Cal Poly SLO · Aerospace Engineering

William Som de Cerff

wsomdece@calpoly.edu · Long Beach, CA

Projects

Skills

Hardware: Machining - CNC and Manual, 3D Printing, PCB assembly
Software: Microsoft Office, SolidWorks, Java, Python, MATLAB, GitHub, Betaflight

Technical Experience & Student Engineering Teams

CubeSat Team – Assembly, Integration and Test Subteam · 2026
  • Currently working on AMDROHP – Additively Manufactured Deployable Radiator with Oscillating Heat Pipes, with Launch Provider handoff in March 2027 and launch in August 2027.
  • Contributing to the assembly and test of an Engineering Development Unit and Flight Hardware.
  • Testing with Vibration Tables, ThermoVac Chambers, and a Helmholtz Cage.
Poly Electric Propulsion and Plasma Research · Member · 2026

Working to revitalize electric propulsion research at Cal Poly by establishing new test procedures and lab workflows. Assisting in the manufacturing and assembly of a Hall Effect Thruster, including component fabrication, tolerancing, and plasma diagnostics preparation.

FRC Robotics Team 7042 · 2022–2026

Served as Engineering Director, Chief Engineer, and Design Lead, overseeing mechanical design, system integration, and manufacturing. Earned the Design Creativity Award for three consecutive years by creating innovative mechanisms and engineering solutions, 2024–2026.

Work Experience

Corky Carroll’s Surf School · Surfing Instructor

Summer 2026

  • Delivered both individual instruction and high-volume summer programs, adapting teaching methods to meet client needs.
  • Prioritized safety by changing lesson plans based on ocean conditions.
  • Communicated clearly with participants and team members to coordinate activities.
Shared Science · Academic Support Instructor

Summers 2024 & 2025

  • Facilitated lessons, lab activities, and hands-on experiments for elementary students.
  • Collaborated with fellow instructors to refine lesson delivery.
  • Addressed behavioral challenges with patience and clear boundaries.