Arielle Dobrowolski

Managed the efforts and budget of the entire engineering department of Petra. Responsible for developing a novel non-contact thermal tunneling method. The department included Systems Engineering, Robotics, Field Operations, Fabrication, and Test Engineering. Boring machine consisted of main subsystems: Cutterhead (heat and massflow generation + articulation), bore sensing, thermal management, jacking system, cable/hose management, pumps, compressors, remote operation (PLC) and custom operator interface software. Fluids involved: fuel, compressed air, hydraulics, & high pressure water. Sensing equipment: Thermocouples, pressure gauges (all fluids), mass flow sensors (water, air), encoders, lidar, cameras. Integrated and tested new subsystems onto the machine, including mechanical assembly, plumbing, and wiring. Added features to improve performance i.e. designed and implemented a multi-stage water filtration system to resolve sediment clogging issues in water lines. Led 3 month field test in granite to break company boring distance records and achieve speed KPIs. Passed MSHA safety inspections for every field test with no on-site injuries. Determined next steps based on testing results. Intuition for testing operation. Standardized testing procedures for repeatability and to draw meaningful conclusions from results. Standardized hiring and onboarding processes. Managed lab spaces, including the acquisition of machining equipment and closeout of remote location. Critical member of company acquisition assessment efforts. Piloted company-wide engineering progress updates and created engineering board meeting materials.

Oversaw core technology pivot from plasma to combustion cutterhead and delivered a completely new boring machine tested to 20ft depth in the field (first field-capable machine in company history) in less than 10 months. Managed each member of the Systems Engineering team (Jan 21), Robotics team (Mar 21), Field team (July 21), and Fabrication team (Jan 22) directly. Upleveled team by hiring high performers and increasing team cohesion and communication. Standardized design review process and oversaw system architecture design. Designed (using Solidworks) and tested the company's first in-house proprietary combustion cutterhead. Analyzed airflow to simplify traditional designs, reducing fabrication and assembly costs/time, and increasing iteration speed. Implemented high vacuum subsystem to balance air mass flow and reduce thermal stressors. Resolved issues in the integration and implementation of prototypes across engineering team. Developed project schedules based on engineering problems and timeline constraints. Identified critical path and allocated resources as necessary to reduce slippage. Utilized PERT charts, Asana and MS Project. Implemented de/dt chart to show slippage over time. Would work on whatever necessary to reduce critical path I.e. design, review, welding, fabrication, installation, testing. In short: I took the CTO’s vision and made it a reality through my own design efforts, ensuring proper integration of subsystems, running subsystem and full system testing to isolate and resolve failure modes, allocating resources effectively, and managing timelines.

Primary subsystem owner of a novel spoils removal system for extreme-temperature and space-restricted environments • Utilized Solidworks to design pneumatic spoils removal prototype for plasma cutterhead boring machine. • Carried prototype through all stages of development: architecture design, structural design, part sourcing, assembly, design and fabrication of test fixtures, subsystem testing, integration, and final lab testing • Designed and fabricated test fixtures for proof of concept subsystem testing. • Organized testing with plasma cutterhead on various geologies. • Worked closely with the other members of the systems engineering team to deliver a non-contact boring machine tested to 6ft bore depth in lab. • Designed, fabricated, and tested combustion cutterhead (close teamwork sprint effort - idea to working prototype < 3 weeks). • Implemented PDM framework.

• Designed Ninja Warrior Course Obstacles through entire life cycle – from concept to build. • Generated bill of materials and procured parts from vendors and machinists. • Utilized Solidworks for 3D design and FEA calculations/simulations on stress points. • Created Assembly/Manufacturing drawings and assisted in the fabrication of obstacles.

• Performed calculations on pipelines to determine pipe stress and support requirements. • Developed tools for project management, generated budgets and cost estimates, and coordinated tasks. • Prepared engineering drawings - namely operating diagrams, P&IDs, piping layouts, and piping section and detail sheets.

• Instructed students in the SAT, ACT, and Mathematics: Algebra, Geometry, Pre-calculus, and Calculus. • Creatively incorporated different styles of teaching, and developed new ways to engage students in material.

• Executed and presented a variety of high value projects including R220 Mechanical Refurbishment, Machine Guarding and Safety Railing improvements, and FEA Analysis on damaged parts. • Increased knowledge in manufacturing processes, project management, and 3D modeling. • Communicated with vendors to establish price points and lead times for critical parts.

• Engaged in a quarter-long training to develop curriculum for a rigorous program dedicated to immersing high school students in Engineering • Taught key aspects of Mechanical Engineering, including design principles, CAD, 3D printing, basic circuitry, and manual machining • Developed student skills from no engineering experience to the students’ fabrication of a hockey-playing robot over 4-week camp period