Pratyush Prakash

Architected a fully custom Mechanical CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) system from the ground up.

Transmission Lead at Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Baja (2026-06 – Present)

Architected a fully custom Mechanical CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) system from the ground up.

• Built an Euler-integration-based transient vehicle acceleration model to iterate through 100,000+ CVT/surface configurations to optimize 20+ transmission design parameters and provide insights on full car engineering.
• Designed, manufactured, and instrumented a new dynamometer to validate the acceleration model, performing 200+ analysis runs, simulating the vehicle using inertial disk and brake assembly.
• Characterized engine torque curve, CVT shift curve, and efficiency maps using pandas/matplotlib
• Delivered a fully parametric CAD and drawing package for the complete system, driven by simulation and dyno inputs, with strict ASME Y14.5 GD&T standards and 3-axis machinability constraints.
• Coordinated cross-team design reviews via a shared PDM system.
• Performed Ansys Static FEA analysis ensuring FOS ≥ 1.5 throughout.
• Acceleration model predicts 35% top speed and 15% acceleration gains on the 2027 competition vehicle; currently advancing through manufacturing and assembly toward full, on-car validation.
• Co-authoring whitepaper around our CVT design process for public release to the Baja SAE Community.

Vehicle Systems Engineer at Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Baja (2025-08 – 2026-05)

• Designed and validated a custom Electric CVT secondary clutch replacing an off-the-shelf unit, achieving 30% weight reduction, 80% cost savings, and enabling a 20+ mph top-speed increase through belt ratio optimization, 100-hour wear-life validation, and 7075-T6 structural FEA at FOS ≥ 1.5.
• Engineered a high-load rear upright interfacing with a semi-trailing arm, suspension linkages, and wheel hubs; optimized FEA to withstand 3000 lbf bump forces with FOS ≥ 1.25, optimizing durability with mass.

Deployment Coordination Intern at Bechtel (2026-05 – 2026-08)

Oversaw deployment for Gen AI-based instructional tool for 100+ workers at Louisiana LNG & Port Arthur LNG, streamlining processes for foremen and construction managers.

Robotics Engineering Intern at Bechtel (2025-05 – 2025-08)

Accelerated LNG tank horizontal plate-fitting by up to 70% by designing/documenting a novel tank-erection robot slated for multi-site deployment.

• Managed full robot CAD assembly, and produced 40+ DXF/GCode files.

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering – Texas A&M University