Project name, course connection and David’s individual design contribution are being confirmed.
DAVID VINCENT SCHMITTUW–MADISON
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING / ’29
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING / ’29
01 / Projects
Ideas meet
their next move.
Marine robotics. Manufacturing. Mechanical design. Explore the work behind the curiosity.
01 / Pawl mechanism / CAD animation David’s project video presents a side-view CAD motion study of a pawl mechanism. Watch the components work together through the opening and closing sequence.Side OpenClose Pawls Edited 02 / Robotics / Structures A watertight battery enclosure for Wisconsin Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, designed and built for $300 versus $500+ commercially.Underwater enclosure1 / 6Battery enclosure — assembled CAD model 03 / Manufacturing / Process At Tech Rim Standards, David refined nozzle, feed-path, and slicer settings to reduce post-processing and wrote a repeatable production SOP.Tech Rim Standards — O-Ring Improvement1 / 1Tech Rim Standards / Production printing 04 / Research / Marine systemsRedesigning a flow-induced oscillating-fin prototype to reduce joint friction and binding for passive energy capture.
02 / Engineering / Experience
Keep learning.
Keep making.
Engineering / Experience
Aug 2026 — Present
Marine Robotics Lab
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Bio-inspired energy harvesting, prototype iteration, and tank testing.
Jun — Aug 2026
Tech Rim Standards
Engineering Intern
Production printing, inventory planning, and mechanical test analysis.
Mar 2026 — Present
Wisconsin Autonomous Underwater Vehicle
Structures & Enclosures Lead
Watertight enclosures and cross-team mechanical integration.
Sep 2025 — Present
Formula SAE
Chassis Team Member
Suspension mount development, geometry calculations, engineering drawings, and machined suspension linkages.
A close-up of a lathe setup during Formula SAE component fabrication. The workpiece is held at the spindle, with a tap wrench aligned along its axis and metal chips across the machine bed—a view of the machining work behind the finished parts.
Four finished metal components sit together on a workshop cloth. Their threaded bores, cylindrical shoulders, and hexagonal bases offer a closer look at the geometry and machining behind David’s Formula SAE project work.
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03 / Technical skills
Design it.
Make it. Test it.
From CAD and code to the machine shop: the tools David uses to turn an idea into something that works.
CAD & mechanical design
- SolidWorks
- OnShape
- Engineering drawings
- DFMA
Turning mechanical requirements into parts, assemblies, and fabrication drawings.
In practice
Applied to watertight AUV enclosures, suspension mounts, and an autonomous docking latch.
Machining & fabrication
- Lathe
- Mill
- CNC
- Laser cutting
Working from a design through material removal, fabrication, and assembly.
In practice
Hands-on work includes machined suspension linkages for Electric-Formula SAE.
3D printing
- Slicer settings
- Printer setup
- Post-processing
- Production workflows
Iterating prototypes and improving repeatability in production printing.
In practice
At Tech Rim Standards, nozzle, feed-path, and slicer changes reduced O-ring cleanup from 2 minutes to 15 seconds per part.
Electronics & embedded systems
- Arduino / ESP
- PCB
- Soldering
- Wi-Fi controls
Connecting mechanical housings, circuitry, and microcontroller-based controls.
In practice
Built a wireless RGB picture light combining a printed housing, soldered PCB, and Wi-Fi web controls.
Programming & data analysis
- Python
- VBA
- Excel
Using code to analyze measurements and simplify engineering workflows.
In practice
Used VBA to extract slip torque from approximately 130,000 sensor-data rows; uses Python to correlate golf swing video and data.
Simulation & testing
- FEA
- Prototype iteration
- Tank testing
- Mechanical analysis
Testing design choices against structural, mechanical, and environmental requirements.
In practice
Used FEA to guide crane design and iterates energy-harvesting prototypes through printing and tank testing.
04 / Academics
THE FOUNDATION BEHIND THE WORKA curious mind.
A strong foundation.
3.96/ 4.00 GPA · UW–MADISON
Society for Collegiate Leadership & Achievement / Honor Society inductee
University of Wisconsin–Madison
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
3.96 / 4.00 GPA
Undergraduate Dean’s List · 2 of 2 semesters
Cranbrook Kingswood High School
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
3.99 / 4.00 GPA
Dean’s List · 4 of 4 years
ME 201 · 4th of 50+Translational crane
Used finite element analysis to guide material and structural choices, balancing stability and mechanical advantage against weight. Lifted 2.03× its own weight.
The completed translational crane prototype brings together a wheeled base, upright frame, cable-and-pulley lifting system, and suspended hook. Exposed motors, control electronics, and a wired dual-joystick controller show how the mechanical structure and controls come together in the physical build.
