted iterative structural analyses to optimize the design to a factor of safety (FOS) of 1.05, refining the geometry after each simulation. Comparative analyses against the previous design confirmed structural integrity while exceeding the project goal with a 15% mass reduction, surpassing the 10% target.
CWRU Motorsports
Here are some of the other projects I have worked on, from tie rods to a thermal control system.
Tie Rods
I created a Javascript program that graphically analyzed possible tie rod thicknesses under buckling loads using Euler's buckling formula, then I graphically represented the FOS to determine the safest design.
Thermal Analysis
Our car uses a custom CVT that needs dynamometer testing for performance characterization. As a first-year project, I designed a protective heat shroud & blower design to improve the system’s thermal performance and protect users from the heat generated while dissipating up to 20 kW of braking energy.
CVT Dyno Adaptor
I designed a custom trilobe adapter matching the gearbox output and used Ansys FEA to verify it could withstand operating torque loads for secure, reliable integration.
Research, robotics, and personal builds that sharpened how I design, document, and lead.
Aerospace & defense · Internship
Professional engineering experience in a structured aerospace and defense environment.
Northrop Grumman · 2026
During my Northrop Grumman engineering internship, I performed preliminary and detailed structural analyses on Space Development Agency satellites using Femap/Nastran, informing driving design overhauls that significantly reduced costs and lead times. Additionally, I produced and released GD&T-compliant engineering drawings ensuring the manufacturability of these components.
Six years · Competitive robotics
Mechanical design, documentation, fundraising, mentorship, and event leadership.
Design work
I used Onshape to model competitive robots across multiple years, collaborated on concepts, and tested and troubleshot mechanisms under competition constraints and deadlines.
Leadership
As the longest-serving president of Peninsula High School’s VEX teams, I increased yearly funding by $12k through sponsorships, grants, and fundraisers. I helped lead the teams to multiple state championships and organized the school’s inaugural VEX competition, now an annual event.
Documentation
I helped document CAD, design decisions, competition debriefs, and iteration in engineering notebooks. That reflection supported better designs and contributed to multiple local wins and awards.
Undergraduate research
Supporting magnetoreception-inspired navigation research for extraterrestrial environments.
Dr. Taylor’s lab · CWRU
I supported graduate researchers who were developing a predictive model for satellite motion based on extraterrestrial magnetic fields. The work incorporated generalizable planetary and orbital parameters to include planets' magnetic fields to improve reliability across diverse environments.
Personal build · Summer 2025
Custom printed hardware designed around real crash, packaging, and maintenance constraints.
SolidWorks · Additive manufacturing
I designed a VTX antenna mount, arm and motor protection, a GoPro mount, a balance-lead strap, and a prop guard. Rigid parts were printed in PETG for durability whereas the prop guard used TPU for flexibility and impact resistance.