James Kim | UC Berkeley M.E.T.
UC Berkeley M.E.T. Class of 2028 • Mechanical Engineering & Business

James Kim

Studying Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration in the Management, Entrepreneurship, & Technology (M.E.T.) dual degree program at UC Berkeley.

Focused on hardware design, subsea robotics, thermal energy systems, dynamic load stress modeling (FEA), and engineering operations. Experienced in leading technical initiatives across research laboratories, aerospace student organizations, and military service as a Sergeant in the Republic of Korea Air Force.

UNIVERSITY UC Berkeley
PROGRAM M.E.T. Dual Degree
GPA 3.55 / 4.0
LOCATION Berkeley, CA
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Education

Academic degree and foundational coursework.

UC Berkeley Management, Entrepreneurship, & Technology (M.E.T.) Program

Dual Degree: B.S. Mechanical Engineering & B.S. Business Administration

Expected May 2028
GPA 3.55 / 4.0
LOCATION Berkeley, CA

Relevant Technical Coursework

Neural Networks & Deep Learning 3D Design & Manufacturing Computer Programming for Engineers Intro to Solid Mechanics Fluid & Thermal Dynamics

Professional Experience

Research labs, engineering student teams, and military service, ordered by recency.

MTSN LAB, UC Berkeley

Lab Assistant for Dr. Zarin

June 2026 – Present
  • Designed and built a custom automated copper sample dispenser and sprayer from scratch in a 3-person team for precise direct-on-station material handling.
  • Diagnosed sequential dispensing errors through high-speed video optics analysis and sample iterations, redesigning mechanisms to achieve 100% reliable automated operation.
  • Analyzed solution-coated copper samples across various environmental conditions to evaluate coating durability and optimize thermal energy efficiency.

Underwater Robotics at Berkeley

Mechanical Designer & Program Manager

August 2025 – Present
  • Engineered a custom underwater claw mechanism to meet upgraded 2026 RoboSub competition requirements, overcoming previous design payload retrieval limitations.
  • Identified micro-leaks caused by ambient hydrostatic pressure during post-competition analysis; redesigned housing seal mechanisms for deeper underwater limits.
  • Developed autonomous subsea target retrieval systems to advance real-world search, payload manipulation, and ocean recovery capabilities.

Space Enterprise at Berkeley

Mechanical Designer

August 2025 – Present
  • Designed and produced launch towers and hold-down mechanisms to hold the launch of solid and liquid fuel rockets under dynamic strain and stress loads.
  • Utilized SolidWorks and Fusion 360 to perform Finite Element Analysis (FEA) on structural assemblies to verify load limits during ignition.
  • Applied DFMEA principles to enhance structure quality, mitigate failure modes, and lead collaborative scheduled work sessions.

Republic of Korea Air Force Service

Sergeant (E-5) / High-Pressure Utility Operator

August 2023 – May 2025
  • Operated and maintained high-pressure boiler and heating systems, guaranteeing continuous, safe, and efficient base performance.
  • Commanded emergency response to a critical weekend diesel leak, implementing containment safety protocols and auxiliary supply routes to maintain uninterrupted boiler operation.
  • Managed inspection and preventive maintenance schedules for base-wide HVAC systems and infrastructure, eliminating downtime for simulator labs and living quarters.

Leadership & Community Impact

Campus orientation leadership, professional organization management, and community volunteer work.

Berkeley International Office, UC Berkeley

Orientation Leader

August 2026 – Present
  • Co-led orientation programming and cultural integration workshops for over 250 incoming international students transitioning to UC Berkeley.
  • Managed event check-in logistics, facilitated interactive group sessions, and resolved student inquiries regarding academic and campus resources.

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), UC Berkeley

Board Member, Program Manager

August 2022 – May 2023
  • Managed project timelines and course funds to connect pre-professional students with UC Berkeley Mechanical Engineering department resources.
  • Hosted top-tier engineering firms in career events with Mechanical Engineering faculty to improve student engagement and foster a vibrant on-campus community.
  • Organized community events for 30+ participants including biweekly meetups, hikes, and annual trivia competitions.

Chungbuk Hyeneung Orphanage (Cheong-ju, Korea)

Orphanage Volunteer

February 2024 – January 2025
  • Assisted in maintaining and organizing orphanage facilities to establish a clean, safe, and positive environment for children.
  • Collaborated with facility staff and co-volunteers to foster a supportive and nurturing atmosphere for resident children.

Featured Projects

Engineering project highlights ordered by recency. Click any card to open a detailed modal case study.

JUNE 2026 – PRESENT MTSN LAB

Automated Copper Sample Dispenser & Sprayer

  • Designed automated direct-on-station copper sample material handling dispenser & sprayer.
  • Diagnosed micro-dispensing mechanical jams using high-speed camera optics for 100% operational reliability.
  • Evaluated thermal energy efficiency and coating durability across test conditions.
SolidWorks High-Speed Optics Thermal Energy
View Detailed Case Study →
AUGUST 2025 – PRESENT ROBOSUB

Underwater Robot's Claw Mechanism

  • Engineered custom subsea target retrieval claw fulfilling 2026 RoboSub requirements.
  • Redesigned housing seal compression mechanisms to prevent deep hydrostatic pressure micro-leaks.
  • Developed autonomous subsea target retrieval kinematics for deepwater search tasks.
Subsea Robotics Hydrostatic Seals Kinematics
View Detailed Case Study →
1ST PLACE WINNER UC BERKELEY

Topology-Optimized Wind Power Turbine

  • Won 1st place in UC Berkeley design competition using topology-optimized blade geometry.
  • Achieved peak competition power output of 65 Watts during wind tunnel aerodynamic testing.
  • Optimized 3D printing polymer grain directions to maximize structural load capacity.
Topology Optimization 65W Output 3D Printing
View Detailed Case Study →

Technical Skills & Tools

CAD & simulation software, programming languages, and operational competencies.

CAD & Simulation

SolidWorks Fusion 360 FEA Analysis CFD Dynamics 3D Design G-Code Topology Optimization DFMEA Principles

Programming

Python MATLAB C C++ Java JavaScript Neural Networks

Languages & Tools

Fluent English Fluent Korean High-Pressure HVAC Manufacturing Design Microsoft Excel
GET IN TOUCH

Let's Connect

I am open to discussing mechanical design, subsea robotics, automated hardware, thermal energy systems, or internship and co-op opportunities.

EMAIL jmismake@berkeley.edu
LINKEDIN linkedin.com/in/jmismake