Willem Bell.

Mechanical Engineer × Software · ME + CS, UM‑Dearborn (Dec 2026)
§01 · Education

School.

Sep 2022 – Dec 2026Dearborn, MI

University of Michigan — Dearborn

BSE Mechanical Engineering + CS minor
  • Accelerated coursework across controls, FEA, manufacturing processes, and software systems.
  • Relevant: Dynamic Systems & Controls, FEA (ANSYS), Manufacturing Processes, Data Structures, ML.
§02 · Experience

Where I've shown up.

Jan – Jul 2025Starbase, TX

SpaceX — Starfactory

Automation & Controls Intern · Siemens S7 · S120 · KUKA · EPLAN · NX
  • Owned controls design, FAT, and commissioning across multiple Starfactory stations on the Starship production line.
  • Specific station scopes and outcomes redacted under NDA.
May – Aug 2024Redmond, WA

SpaceX — Space Lasers

I&T Intern · NX · ANSYS · vibration test
  • NX & ANSYS — vibration analysis and test for space laser integration & test campaigns.
  • Coordinated lab build, fixturing, and test readiness across I&T and structures.
Sep 2023 – Apr 2024Austin, TX

Tesla — 4680 Cell Manufacturing

Controls Development Intern · DeltaV · TwinCAT · VFD
  • Controls development for 4680 cell manufacturing — hands-on DeltaV, TwinCAT, and VFD work.
  • Specific station scopes and outcomes redacted under NDA.
Jul 2021 – PresentUM-Dearborn

Pannier Research Lab — Dynamic Systems & Controls

Undergraduate Researcher → Research Assistant
  • Multi-stint appointment (2021–23, 2024–25, 2025–present) supporting Dr. Pannier's controls research.
  • Project details available on request.
2023 – 2025

Supply Chain Case Competitions

Team lead / presenter · 4 competitions
  • Colorado State Rams, Kozy Shack, 3M Fulfillment, Quantum Frontiers — strategy, modeling, live presentation.
§03 · Selected projects

Things I've built.

Personal · 2025

stark-translate github.com/wrbell/stark-translate

Live bilingual EN/ES speech-to-text for church outreach. Whisper ASR + MarianMT / TranslateGemma translation, streamed to audience displays via WebSocket. Python, MLX.

ME 472 · W26

W26-Cobot-Axis github.com/wrbell/W26-Cobot-Axis

UR30 7th axis for metal paste dispensing. RTDE bridge translating cobot commands to Klipper G-code on a Raspberry Pi driving a stepper via BigTreeTech SKR Pico (RP2040).

Self-study · 2024–25

fast-fem github.com/wrbell/fast-fem

Accelerated FEA self-study across 3 concurrent ME courses. Every ANSYS simulation validated against analytical hand calcs. Mesh convergence studies, post-mortems, reproducible methodology.

§04 · Stack

What I reach for.

Mechanical / Controls

  • Siemens S7 / TIA daily
  • S120 drives daily
  • DeltaV used
  • KUKA used
  • EPLAN daily
  • NX daily
  • ANSYS proficient
  • TwinCAT used
  • Klipper / RTDE building
  • VFDs proficient

Software

  • Python daily
  • JavaScript / TS proficient
  • C / C++ used
  • Git daily
  • Linux daily
  • WebSocket / RTDE building
  • RP2040 / embedded building

ML / Research

  • Whisper ASR shipped
  • MarianMT shipped
  • TranslateGemma shipped
  • MLX building
  • Jupyter daily
  • FEA methodology proficient