Jānis
Stendzenieks

Mechanical Engineering — Rice University '29

Houston TX / Riga LV
TIMTEC Vipava, Slovenia | Apr - Jun 2026
Rice Eclipse Houston TX, USA | Oct 2025 - now
Tarragon Aircraft Riga, Latvia | Jun - Aug 2025

TIMTEC

Vipava, Slovenia | Apr - Jun 2026

Mechanical Engineering Intern

Defence technology R&D - unmanned systems

  • Worked on a classified underwater drone project for defence applications
  • Researched firmware solutions for AUV systems - later integrated into working prototype
  • Wrote technical research reports for respective solutions and designed information input/output schematics for embedded control systems; participated in multiple prototype field tests

Rice Eclipse Rocketry

Houston TX | Oct 2025 - now

Lead Engineer - Eclipse Sander

Adjustable sanding jig for manufacturing consistent rocket fins

Eclipse Sander Poster
View poster ↗
  • Designed and built an adjustable sanding jig improving rocket fin bevel accuracy and consistency across rocket fin sets
  • The design eliminated excessive fin scrap compared to significant material waste with the previous methods used by Rice Eclipse
  • Fusion 360 CAD, laser cutting, 3D printing and part machining, woodworking, technical report writing

Airframe Team Engineer

Design and simulations for multi-stage collegiate-level rockets

  • OpenRocket & RASAero rocket design and simulated flight testing for Mach 2+ rockets Prestige V2 and Aurora + Helios
  • Designed and built a mounting solution for ground control transmission antennas
  • Water jet machining, laser cutting, Fusion 360 CAD and 3D printing various components

Composites Team Engineer

Full rocket body development for multi-stage collegiate-level rockets

  • Developed the full aerodynamic body for Prestige V2 and Aurora + Helios rockets
  • Body tube and transition manufacturing, tip-to-tip structural reinforcement using carbon fiber and epoxy resin, fin manufacturing and bevelling

Tarragon Aircraft

Riga LV | Jun - Aug 2025

Mechanical Engineering Intern

Manufacturing speed record-breaking high-power ultralight aircraft

Tarragon Aircraft
View ↗
  • Worked on 3 different customer aircraft - carbon composite sanding & surface finishing on ultralight parts (air intake, bulkhead, ailerons, fuselage, fuel tank)
  • Bonded fuselage parts with aircraft-grade epoxy resin for fuselage assembly
  • Machined force translation components for landing gear mechanisms - carbon tubes, joints, and more

iPhone POV Case

Houston TX, USA | Sep 2025 - now

Electric Tricycle

Riga, Latvia | Oct 2024 - Jul 2025

Optical Material Research

Riga, Latvia | May 2023 - May 2024

Fashion Model

Riga, Latvia | Jun 2023 - now

iPhone POV Case

Personal Project | Sep 2025 - now

Magnetic Quick-Release

Latest iteration with quick attachment/detachment function

  • Cost-effective phone camera concept motivated by rising prices for POV cameras like GoPro and Insta360
  • Designed a two-part magnetic mounting system - phone case + chest plate with embedded magnets
  • 3D printed case + chestplate, elastic straps

Regular Mount

First prototype iteration

  • Rigid 3D printed phone holder designed around iPhone 14 dimensions
  • Nylon webbing chest harness

Test Footage

Basketball test
▶ Watch on YouTube
Basketball test (V2) Skiing test
▶ Watch on YouTube
Skiing test (V1)

Optical Memory Research

RTU Engineering High School | May 2023 - May 2024

Student Research Intern

Scientific research at RTU Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology

  • Designed and manufactured an optically active memory material for photonic storage & computing applications
  • Gold – National Student Scientific Research Conference, highest score in Engineering & Technology category
  • 20,000+ datapoint analysis in MS Excel, spin-coating, acid etching, soldering, plasma cleaning
Development of Ta-TiO₂ nanoparticle-based transient optical memory material
⤢ Expand

Electric Tricycle

Riga LV | Oct 2024 - Jul 2025

Lead Mechanical Engineer

Led a team of 5 to develop high-efficiency electric tricycles from recycled materials

  • Fully designed and manufactured 2 electric tricycles from recycled materials, assisted with 2 other e-tricycle builds
  • Public showcase drive at the 2025 Latvian Song and Dance Festival: 90,000+ attendees, broadcasted live on National Television (~1.5 million viewers)
  • Steering mechanism & part design/machining, frame welding, controller electronics & hydraulic brake system setup, soldering
Electric tricycle at Song Festival
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Fashion Model

BroModels | Jun 2023 - now

Fashion Model

Fashion model at BroModel agency

  • View portfolio ↗
  • Participated in Milano Fashion Week 2024. Had photoshoots and interacted with various fashion houses (PRADA, FENDI, ZEGNA, etc)
  • Volunteered for various local fashion designers supporting sustainable fashion

BS - Mechanical Engineering

Aug 2025 - now

George R. Brown School of Engineering | Rice University

  • GPA: 3.84 / 4.0
  • Martel College

Riga Technical University Engineering High School

Sep 2022 - Jul 2025
  • GPA: 9.93 / 10 | Class rank: 1st
  • Student government & event host, tutor, astronomy olympiad, engineering

Lets chat!

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