Resume

Jacob Aquino

Mechanical Engineering · UC San Diego

hello@jacobaquino.com  ·  (909) 667-2106  ·  linkedin.com/in/jacobaquino  ·  Greater Los Angeles

Education

University of California, San Diego
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
2026 – present
Santiago Canyon College
AS-T Mathematics, AS-T Physics, AS Liberal Arts: Math & Sciences, AA Social & Behavioral Sciences · GPA: 4.0/4.0 | Highest Honors
2022 – 2026
Santa Ana College
Certificate of Achievement, Engineering STEM Core
2023 – 2025

Skills

CAD & Design
SolidWorks, MATLAB, AutoCAD, OpenRocket, Technical Drawings
Programming
C++, Python (automation, control, performance analysis), TypeScript, JavaScript, React, Next.js, Git
AI & Cloud
LLM integration (Amazon Bedrock, OpenAI), prompt engineering, AWS, WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility
Fabrication
PCB Soldering, CNC Machining, prototyping, machining, mechanical design, composite structures
Engineering
CFD, experimental design, statistical analysis, robotics systems, sensors, microcontrollers

Projects & Experience

Artificial Intelligence Fellow | CCC AI ProgramSummer 2026
California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo
  • Selected as 1 of 100 California Community College students from 1,200+ applicants for an AI innovation fellowship at Cal Poly’s Digital Transformation Hub (DxHub), powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS)
  • Built the reviewer dashboard for SONIQ, an AI course review tool for the California Virtual Campus (CVC), in Next.js, React, and TypeScript; engineered and scoped for 116 colleges and 30,000+ users
  • Cut a 5 to 10 hour manual course review to 2 to 5 hours by integrating a Python engine that scores all 22 rubric standards through Amazon Bedrock, returning page-level evidence in about 2 minutes
  • Led client discovery and demo calls with CVC directors and faculty reviewers, translating their requirements into product features; presented the final build to Cal Poly faculty, AWS engineers, and industry professionals
COSMOS Mechanical and Aerospace EngineeringSummer 2024
University of California, Los Angeles
  • Executed full lifecycle development of aerospace and mechatronic systems (CAD modeling, fabrication, and integration) while engineering autonomous robotic systems with embedded sensors, actuators, and microcontrollers
  • Conducted propulsion testing and simulated rocket trajectories in OpenRocket; applied Python-based statistical analysis to validate experimental performance data against theoretical predictions
  • Performed requirements definition, functional decomposition, and engineering trade-off analyses within a team mentored by UCLA faculty and aerospace industry engineers
Makerspace Engineering2022 – present
Urban Workshop
  • Converted 3D CAD assemblies into functional mechanical devices through CNC machining, welding, and electronics integration, managing projects from design review through fabrication and testing
  • Collaborated with licensed engineers and technicians to translate project requirements into physical prototypes, applying iterative design review cycles and tolerance-aware manufacturing methods
Independent Mechanical Engineering Projects2019 – present
  • Engineered 10+ personal projects end-to-end: full car engine rebuild, custom electric bike, FDM 3D printer build, servo-actuated robotic finger with tendon linkage system, and Bluetooth speaker with custom PCB and enclosure
  • Produced parametric 3D CAD models and full technical drawings to manage dimensional tolerances and ensure compatibility across mechanical, electrical, and software subsystem interfaces
  • Integrated multi-domain subsystems into functioning prototypes; applied system-level troubleshooting and validation methods to diagnose and resolve design failures across hardware and firmware

Work Experience

Teaching / Student Assistant | Nuestro Lugar @ SCC2025 – present
  • Engineered an AI assistant using the OpenAI API for 50+ staff, enabling instant access to program policies and reducing repetitive inquiries by ~30%; optimized knowledge base architecture and prompt engineering to improve onboarding accuracy and response reliability
  • Provided individualized academic and career mentorship to 7 first-generation college students, coordinating milestone-driven support plans and adapting strategies to each student’s evolving needs
Private Tutor2019 – present
  • Founded independent tutoring practice delivering personalized STEM instruction to 10+ students; achieved an average 20% grade improvement through adaptive curriculum design
© 2026