Hello! My name is Matthew Pires, and I am in my third year at UC Davis. I am a double major in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, with a minor in Electrical Engineering. I am also an incoming SiP Process Engineering Intern for Keysight Technologies where I will work in their High Frequency Test Center to further develop semiconductor manufacturing processes.

I was originally just a Mechanical Engineering major, following in my father's footsteps and in line with my love of high school physics. A lifelong passion for electronics like video game consoles, phones, and computer hardware helped me decide to pursue a minor in Electrical Engineering. Finally, flying on a plane during last summer helped me appreciate the complex mechanical systems which allow it to function, which inspired me to pursue a double major in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

I have always wanted to be an engineer for as long as I could imagine. As a kid, I always loved building things and learning how they worked which fostered my love for engineering.

Block Image

Although I never knew which industry I wanted to develop my career in, I always knew that I wanted to center my career about Mechanical Engineering. There are several industries which I would love to work in which combine my other engineering passions with Mechanical Engineering. I would primarily prefer to work in the consumer electronics industry, specifically in product design or manufacturing. The second of these industries would be either aircraft or electric vehicle design. My first job will surely be as a design engineer, but I hope that I'll eventually be able to move into project management as my career progresses.

I am excited to be working on an iFixit repair guide to replace a tailgate with a broken handle on a 2001 Toyota Tundra. I've performed repairs on this truck before, but usually with the supervision of my father. I'm interested in learning how to replace my truck's tailgate because it is a generally useful skill. Not only can the tailgate be replaced the truck is rear-ended, but many other trucks also have similar mechanisms to detach the tailgate. Hopefully, my guide will be able to extend the lifespan of other trucks that have the same issue.

Skills

  • MATLAB
  • Solidworks & Fusion360
  • LabView
  • Soldering
  • 3D Printing
  • Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access)
  • Professional verbal and written communication

Projects

  • Manufactured a gyroscope to precise tolerances which was able to remain upright for 5+ minutes before falling over.
Block Image
  • Performed root cause analysis to determine likely failure modes of a mechanical wine bottle opening system.
  • Performed MATLAB analysis on wind tunnel data to determine static and dynamic stability characteristics of unmanned aircraft and Learjet C-21.
  • Designed a spring-based mechanical exercise system with fatigue failure analysis to ensure specified product lifespan.
  • Built a sensor which converts light intensity into a number on a seven-segment display.
Block Image

Repair Experience

  • Carried out several video game console modifications (hard drive replacements, shell replacements, cleanings)
  • Perform general car maintenance (windshield wipers, brake pads, basic fluids, etc) on 2001 Toyota Tundra

Accolades

  • High School Class Salutatorian
  • Eagle Scout
  • 8x UC Davis Dean's List Honoree
  • UC Davis Regents Scholar

Groups

  • UC Davis Baja SAE

Hobbies

  • Video Game Mods
  • PC Building
  • Cooking
  • Houseplants