Greetings,
This is a compilation of a few projects I’ve worked on that I believe demonstrate skills that could be useful when working in the shop at ARKA.
Easily the best way to get a hands-on look at some of my work is to see my off-grid camper van. I am selling it and it might be gone in a few weeks, but if there is one thing that I could show that would exemplify my skills in the shop and demonstrate my knowledge around technology and engineering, that would be it.
Off-Grid Camper Van
Out of all the things I have taken on, this is easily the most complex and ambitious. I nicknamed it “The Spaceship” because I had to design and build all the life support systems humans need but in a space no bigger than something you could fly to space. Harvesting energy, storing energy, clean drinking water, dealing with waste, heating, cooling, refrigeration, multiple forms of heating food and space for cooking, storage solutions for personal items and gear, sleeping quarters, and an intuitive user experience all had to be designed and built.
100% Electric Truck
When I was 15 and 16, I converted a Chevy pickup truck to run on 100% electricity. I dismantled it, removed the gasoline powertrain, and then designed/built/installed a battery electric powertrain in its place.
My latest creation
I have always loved woodworking. This is a 12 foot long, live edge, hickory desk and cabinet. I share this to illustrate that I have a sense of aesthetics when building and making.
Filmmaking
I don’t think the average person thinks of filmmaking as being adjacent to highly technical professions like engineering, but it is. Imaging equipment has become extremely advanced in the past decade and understanding it requires a very deep knowledge across a wide array of equipment and technology. Making it all work properly together takes advanced understanding. In addition, I built all the sets and props at the ad agency when I was there. I was constantly in the shop making things. If you click around this site you will find a lot of my filmmaking and photography.
Outdoor recreation
Mark Miller mentioned that there is flying involved with the synthetic aperture radar. While I can't say I have better motion sickness than the average person, I was an Eagle Scout growing up and I have a lifelong orientation towards hiking and backpacking. I have been skydiving, whitewater rafting, whitewater kayaking, dogsledding, backpacking, snowboarding, skiing, flown a plane. I do get motion sick but I wouldn’t rate it worse than average.
Final thoughts
I have had a lifelong desire to make things and wide and varying interests, but in particular engineering and technology. If you are looking for someone who has been practicing making things since they were a kid and also has a big picture interest in technology, I think my skills and curiosity could be helpful in your shop.