CTCCharles T. Clark
Resume (PDF)

Charles Clark

Incoming SpaceX Intern, 2027

School
Virginia Tech
Degree
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Expected
Dec 2028
GPA
3.84
Location
Chicago, IL
Steel pulse jet mounted on a wheeled frame on a wooden work table, fed by a propane tank on the shelf below
Fig. 1Pulse jet test assembly on its rolling frame.Project 01

Projects

4 projects

Project 01/04

Pulse Jet Design Team

Blacksburg, VA
SolidWorks render of the pulse jet engine on its frame, connected to a propane tank by a fuel line

Founder and President May 2025 – Present

I founded and lead an 8-member team that built a propane-fueled pulse jet from cold-rolled steel, with a test bench that records thrust, temperature and fuel efficiency.

Peak static thrustAbout 45 lbf
~200 N
Team members
8
Bench metricsThrust, temperature, fuel efficiency
3
Project 02/04

Culligan International

Rosemont, IL
Three panels of the injection-molded float: a photo of the black molded part, a gray 3D model, and the same model shaded green and red for comparison

Mechanical Engineering Design Intern May – Aug 2026

Design internship with four workstreams: a float redesign for a water softener valve, a booster pump kit, a field-training prototype, and drawings for 5 commercial water softeners.

Reassembly cost removedFloat redesign
$15K/yr
Water pressure increaseBooster pump kit
150%
Funding securedField-training prototype
$75K
Commercial softeners3D models and drawings
5
Project 03/04

Automotive Restoration

Libertyville, IL
Charles Clark standing next to the restored 1987 Jeep Comanche in a parking lot

Independent project Aug 2020 – Present

I restored a 2001 Jeep Cherokee and a 1987 Jeep Comanche to working condition, including body, engine and drivetrain work.

Vehicles restoredTo working condition
2
Project 04/04

Telescoping Accessibility Crutch

Blacksburg, VA

Accessibility Design Project Leader Aug 2024 – May 2025

I led a team that designed a telescoping crutch with a locking mechanism that takes 66% less storage space.

Less storage space
66%

Experience and education

  1. May – Aug 2026Rosemont, IL

    Culligan InternationalProject 02

    Mechanical Engineering Design Intern

    • 3D modeled an injection-molded float for a water softener valve and drafted its GD&T drawings. The redesign removes about $15,000 per year in reassembly costs.
    • Developed a booster pump kit that raised water pressure by 150% for a commercial hydraulic valve.
    • Fabricated and sourced a portable field-training prototype that secured $75,000 in funding.
    • Made 3D models and technical drawings for 5 commercial water softeners.

  2. May 2025 – PresentBlacksburg, VA

    Pulse Jet Design TeamProject 01

    Founder and President

    • Lead an 8-member team that built a propane-fueled pulse jet from cold-rolled steel.
    • Peak static thrust of about 200 N (45 lbf), measured on a test bench that records thrust, temperature and fuel efficiency.

  3. Aug 2020 – PresentLibertyville, IL

    Automotive RestorationProject 03

    Independent project

    • Restored a 2001 Jeep Cherokee and a 1987 Jeep Comanche to working condition.

  4. Aug 2024 – May 2025Blacksburg, VA

    Virginia Tech Engineering Education DepartmentProject 04

    Accessibility Design Project Leader

    • Led the team that designed a telescoping crutch with a locking mechanism that takes 66% less storage space.

Skills

CAD and analysis

  • SolidWorks (CSWP)
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Engineering drawings (GD&T)
  • MATLAB

Product development

  • Rapid prototyping
  • Injection-molded part design
  • Design validation

Fabrication

  • MIG and stick welding
  • 3D printing
  • CNC machining

Contact