Predicting how structures fail — before they do.
I’m Huy Tran, an aerospace and mechanical engineer in Melbourne, FL specializing in fatigue and fracture simulation, thermofluid systems, and design that survives manufacturing and the real world.
About me
Melbourne, FL · Engineer In Training · Open to mechanical and aerospace engineering roles.
I hold a Master of Aerospace Engineering in Thermofluid Aerodynamic Systems from UCF (GPA 3.90) and a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Florida Tech (GPA 3.85). My graduate work centers on computational mechanics — fatigue, fracture, and data-driven structural health monitoring.
Before graduate school I spent two and a half years at Jaycon taking products from CAD concept to production: designing injection-molded housings, running the prototyping shop, chasing down field failures, and coordinating manufacturing across the U.S. and Vietnam. I like problems where analysis and the shop floor have to agree.
Projects & analysis
Graduate simulation work in Abaqus and MATLAB, plus an industry failure investigation that shipped a fix.
Fatigue & fracture analysis of the de Havilland Comet
Investigated the 1954 de Havilland Comet fuselage failures by comparing stress concentrations across window geometries and simulating cyclic fatigue crack propagation using Abaqus XFEM and the Virtual Crack Closure Technique (VCCT).
Structural health monitoring with machine learning
Developed an artificial neural network to characterize vibration response and detect damage in a cantilever beam. Generated and processed large modal-frequency datasets, optimized MATLAB scripts for faster training cycles, and validated crack location and severity predictions against physical damage conditions.
CATIA radial engine simulation
Used an online radial engine drawing as reference to build a detailed 3D model in CATIA V5, then simulated engine operation with DMU Kinematics to demonstrate assembly motion and mechanism validation.
Where I’ve worked
Project Manager Assistant
Jaycon — Palm Bay, FL
Aug 2023 – Jan 2025
- Supervised end-to-end fulfillment of a 12-device production order, enabling $80,000 in revenue and $50,000 in profit.
- Coordinated international manufacturing in Vietnam, holding timelines through inventory validation and workflow planning.
- Caught and resolved quality issues on ~10% of incoming components, preventing assembly delays and rework.
- Designed layout improvements for a new manufacturing facility, raising production flow efficiency by 20%.
- Assessed mechanical design feasibility early in development to align CAD concepts with manufacturing capability.
Mechanical Engineering Intern
Jaycon — Palm Bay, FL
Aug 2022 – Sep 2023
- Ran and maintained 4 FDM and 1 SLA 3D printers, prioritizing workflow for consistent output quality.
- Fabricated parts on laser engraver, drill press, injection molder, lathe, and saws for in-house prototyping.
- Designed sensor housings in SolidWorks with electrical engineers under injection molding constraints.
- Created silicone molds for small-batch prototypes, enabling fast, low-cost design validation.
Degrees
M.S. Aerospace Engineering — Thermofluid Aerodynamic Systems
University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
May 2026 · GPA 3.90 / 4.00
B.S. Aerospace Engineering
Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL
2023 · GPA 3.85 / 4.00
Certifications & training
- Engineer In Training (EIT) — FL License 1100030166
- Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP) — Dassault Systèmes, 2025
- Certified SOLIDWORKS Surfacing Professional — Dassault Systèmes, 2025
Technical skills
Simulation & Analysis
- Abaqus (XFEM, Direct Cyclic)
- ANSYS
- FEA & stress analysis
- Fatigue life prediction
Design & CAD
- SolidWorks (CSWP)
- Creo Parametric
- CATIA V5
- GD&T / DFM
Programming
- MATLAB
- Python
- C++
- Neural networks
Fabrication & Test
- 3D printing (FDM & SLA)
- Injection molding
- Accelerated life testing
- Failure analysis
Want the full picture?
Download my resume for the complete record of education, experience, and graduate projects.
Let’s build something together.
I’m open to mechanical and aerospace engineering roles in analysis, design, and test. Send me a message and I’ll get back to you.