Mechanical EngineeringPortfolio · 2026

Wentworth Institute of Technology · Class of 2028

Engineering,
made tangible.

I’m Derek Li, a mechanical engineering student focused on CAD, manufacturing, and the hands-on work that turns an idea into a reliable part.

Explore my experience View projects

Available for engineering opportunities

02

Featured engineering and fabrication projects

2028Expected graduation

2×Kalow internships

01 / Work experience

Learning on
the floor.

Each role has strengthened a different part of my engineering practice—from precise fabrication to patient mentorship.

Summers 2025–2026Rutland, Vermont

Summer 2026Castleton, Vermont

AmeriCorps Service Upward Bound Castleton University Upward Bound — Be College Bound

Castleton University Upward Bound — Be College Bound

Mentoring students through AmeriCorps Supported students through activities, college-focused programming, and one-on-one mentorship. Mentorship · Community · Leadership

CurrentBoston, Massachusetts

02 / Selected projects

Built through
iteration.

Projects that show how I approach constraints, communicate design intent, and learn through making.

Explore the projects

Derek Li · Gillette Stadium

3D-printed KitchenAid arm engineering project

01

Engineering Design · Team Project

KitchenAid Arm

Iterated through multiple SolidWorks prototypes to balance range, strength, appearance, material use, and cost in a wall-mounted arm system.

SolidWorks3D PrintingIteration

Wall-mounted can crusher CAD assembly

02

Engineering Graphics · Team Project

Wall-Mounted Can Crusher

Modeled complex interacting parts, created engineering drawings, and presented a complete SolidWorks assembly designed to function as one system.

CAD AssemblyDrawingsDesign Communication

03 / Capabilities

Tools I use
to build.

A growing toolkit across design, manufacturing, fabrication, and analysis.

⌖

Design

SolidWorks
CAD assemblies
Engineering drawings
Prototype iteration

⚙

Manufacturing

Robotic press brake
CNC punch press
Manual milling
PEM installation

◆

Fabrication

MIG welding
3D printing
Tapping
Countersinking

∿

Technical

MATLAB
Python
Multisim
Precision measurement

04 / Contact

Let’s build
something real.

I’m always interested in engineering, manufacturing, and design opportunities where I can keep learning by doing.

✉ lid9@wit.edu LinkedIn ↗

Work Experience / 01

Kalow Technologies

Fabrication Intern · Rutland, Vermont · Summers 2025–2026

Robotic bendingTRUMPF TruBend 7036 Cell Edition

CNC punchingProduction sheet-metal equipment

01Robotic press brake

02CNC punch press

03Drawing interpretation

01

What I worked on

Learned to set up and independently operate a robotic press brake.
Built confidence running CNC punch-press work with close attention to tooling and measurements.
Read engineering drawings to prepare and complete fabrication tasks with limited supervision.
Supported countersinking, tapping, PEM installation, surface finishing, and powder-coating preparation.

02

What the work taught me

Not every run went perfectly. This warped sheet-metal part became one of the most useful lessons from my internship. I learned to slow down, confirm the tooling, double-check the drawing, triple-check the measurements, and ask a mentor for a final look before starting a run.

A mistake that improved my processTooling check · drawing check · measurement check

03

Skills strengthened

Machine setupQuality checksShop safetyProblem solvingProduction paceMentorship

Discuss my experience ↗

Student leadership / Inside SME

Made together.
Learned together.

Wentworth Society of Manufacturing · Vice President · Boston, MA

From a first SolidWorks sketch to a machined part, SME is a place to turn curiosity into hands-on experience. Here’s a closer look at the workshops, projects, and people behind the work.

01 / Community & workshops

A place to learn together.

Sharing what we build, learning new tools, and connecting with students who want to make things.

Hover for the story. Select any photo to take a closer look.

Sharing our projects at the club fair. Meet the SME teamClub fair

Connecting with students through hands-on projects. Sharing what we makeCampus outreach

Workshop for SolidWorks 101. SolidWorks 101Workshop

Taking the plan from the classroom into the lab. Learning on the shop floorLab session

02 / The making process

From stock to
Turner’s cube.

A closer look at the material, the machining process, and the finished part.

Aluminum stock, ready for the next operation. 01 / The materialAluminum stock

Machining the features, one operation at a time. 02 / The processAt the mill

The finished Turner’s cube and its nested geometry. 03 / The resultTurner’s cube

MachiningWorkholdingProcess planningLearning by doing

03 / In motion

See the process.

Two short clips from the lab. Press play to watch here, or use the player’s fullscreen control.

CNC millingA short look at the machine in action.Open video ↗

Hands-on lab workLearning through time at the machine.Open video ↗

Let’s talk manufacturing ↗