Rafael Ridao

Rafael Ridao has a diverse work experience spanning various roles and industries. Rafael started their career as an Undergraduate Research Assistant at Glumac Research Group in 2017. Rafael then worked as a Course Assistant in the Department of Mechanical Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 2016 to 2017.

In 2017, Rafael also became a Content Tutor for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Rafael continued their academic involvement as an Engineering Learning Assistant for the College of Engineering at the same university from 2017 to 2020.

Rafael gained industry experience through internships and co-op positions. Rafael interned as an Internet of Things Intern at the US Army Corps of Engineers in 2019. In 2018, they worked as a Rotational Co-Op at Collins Aerospace, where they gained experience in Embedded Controls, Dynamics, and Generators for the Electric Systems business unit. Rafael accomplished various tasks related to generators, dynamics, and embedded controls, and even filed a patent for a bracket assembly for supporting terminal leads in an auxiliary generator for aircraft.

From 2015 to 2020, Rafael served as the Co-Director of Engineering for Illini Solar Car, where they contributed to the development and management of solar car projects.

Most recently, Rafael worked for NTN Bearing as an Applications Engineer from 2020 to 2022. In this role, they led customer projects, conducted in-depth bearing analyses, managed customer accounts, ensured high-quality standards, and communicated effectively with key stakeholders.

Currently, Rafael is employed as a Senior Application Engineer at ECM - PCB Stator Technology, starting in 2022.

Rafael Ridao completed their Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign from 2015 to 2019.