Nicholas Kortenhaus
Mechanical Engineering Student & Machinist
Mechanical Engineering Student & Machinist
I have always believed that a great engineer shouldn’t just design a part on a screen. They should know exactly how to build it. I started manufacturing with 3D printing and laser cutting, but quickly evolved into hands-on manual and CNC machining on both the mill and lathe. Today, I combine that manufacturing experience with CAD tools, holding a SolidWorks CSWA certification alongside proficiency in Fusion, Onshape, and Creo. I love the challenge of taking a complex problem, validating it through simulations, and personally bringing the design to life.
This hands-on background directly drives my leadership within the NJIT Rocketry Club, where I am serving as the 2027 International Rocket Engineering Team-lead. Having personally selected payload materials, CNC-routed structural bulkheads, as well as directed the manufacturing and assembly of last year’s rocket, I understand how to connect the design and manufacturing worlds.
My ultimate goal is to bring this combined manufacturing and CAD experience to a company and brand that cares about its quality and product, as well as its employees and customers. Eventually I aim to step into a Project Manager role where I can lead projects from initial concepts all the way through to final delivery.
• Mechanical Engineering Technology
• Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research
• New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