I'M
John
Richards.
Mechanical Engineer
About Me.
Hello! My name is John Richards, and I am a 22-year-old soon to be Mechanical Engineer. I am headed into my spring semester at North Carolina State University where I major in mech-e and minor in industrial and systems engineering. My passions are for unmanned aerial systems and their application in the defense and search and rescue fields. In my free time you can find me on the rock wall at a local gym in Raleigh or on the footrails the Blue Ridge! I hope you find this page to interesting and educational. Thanks for checking it out!
Education:
2022-2026
B.S Mechanical Engineering
Minor Industrial and Systems Engineering
North Carolina State University
I am pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at North Carolina State University with a minor in Industrial and Systems Engineering, and an expected graduation in May 2026. My studies emphasize hands-on design, manufacturing, and systems thinking, allowing me to bridge analytical engineering principles with real-world implementation. Through coursework and independent projects, I have developed strong skills in CAD and mechanical design (SolidWorks, Fusion, Inventor), additive manufacturing, and engineering analysis, along with programming experience in Python, MATLAB, and C++.
A major milestone in my education has been applying these skills beyond the classroom—ranging from advanced prototyping and UAV development to co-founding an additive manufacturing startup focused on freight-industry applications. I have also gained professional experience through engineering internships involving site design, technical documentation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Overall, my academic path has been defined by a strong emphasis on building, testing, and refining engineered systems, with a focus on practical problem-solving and continuous learning.
01 Personal
MY HOBBIES AND PASSIONS
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Rock Climbing
V7/7A Tension Board - "The Meteorite is Coming" 5.10b/c Outdoor Lead - "Witches of Bangor" NRG
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Running
City of Oak Half Marathon - 11/09/25 - 1:30:18 & Tar Heel Ten Miler - 04/19/25 1:19:35
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Outdoorsmanship
Mountaineering, Backpacking, Hiking, Camping, Fishing, and more!
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Classic Cars
65-73' Mustang & C2 Corvette Stingray Enthusiast
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Lacrosse
4 Year Varsity Athlete - Looking to join a masters league upon graduation!
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Sailing
Collegiate Sailor at NCSU - Sailing Instructor from 21-23'
01 PROFESSIONAL
MY KNOWLEDGE & STRENGTHS
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WORDPRESS
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WORDPRESS
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UAS & Avionics
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UAS & Avionics
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UAS & Avionics
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CAD / Simulation
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WIX
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UAS & Avionics
INAV, ArduPilot, ELRS/SBUS, GPS/GNSS integration, PID tuning
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CAD / Simulation
SolidWorks, Siemens NX, Ansys, Fusion 360, Inventor, AutoCAD
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Additive Manufacturing
3D Printing, ASA/ABS/CF printing, carbon composite reinforcement
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Machining/Fab
Fiberglass, welding, soldering, CNC familiarity, test-rig fabrication
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Programming
Python, MATLAB, C++, Java
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Software
Excel engineering analysis, PowerPoint, Adobe Suite, Google Suite
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Teamwork & Leadership
High School Varisty Lacrosse Captain - 2020,2021,2022
Current Senior Design Project Leader and Sponsor Contact
02 PORTFOLIO
03 Experience
2020 - Pres.
2021-2023
YMCA Camp Seagull
Fleet Captain and Senior Counselor
After an eleven year career as a camper I returned as a counselor leading cabin teams in caring and instructing campers through the medium of sailing and teamwork.
2020-2022
Lake Braddock Varsity Men's Lacrosse Team
Team Captain
Lead a team of 30+ young men for three years bringing the varsity team from a 1-17 record to a 17-3 record and the state playoffs. Was an ingarual member of a leadership program and served as an athletic counil member.
2022-2024
NC State Collegiate Sailing Team
Participated at the highest level of collegiate sailing at a top 25 ranked university. Was one of two underclassmen from the class of 2026 selected to the varsity program.
2023 - 2025
Wolf Print Additive Manufacturing
CEO & Co-Founder
Co-Founded an LLC with a concentration on providing additive manufacturing services to the freight industry and other partners. Provided additive manufacturing and CAD services. Implemented print farm infastructure.
2024 - Pres.
Accident Reconstruction Analysis - Technician
Mechanical Engineering Technician
Assisted engineers across multiple disciplines on site and lab inspections. Designed, constructed, and implemented various testing setups and procedures.
2025 - Pres.
Independent UAV Development
Mechanical Engineer - Project Lead
Self directed and funded research and projecting. Fabricated, constructed, designed, and tested various unmanned aerial systems components and designs.
2025 - Pres.
REACHR
Mechanical Engineer
Assisted the REACHR project under Tobias Hullet proividing a range of mechanical, systems, and avonics contributions as part of the reacher team.
CONTACT
Recruiter or just an interested classmate? Or maybe a fellow engineer and hobbyist? Regardless please feel free to contact me at any of the contacts below!
P.E: john.c.richards@icloud.com
S.E: jcricha7@ncsu.edu
Tel:910-709-5995
