Hello, I’m

John Cotelo

Mechanical Engineering Student

University of Florida

I’m a mechanical engineering student at the University of Florida with experience in product development, mechanical design, prototyping, testing, and manufacturing. I enjoy turning open-ended technical problems into practical, testable solutions.

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Gainesville, FL

Mechanical DesignProduct DevelopmentTesting & ValidationHands-On Prototyping

About

Engineering with a hands-on mindset

I study mechanical engineering at the University of Florida, where I’m especially interested in mechanical design, product development, aerospace, automotive engineering, testing, and manufacturing.

I’m drawn to work that combines analysis with hands-on building and experimentation. Through internships, Formula SAE, technical projects, computer repair and resale, and automotive work, I’ve learned to approach problems carefully and keep iterating until a solution works in the real world.

Over time, I hope to grow into an engineer who can lead technical projects and teams while staying close to the design, testing, and manufacturing work that makes products successful.

Experience

Learning by designing, testing, and building

Professional, team, mentorship, and independent work that has shaped how I approach engineering problems.

Dates to add

Austin, Texas

Lutron Electronics

New Product Design Development Engineering Intern

Contributed across mechanical design, prototyping, experimentation, and manufacturing for a new adjustable downlight with a 40° tilt range and 360° rotation.
Created a method to evaluate the product’s interference envelope through a constrained three-inch ceiling opening.
Ran long-duration thermal experiments and used the resulting data to improve thermal performance by approximately 20%.
Redesigned a manufacturing tool to support roughly four times the capacity with less operator handling, and built a functional steel prototype when the intended sheet-metal prototype was unavailable.

Dates to add

Gainesville, Florida

Gator Motorsports

Suspension Team Member

Supported the University of Florida Formula SAE team through design and testing work on a student-built race car.
Worked with carbon-fiber test panels and contributed to a component intended to reduce vibration in the pedal assembly.
Applied mechanical design principles while collaborating within a multidisciplinary student engineering team.

Dates to add

University of Florida

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers

SHPEducation Advisor and Mentor

Supported student mentorship and academic development through practical guidance and peer connection.
Helped students find educational and professional resources while strengthening leadership and technical communication skills.

Dates to add

Computer Repair and Resale

Independent Technical Business

Purchased, diagnosed, repaired, upgraded, and resold more than 40 computers while managing pricing, purchasing, repairs, and sales independently.
Troubleshot hardware and software failures and worked carefully with delicate electronic components.
Translated technical problems into clear customer explanations and practical repair recommendations.

Featured projects

A selection of technical work

Projects across product development, automotive systems, software, embedded hardware, and hands-on troubleshooting.

Python / Hardware Integration

Blackfly Camera Control System

A Python application for controlling a FLIR Blackfly camera, including detection, live preview planning, configurable settings, error reporting, and video capture integration.

Python
PySpin
Spinnaker SDK

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Mechanical Design / Product Development

Adjustable Downlight Development

Mechanical development and testing for an adjustable lighting product with demanding packaging, motion, and thermal requirements.

Mechanical Design
Prototyping
Thermal Testing

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Automotive Engineering

Formula SAE Suspension Work

Design and testing work completed as part of the University of Florida Formula SAE suspension team.

CAD
Composites
Vehicle Systems

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Embedded Systems

Arduino Security Alarm

A compact security alarm using a tilt sensor, ultrasonic sensor, buzzer, and LED feedback.

Arduino
C++
Sensors

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MATLAB / Numerical Methods

Engineering Analysis Portfolio

Engineering analysis programs involving numerical methods, optimization, differential equations, fluid mechanics, and technical data processing.

MATLAB
Numerical Methods
Data Analysis

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Technical Troubleshooting

Computer Repair and Diagnostics

Hands-on diagnosis and repair of computer hardware and software systems through an independently operated resale business.

Diagnostics
Hardware Repair
Troubleshooting

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Skills

Tools I use to move from question to solution

A practical mix of engineering, software, analytical, and collaborative skills.

Engineering

Mechanical Design
Product Development
Prototyping
Thermal Testing
Design for Manufacturing
Experimental Testing
Technical Troubleshooting
Composites
Automotive Systems

Software

SolidWorks
MATLAB
Python
Microsoft Excel
FlexLogger
Arduino
Visual Studio Code

Programming & Technical

Python
MATLAB
C++ for Arduino
Data Analysis
Numerical Methods
Hardware Integration
Test Automation

Professional

Technical Communication
Documentation
Team Collaboration
Mentorship
Problem Solving
Experiment Planning

Contact

Let’s connect

I’m always interested in discussing engineering opportunities, technical projects, and new ideas. The best way to reach me is through email or LinkedIn.

Email me

Interested in a more detailed overview of my experience?My résumé includes additional context on roles, coursework, and technical work.

View resume