02 / About

Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering Student · University of Florida

Ori Algave

I am an Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Florida working on aircraft, rockets, fluids, research, and astrophotography.

Ori Algave in a suit

I am interested in aerospace, defense, aircraft, rockets, fluids, and computational and experimental engineering. Most of the projects I have enjoyed the most are the ones where the work turns into something physical that can be built, tested, and improved.

In Swamp Launch I modeled a rocket for wind tunnel testing and compared results against ANSYS CFD. In Design/Build/Fly I built carbon fiber aircraft structures, including a VTOL prototype. In the FASt Lab I work on experimental fluids and robotic fish test rigs.

Outside of engineering, most of my time goes to Astroori: astrophotography, engineering student content, and project updates.

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Technical skills

Tools and hands-on skills

The software, machines, and lab techniques I use across aerospace design, manufacturing, testing, and astrophotography.

Design & Analysis

SolidWorksOnshape3D CADANSYS FluentMATLABSimulinkXFLR5RASAeroCFDAeroelastic ModelingFEMModal AnalysisFlight DynamicsMesh IndependenceUnsteady AerodynamicsParameter SweepsFusion 360 CAMMPLAB IPEDFMGD&TEngineering DrawingsBOMs

Manufacturing & Fabrication

Composite FabricationMill MachiningLathe MachiningTIG WeldingPlasma CuttingMetal Fabrication3D PrintingInjection-Mold DesignMechanical AssemblyPower Tools

Instrumentation & Testing

NI LabVIEWdSPACE MicroLabBoxData AcquisitionLoad CellsWind-Tunnel TestingWater-Tunnel TestingFunctional TestingReverse EngineeringRoot-Cause AnalysisQuality ControlInspectionTest & EvaluationTechnical DocumentationEngineering Communications

Software & Web

TypeScriptReactNext.jsNodePythonTailwind CSSPostgreSQLPrismaSupabaseStripeVercelGitClaude Code

Medical Devices & Materials

Medical Device PrototypingConductive Materials

Astrophotography

PixInsightSiril

Languages

Hebrew (Native)English (Native)
Experience

Where I have worked

Engineering, research, teaching, and competition team roles at the University of Florida and in industry.

Production & Assembly Intern

Theissen Training Systems (TTS) · Gainesville, FL

Aug 2026 – Present

  • Assemble 100+ SIT targets per week in a production-line workflow while supporting SAT, MIT, and MAT builds.
  • Program PDB and CNC boards for SIT targets using Microchip MPLAB IPE and verify firmware installation and functionality.
  • Reverse-engineer target failures and resolve hardware, firmware, and assembly nonconformities through root-cause analysis, functional testing, on-site rework, and standards-based QC to restore SIT targets to production standards.
  • Diagnose and document manufacturing non-conformities against engineering specifications, and perform in-process quality checks before release.
  • Support packaging, palletization, quantity verification, and shipment preparation to U.S. Army training ranges.
  • Fabricate SIT hardware using Fusion 360 CAM, plasma cutting, metalworking, and power tools to reduce production bottlenecks.

Engineering Intern

Evren Technologies · Gainesville, FL

Apr 2026 – Aug 2026

  • Built complete ear-worn bioelectronic devices from prototype through assembly, applying DFM, quality checks, and troubleshooting.
  • Reduced electrode-pad cutting time by 85% by implementing stamp-press tooling and standardized fabrication, improving repeatability.
  • Designed injection-molded components in Onshape and validated fit and manufacturability with 3D-printed prototypes, supporting rapid design iteration, DFM refinement, and the transition to production assembly.

Research Assistant

Fluids and Adaptive Structures (FASt) Lab · Gainesville, FL

Feb 2026 – Present

  • Increased usable FEM mesh resolution 15x, from 2 to 30 elements, by diagnosing and correcting added-mass and damping defects in an inherited MATLAB aeroelastic model coupling Euler–Bernoulli beam FEM with Theodorsen unsteady aerodynamics.
  • Rescale the numerical aeroelastic model for physical testing by adapting key design parameters to tow-tank constraints, including a 1.0 m/s tow speed, 1-ft carbon-fiber beam, and NACA 0020 fin.
  • Quantify lift, drag, and pitching moment on a NACA 0012 hydrofoil across −5° to 18° angle of attack and variable water-tunnel flow speeds to support validation against computational predictions.

Teaching Assistant, The Art & Science of Astrophotography

UF Department of Astronomy · Gainesville, FL

Jan 2026 – Aug 2026

  • Operated and safeguarded 6 observatory telescopes valued at $50,000+, managing setup, safety, and student use during imaging sessions.
  • Troubleshoot and calibrate cameras, tracking mounts, and telescope hardware while training students in data reduction and post-processing for reliable, scientifically interpretable results.

Aerosciences / Staging Engineer

Swamp Launch Rocket Team · Gainesville, FL

Aug 2025 – Present

  • Achieve drag estimates within 15% of RASAero predictions by developing Cd-versus-Mach lookup tables and mesh-independent ANSYS Fluent CFD models from Mach 0 to 1 on UF's HiPerGator supercomputer, optimizing nosecone, fin, and boattail geometry.
  • Designed a dual-load-cell wind tunnel test assembly with precision-machined couplings and Arduino-based real-time data acquisition to support drag measurement and hardware validation.
  • Serve as Responsible Engineer for flight-dynamics simulation and aft-plane pressure sensing, validating models against flight data and refining boattail instrumentation to calculate pressure drag and support the 10,000 ft IREC apogee target.

Aerodynamics / Manufacturing Engineer

Gators Design Build Fly · Gainesville, FL

Aug 2025 – Present

  • Modeled lifting surfaces in ANSYS Fluent and XFLR5, and manufactured carbon-fiber airframe components for flight-ready hardware.
  • Reduced airframe drag by 18% and body weight by 34% through iterative geometry optimization and carbon-fiber composite fabrication.
Beyond the lab

Leading, officiating, and unwinding

Vice President

Lubavitch Chabad Student Group

Apr 2025 – Present

  • Lead 8 committees serving 1,500+ students, coordinating campus-wide programs and events from planning through execution.

Student Referee Official

UF RecSports

Aug 2025 – Jul 2026

  • Officiated intramural games across 5 sports, enforcing rules, managing game flow, and resolving conflicts.

Tennis

I started playing tennis during my senior year of high school. I like that it takes patience, consistency, and the ability to reset quickly after a mistake.

Soccer

Soccer has always been one of my favorite sports. It keeps me active, and I like the teamwork, communication, and quick decision-making that come with the game.

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