Nathan Segar headshot
Nathan Segar
Mechanical · Nuclear · Italian Engineering
Senior engineering student | Mechanical · Nuclear · Italian
Senior engineering student | Mechanical · Nuclear · Italian

Turning complex systems into reliable performance.

I’m a senior Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Rhode Island, with a minor in Nuclear Engineering and a B.A. in Italian. After internships in aerospace manufacturing and submarine design, I’m spending my fifth year studying in Italy and looking for a 6-month engineering internship — ideally contributing to Ferrari starting in early 2026.

Mechanical & nuclear engineering
Power plant system design & safety
Aerospace & defense experience
Fluent Italian & English
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Designed as a living portfolio – updated as new projects and research milestones ship.

About

A quick overview of my academic path, technical interests, and why I’m drawn to high-performance engineering environments like Ferrari.

I’m completing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Nuclear Engineering and a B.A. in Italian at the University of Rhode Island (GPA 3.3). My technical foundation comes from courses in power plant system design and safety analysis, materials in nuclear applications, space nuclear power and propulsion, finite element methods, and more.

Professionally, I’ve worked as a Manufacturing Engineer Intern at Barnes Aerospace and an Engineering & Design Intern at General Dynamics Electric Boat. I’ve supported projects ranging from consumable tool optimization and NPI documentation to engineering calculations, mechanical drawings, and change notice revisions for Columbia-class submarines.

Right now I’m in the Italian International Engineering Program, completing my fifth year studying and working abroad in Italy. I’m looking for a 6-month internship where I can bring together my experience in power systems, manufacturing, and safety-critical design — with a special interest in high-performance environments like Ferrari.

Education
URI · MechE, Nuclear, Italian
B.S. Mechanical Engineering Minor: Nuclear Engineering B.A. Italian
Industry experience
Aerospace & defense
Manufacturing Engineer Intern – Barnes Engineering & Design Intern – EB Capstone with PPL Electric Utilities
Leadership
Lacrosse & research
URI Men’s Lacrosse Captain AIAA Engineer Microfluidics research lab
Core skills
Power plant / reactor design Nuclear materials CAD & design engineering Manufacturing processes MATLAB Fluid mechanics / CFD fundamentals
Currently learning
Vehicle & propulsion systems Advanced control & modeling Data-driven performance analysis Deeper Italian technical vocabulary

Why Ferrari

How my skills and mindset align with the type of engineering culture I see at Ferrari.

Performance mindset

Engineering for lap time, not just grades

From college athletics to engineering internships, I’m used to measuring success by real-world performance: does the system run faster, safer, and more efficiently? That mindset aligns well with Ferrari’s focus on lap time, reliability, and extracting every last bit of performance from the car–driver–team system.

Outcome-driven
Systems thinking

Connecting power, materials, and control

My work ranges from converting coal plants to SMR-powered stations for AI data centers, to microfluidic devices, and creating new innovative robots. I enjoy working at the interfaces between power, materials, control, and software — similar to integrating subsystems in a modern vehicle.

Cross-disciplinary
Cultural fit

Comfortable in Italian & international teams

Studying abroad in Italy as part of the International Engineering Program and speaking Italian allows me to adapt quickly to local culture while collaborating with international teammates. I’d love to bring that perspective to a global brand rooted in Italian engineering.

Italian + English

Projects & Experience

A selection of projects, research, and industry experience that shows how I approach engineering problems from concept to result.

Capstone · Systems

Converting coal plants to SMR power for AI data centers

URI Capstone · Sponsor: PPL Electric Utilities 2024–2025

Developing a replicable process to convert existing coal power plants into nuclear plants using small modular reactors (SMRs). Work includes infrastructure reuse, safety and decarbonization analysis, and exploring how SMRs can reliably power AI data centers with high and variable demand.

SMR technology Power systems Safety analysis
Special Problems · Robotics

Radiation-detecting robot

Detection & mapping 2025

Designing a robot capable of detecting multiple radiation sources or spills within a lab environment. Focus on sensor integration, mapping, and ensuring reliable detection while keeping operators at a safe distance.

Sensing Robotics Safety-critical
Research

Microplastics separation with surface acoustic waves

Microfluidics & Microsystems Lab 2024

Contributed to research on a microfluidic device that uses surface traveling acoustic waves (STAW) to separate microplastics from blood. Supported experimental design and analysis to understand separation efficiency and device behavior. My role as a mechanical engineer was to create new tool fixtures and templates for different geometries of drug capsules.

Microfluidics STAW Experimental work
Independent Research

Custom built robotic arm integrated with AI and ML

Creative design & intuitive engineering 2024-present

This one is a special project. My good friend and I have worked for 6 months developing a fully functional and capable robotic arm that we built from scratch. We innovated all the housing components from 3D printed parts, integrated an AI model into its program for voice control capabilities, and we are continuously developing and improving our work.

Robotics Design Experimental work
Industry · Aerospace

Consumable tool optimization & NPI support

Manufacturing Engineer Intern – Barnes Aerospace 2024

Owned a consumable tool consolidation project to reduce the number of tools purchased and increase machined parts per tool. Supported programmers and process engineers with control plans, NPI documentation, and clear operator instructions. During my rotation I also spent time with fluorescent penetrant inspection, GD&T, and first piece and final inspection.

Manufacturing Process optimization Aerospace
Industry · Defense

Engineering calculations & part tracking

Engineering & Design Intern – Electric Boat 2023–2024

Worked in the Common Missile Compartment group for Columbia-class submarines, performing engineering calculations for forces and stresses, reviewing mechanical drawings and tolerances, supporting change notices, and building spreadsheets for part tracking and reliability. During my time I conducted part inspections for access door seals for the missile tubes.

Structural calcs GD&T Defense systems
Leadership

URI Men’s Lacrosse – Captain & Exec Board

Social & Fundraising Chair 2021–2025

Led teammates on and off the field while managing fundraising, events, and team culture. This role sharpened my communication, accountability, and ability to perform under pressure — skills I bring directly into engineering projects. Our team made 4 straight National tournament appearances from 2021-2025 where during my final season I earned Captain.

Leadership High-performance teams
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Radiation-detecting robot

Detection & mapping 2025

Designed rockets and launch systems along with other members for a national competition. Designed the ignition system for the rocket with 3D printed housing and proper safety measures. As a group we successfully launched a rocket to 30,000 ft with 2 L of fuel.

Propulsion Fluid dynamics Teamwork

Resume

A concise snapshot of my experience. Full CV available as a PDF download.

My resume focuses on technical coursework, projects that show ownership and problem-solving, and experiences that highlight teamwork and communication — from research collaborations to college athletics.

  • Mechanical Engineering B.S., Nuclear Engineering minor, Italian B.A. at URI (GPA 3.3).
  • Capstone with PPL Electric Utilities on SMR-powered conversions of coal plants for AI data centers.
  • Manufacturing Engineer Intern at Barnes Aerospace and Engineering & Design Intern at General Dynamics Electric Boat.
  • Research in microfluidics plus radiation-detecting robotics project work.
  • Leadership experience as Captain and Executive Board Member of URI Men’s Lacrosse.
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Contact

If you’d like to talk about an internship opportunity, a project, or anything related to engineering, you can reach me directly here.

I’m currently available for a 6-month internship following my study-abroad semester. I’m especially interested in roles related to power systems, testing, control, or engineering projects that sit close to vehicle performance.

Email
nate18819@icloud.com
Location
Napoli, Italy · open to relocation in Italy for the internship period
Languages
English (native), Italian (fluent)

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