Engineering hardware that flies, functions, and scales.

Who Kang | Aerospace Engineering, UW '27

I am an Aeronautics & Astronautics student at the University of Washington with an FAA Airframe & Powerplant certificate. My work focuses on aerospace structures, UAV systems, flight controls, robotics, and manufacturing through hands-on engineering projects and research.

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About Me

My background combines aircraft maintenance, aerospace engineering coursework, laboratory research, and student-led design projects. I am especially interested in the intersection of mechanical design, controls, autonomous systems, and manufacturable hardware.

Software & Analysis

  • Python / C/C++
  • MATLAB / Simulink
  • Systems Engineering Analysis

Design & Hardware

  • SolidWorks / Fusion 360 / Onshape
  • Raspberry Pi / Arduino
  • Betaflight Integration

Fabrication

  • FAA A&P Certified Mechanic
  • Machine Shop (Lathe/Mill)
  • Avionics Wiring

Experience & Leadership


G3MS Lab, University of Washington

Undergraduate Research Assistant | March 2026 – Present

Conducting research under Prof. Avin Vijay focusing on automated fiber placement and additive manufacturing. Contributing to the development of a machine learning-based method to identify pre-cure automated fiber placement defects (overlaps, twisting, tow misalignment) and assisting in processing recycled polymer feedstocks into conductive filament for additive manufacturing workflows.

STEM Club

Public Relations Officer

Supported campus engagement and event promotion, coordinating collaborative technical events to grow club membership and community involvement.

STEM Aircraft Design, Build, and Fly Team

Team Lead & Founder | Aug 2024 – May 2025

Managed the complete project lifecycle. Established design review cadences, enforced documentation standards, and managed the budget, materials procurement, and machine shop access.

KOJOBS (Korean Job Research)

Event Planning Team Officer

Structured workshop agendas, produced presentation decks, and organized session content to facilitate professional development events.

Selected Engineering Projects

Selected projects highlighting my experience in aerospace design, autonomous systems, experimental testing, and engineering analysis.

Built an FPV drone testbed for hands-free UAV control, integrating ESP32 communication, Betaflight flight-controller input mapping, and bench-level latency testing.

Role: Embedded / UAV integration

Status: Prototype + validation

Tools:
Python Raspberry Pi ESP32 Betaflight

Developed a data-backed evaluation model for autonomous security robot deployment, combining stakeholder criteria, survey processing, and weighted scoring.

Role: Systems analysis / data modeling

Status: Completed research study

Tools:
Python (Pandas) MATLAB Systems Engineering Trade Studies

IREC Rocket Design & Fabrication

May 2024 – June 2024

Modeled stability and supported fabrication for a sounding rocket design cycle using OpenRocket/MATLAB analysis and hands-on hardware manufacturing.

Role: Stability analysis / fabrication

Status: Completed build support

Tools:
OpenRocket MATLAB Machining Airframe Fabrication

Designed and integrated an RC aircraft through aerodynamic sizing, SolidWorks modeling, avionics integration, propulsion setup, and weight-and-balance checks.

Role: Team lead / aircraft integration

Status: Flight-ready build preparation

Tools:
SolidWorks Aircraft Design Avionics Weight & Balance

Designed, built, launched, and recovered a high-power rocket for NAR Level 1 certification, with focus on stability, recovery, and launch readiness.

Role: Rocket design / fabrication / launch prep

Status: Certification completed

Tools:
High-Power Rocketry Aerodynamic Stability Recovery Systems Fabrication