A side view of the crane prototype shows the horizontal boom, suspended hook, and wheeled frame. The exposed wiring and drive components trace the connection between its mechanical structure and controls.
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ME 231 final projectAutonomous docking latch
Designed a solenoid-actuated, roll-agnostic capture mechanism with zero standing power to hold and limited disruptive magnetic fields.
Wisconsin design projectWireless RGB picture light
Combined a custom 3D-printed housing, soldered PCB, and microcontroller with Wi-Fi web controls.
05 / Clubs
Find your people.
Build something together.
Clubs
Wisconsin AUV
Structures & Enclosures Lead
Designing watertight enclosures and integrating mechanical systems with the underwater robotics team.
Electric-Formula SAE
Chassis Team Member
Developing suspension mounts, engineering drawings, and machined suspension linkages.
Wisconsin Club Golf
College club golf
Continuing competitive golf at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Sigma Chi
Fraternity membership
Chapter involvement spanning operations, records, the website, and fundraising.
06 / Leadership
All in.
On every team.
Captaincy, competition, and bringing people together.
On the ice1 / 3
01 / HOCKEY
Hockey
Cranbrook Kingswood · Team Captain
David captained the men’s varsity hockey team. The team’s achievements include a state championship and a return to the state final.
2024 · State Champion
2025 · State Championship Runner-Up
2025 · State championship runner-up02 / GOLF
Setting the example.
High school captain · Wisconsin Club Golf
David captained the Cranbrook Kingswood men’s varsity golf team, which finished as state championship runner-up in 2025. He now plays with Wisconsin Club Golf.
2025 · State Championship Runner-Up
College · Wisconsin Club Golf
05 / SIGMA CHI
Leadership in the chapter.
Sigma Chi Fraternity
David’s fraternity leadership spans operations, chapter records, the website, and fundraising.
Operations Manager
Annotator
Webmaster
Fundraising Chair Exec.
07 / Community
Community
Miles 4 Smiles Kids Cancer Charity · Founder & President
Miles 4 Smiles
04 / COMMUNITY
David founded Miles 4 Smiles, bringing people together for a kids cancer charity event in partnership with Multimatic Motorsports.
$34,000+ raised
150+ attendees
Multimatic Motorsports partnership
A shared love of cars. A day made for families.
Miles for Smiles began with six Cranbrook Kingswood students who wanted to use their enthusiasm for cars to bring joy to children battling cancer. The charity’s website names David as President & Founder. At M1 Concourse, children and their families experience track rides with professional drivers alongside entertainment and time together. The website lists Multimatic, KIDSGala, and Kids Kicking Cancer as partners.
A red, white, and blue Ford GT stands alongside other sports cars at the charity event. This closer view of the display captures the shared passion for motorsport at the heart of Miles 4 Smiles.
The Miles 4 Smiles team gathers at the event table in matching shirts, with the charity banner behind them. The photograph highlights the people helping bring the community event together.
A line of sports cars waits beside the circuit at Miles 4 Smiles. The mix of cars and liveries captures the enthusiasm that brings drivers and guests together for the charity event.
A group photograph at the Miles 4 Smiles track event captures the community gathered beside a sports car and the circuit facilities. David founded the kids cancer charity initiative and partnered with Multimatic Motorsports to bring people together through a shared enthusiasm for cars.
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08 / Activities
Still curious.
Always moving.
Windsurfing. Golf analytics. Offshore powerboats. Running. Hockey and golf coaching. Spikeball. Formula 1. David’s interest in how things move carries well beyond the classroom.
Racing
03 / RACING
Formula 4 · Certified
David’s interests in motorsport include Formula 4 certification and hands-on engineering with the Electric-Formula SAE chassis team at UW–Madison.
Formula 4 certification
Source note
Formula 4 certification: family-reported; credential details pending.
A red Allen Berg Racing Schools open-wheel car passes the circuit’s curbing during a track session. The exposed wheels, low chassis, and rear wing put the mechanics of motorsport in view, connecting David’s interest in engineering with his enthusiasm for racing.
Open-wheel cars line up beside the pit wall ahead of a track session. The wider view captures the circuit setting and the preparation that surrounds time behind the wheel.
A close view of a helmeted driver seated in an open-wheel car reveals the compact cockpit, exposed front suspension, and wide racing tires. It offers another perspective on the machinery at the center of David’s motorsport interests.
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Follow-Thru Golf Training
Personal company · Owner & developer
Used Python to correlate swing video with swing data and recommend fixes and drills.