Nathan Esterkyn

Professional Summary

Mechanical Engineer with M.S. and B.S. degrees from the Colorado School of Mines, experienced in R&D, prototyping, and product development across startup and corporate settings. Skilled in designing and optimizing mechanical systems through hands-on problem-solving and cross-functional collaboration. Committed to creating technologies that improve lives and expand access to healthcare.

Education

Colorado School of Mines — Golden, CO
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Spring 2024 — Dean’s List
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Spring 2023 — Dean’s List

Technical Skills

SolidWorks, Autodesk Fusion, Siemens NX, AutoCAD, CNC Machining, Metal Fabrication, Additive Manufacturing, PCB Design, Python, C++, Embedded C, MATLAB, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, UX/UI Design, Technical Documentation, Mechatronics, System Integration, Agile Hardware Development, DFMEA, GD&T, Design for Manufacturing & Tolerancing (DFM/GD&T), Rapid Prototyping

Experience

Mechanical Integration Engineer

Terumo BCT – Lakewood, CO | June 2025 – Present

• Collaborated with electrical and software teams to bring new features and sustaining updates to our fleet of devices
• Designed critical mechanical components for our Rika plasma donation system, working directly with customers to resolve issues
• Ideated and designed new core mechanical technologies for Terumo BCT, including new variable peristaltic pump architectures

Automation Engineering Technician

Terumo BCT – Littleton, CO | June 2024 – May 2025

• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to optimize manufacturing systems for RIKA plasma collection devices
• Led maintenance teams in daily standup meetings to evaluate critical machine issues and troubleshoot automation components
• Improved output and reduced scrap rates from 20% to less than 5% by implementing precise mechanical and electrical adjustments

Engineering Assistant & R&D Engineer

Ananya Health – San Francisco, CA | June 2019 – August 2023

• Co-developed a portable cryoablation device for treating cervical cancer in developing countries and low-resource environments
• Wrote and maintained quality-controlled documentation including MPIs and IFUs
• Applied SCRUM methodology to accelerate development timelines and system efficiency
• Founding team member instrumental in achieving Y Combinator Class of 2021 acceptance

Engineering Assistant & R&D Engineer

TheraNova LLC – San Francisco, CA | June 2018 – August 2019

• Supported development teams for multiple medtech products including Peri-kinetics and Respirix
• Built and tested prototypes for a Stanford ulnar nerve stimulation study for overactive bladder treatment
• Engineered a high-efficiency cryoablation prototype from a modified A/C unit, reaching -40°C in under one minute

Projects

• BMW Z3 Rebuild: Fully rebuilt and upgraded a totaled BMW Z3 with S54B32 engine swap; completed all custom machining, wiring, and ECU programming
• Lunar Robotics Simulation: Designed and implemented a task optimization algorithm using MATLAB and computer vision for robotic lunar surface clearing

Patents & Honors

• Patented Inventor: Contributed to the design of a novel cryogenic medical device for Ananya Health
• Dean’s List: All semesters at Colorado School of Mines