Juan Rodelo-Castillo

About

Education & Accomplishments

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
University of Colorado, Denver, CO
Graduation: 5/2019 — GPA 3.3/4.0

Patent:
US Patent No. 11913241 (Awarded 02/2024)
“Blade control system and flooring removal machines incorporating the same.”
Role: Contributed mechanical design.

Experience:
Over 5 years of professional mechanical engineering experience across spacecraft structural design, propulsion systems, and mechanical/fluids testing.

Skills

Mechanical Engineering

FEA: Fusion 360 & ANSYS

CAD: SolidWorks & NX

CAD: Fusion 360, Onshape

Design for Manufacturing

Bolted Joint Analysis

FDM 3D Printing

Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing

Fluids Engineering

Fluid Systems Design

Propulsion Test

Pressure Vessel Design

Leak Testing

Software & Programming

MATLAB

LABVIEW

Excel

Python

Node.js

Javascript

HTML

CSS

SQL

Bubble.io

Electrical Engineering

Cable & Harness Assembly

Control Panel Assembly

Wire Harness Fabrication & Testing

MIL-Spec Connectors & Crimping

Sensor Selection

Power Supply Sizing & Integration

Load Cell Amplification

Continuity & HIPOT Testing

Experience

Engineering Experience

Orbit Fab — Fluids / Mechanical Engineer

Lafayette, CO · 10/2022 – 11/2023

Worked on their signature valve, le Rafti

Aphelion Aerospace — Fluids / Mechanical Engineer

Lakewood, CO · 05/2021 – 10/2022

Designed and executed rocket engine ground firing

General Atomics — Mechanical Design Engineer

Centennial, CO · 02/2020 – 05/2021

Integrated structural components for satellites

Ayala Engineering — Propulsion Systems Engineer (Contract)

Littleton, CO · 06/2019 – 02/2020

2D trajectory modeling in Python for really cool things that fly

Project Collaborations

Taylor Tools — Mechanical Design Contractor

Commerce City, CO · 11/2023 – 10/2024

US Patent No. 11913241 (02/2024).
Designed a patentable blade actuation mechanism.
CAD components, assemblies, and production drawings.

Digital Propulsion — Founder / Full-Stack Developer

Commerce City, CO · 11/2023 – Present

Custom software solutions for small businesses.
Designed and deployed 5+ websites.
Inventory and sales SaaS in Bubble.io.

Finest Quality Imports LLC — Software Administrator

Commerce City, CO · 2023 – Present

Analytics for boutique liquor import & distribution.
CRM features for sales and relationships.
Regulatory compliance databases (FDA/TTB/state).

Technician & Other Roles

Cablenet — Cable & Wire Harness Assembly Technician I

Centennial, CO · 06/2024 – 01/2025

Aerospace harness and electrical chassis assembly.
HIPOT, resistance, and continuity tests with Cirris equipment.

Winn-Marion — Electrical Assembly Technician

Centennial, CO · 09/2018 – 05/2019

Built and wired control panels for industrial automation.

Machine Shop — CAD Drafting Technician

Denver, CO · 06/2017 – 05/2019

CAD models/drawings to GD&T standards.

CU Denver Measurement Systems Lab — Research Assistant / Grader

Denver, CO · 10/2017 – 05/2018

Trained undergraduates in electromechanical measurement systems.
DAQ experiments with LabVIEW, scopes, strain amplifiers.

Selected Projects

Space Engineering

Aphelion Rocket Engine Design & Testing

Ground tests, 1D flow models, and integrated test hardware for propulsion validation.

Rocket EnginesPropulsionTest

Exodus Spaceplane Python Simulation

Horizontal spaceplane takeoff trajectory sim validating aero & thrust models.

PythonSimulationAerodynamics

Mechanical Design

Taylor Tools Patent: Blade Actuation Mechanism

Contributed to US Patent No. 11913241 for a novel blade control system enabling efficient flooring removal. Designed mechanism components and generated production CAD assemblies.

PatentMechanical DesignCAD

Software Solutions

Web Development for Local Businesses

Designed and deployed websites with branding, responsive UI, and backend collection.

Web DevEntrepreneurshipClient Work

Sales/Inventory CRM System

Proprietary SaaS for managing sales, inventory, and compliance for distilled spirits and imported goods.

CRMSaaSAutomation

Collegiate Projects

Rocket Lynx — Project Leader (IREC Hybrid Rocket)

CU Denver • 03/2018 – 05/2019

Led a 7-member team for IREC competition.
HTPB/N₂O hybrid engine and support systems.
Hot-fire testing and analysis.

Hyper Lynx — Mechanisms Engineer (Hyperloop Pod Competition)

CU Denver • 04/2017 – 02/2018

Braking system actuation mechanism.
FEA stress and vibration analysis; CAD modeling.
Integration with controls & actuation.