Mechanical Engineer · Design & Project Engineering
Final-year UTS Mechanical Engineering (Honours) student passionate about solving complex problems and collaborating to drive engineering impact — through FEA, CAD, and design work on live projects, while inspiring the next generation of engineers.
01 — About
I'm Darcy Hodge, a final-year Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours) student at the University of Technology Sydney, on track to graduate in November 2026. I'm also completing a concurrent Diploma in Professional Engineering Practice.
My professional experience has been in the maritime and defence sectors, exposing me to high-quality, high-accountability engineering — spanning detailed design, FEA structural analysis, and engineering drawings across vessels from 24m to 80m, as well as project engineering aboard the RAN's second largest warship, HMAS Choules (176m). These industries have shaped a strong engineering foundation that I'm eager to apply across a broad range of future challenges.
Beyond technical work, I'm passionate about bringing the next generation into engineering — I've mentored hundreds of future engineering students through Engineers Australia (EA) and led STEM outreach events across Sydney.
02 — Experience
Student Mentor & Member Engagement Assistant
Mentor to hundreds of high-school engineering students at Engineers Australia's Summer and Autumn Engineering Schools (2022–present) — leading both seasonal cohorts through hands-on engineering programs.
Facilitated workshops, networking events, and other scheduled member activities for engineering professionals at Engineers Australia's offices — managing audio-visual setup, catering and event coordination.
Represented Engineers Australia as an exhibitor at careers expos across Sydney, engaging with prospective engineers and promoting the profession to students and school leavers.
Active facilitator across Experience Engineering programs and student-centred workshops — a recognisable face of EA outreach across Sydney.
Design Engineer (Intern) — Naval Architects
Delivered detailed design drawings — general arrangements, machinery arrangements, deck layouts, outfitting, fire & safety plans and other similar technical drawings — for ferries, workboats, and other vessels from 24m to 80m.
Produced FEA calculations and structural modelling in Strand 7 for high-stress areas, enabling class society certification across multiple projects.
Interpreted and applied class society rulesets to ensure 100% compliant vessel designs.
Contributed across 20+ active vessel projects.
Developed proficiency in AutoCAD, ShipConstructor, Rhino 7, and Strand 7 for design, structural drawings, and systems integration.
Project Engineer (Intern) — Defence Maritime
Project Engineer during the Annual Maintenance Period 2023 for HMAS Choules — a Landing Ship Dock operated by the Royal Australian Navy.
Managed subcontractor work packages and sign-offs, coordinating trades and specialist firms across time-critical maintenance windows.
Led defect reporting and technical documentation, maintaining rigorous engineering records across multi-million-dollar planned maintenance activities.
Coordinated planned maintenance system (PMS) updates and liaised directly with the Navy's technical authority and end-customer stakeholders.
Managed work orders across the maintenance period, achieving zero deferrals.
Joined post-AMP sea trials aboard HMAS Choules — technical checks from Sydney to Brisbane.
Engineering Support
Designed to-specification CAD models for manufacture and repair of mining and plant equipment.
Produced compliance reports for safety management systems in mine site environments.
Developed a heritage replacement assembly for a Huey helicopter gun mount for the Maitland Museum — including design, modelling, and documentation for manufacture.
Maintenance Technician
Conducted planned and corrective maintenance on plant equipment including high-pressure pumps and filtration systems.
Delivered customer-facing service in a high-throughput environment, developing strong communication and professional presentation skills.
Held as a casual role undertaken outside of school hours throughout high school, building early exposure to real-world maintenance environments and workplace professionalism.
03 — Projects
Industry
IC23025 — 80m Ro-Pax Ferry
Detailed-design contributions to an 80m Ro-Pax ferry for a Korean customer at Incat Crowther.
Industry
IC19192 — 57m Malaysian Police Vessel Ramp
Designed a main-deck vehicle ramp for a 57m police vessel rated for a 7-tonne forklift, validated in Strand 7 FEA against sea-state loads.
Industry
HMAS Choules — Annual Maintenance Period 2023
Project Engineer for HMAS Choules' Annual Maintenance Period 2023 — managed subcontractor packages and end-customer liaison to zero deferrals.
Industry
HMAS Choules — Stern Door Hydraulic Ram Replacement
Hand-calculated rigging loads to verify two 20-tonne straps for a safety-critical Manitou-on-deck hydraulic ram replacement aboard HMAS Choules.
Industry
Huey Helicopter Gun Mount — Maitland Museum
Reverse-engineered a heritage Huey helicopter gun mount and produced full CAD + manufacturing documentation for the Maitland Museum.
University
Solar Barbecue — MSDS2
Group design and build of a parabolic-dish solar barbecue — cooking from solar radiation alone via optical geometry and thermal analysis.
University
Satellite Thermal Regulation Louvre — MSDS1
Group design of a passive bimetallic louvre for satellite thermal regulation — no electrical components permitted.
University
Warman Challenge Robot — Project Refuel 2023
Built an autonomous mecanum-drive robot for the 36th Warman Design & Build Competition.
University
Shoebox Vending Machine — Mechatronics
Built a working Arduino vending machine from a shoebox with servo dispensing, item selection and an LCD interface.
University
Osmotic Membrane Water Flux — MATLAB
MATLAB iterative-root-finding model for a non-linear membrane water-flux equation — awarded full marks.
University
Off-Grid Solar PV System — Wootton Rural Property
Group design of a 52.8 kW off-grid solar PV system — full lifecycle cost analysis showing strong NPV and payback.
University
Salesforce RFT Tender Appraisal — UTS
Weighted-matrix vendor tender appraisal for the UTS Salesforce request for tender — written report and oral presentation.
University
Electric Outboard Conversion — EWB Challenge 2022
EWB Challenge: proposed electric Elco EP-30 outboards for Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation vessels — up to 70% noise reduction for crocodile rehabilitation.
University
PCM Thermal Regulation Cricket Helmet — MDFS2
ANSYS Fluent CFD design of a phase-change-material thermal system for a cricket helmet — modelled, prototyped and refined across a four-sprint agile process.
University
Wound Elastic Catapult — Engineering Prototype Project
Five-person team design and build of a wound-elastic catapult launching a squash ball 3–4m to a 10cm target — fully validated analytically.
University
Industrial HVAC Air Compressor — Efficiency Analysis & Optimisation
Thermodynamic analysis of an industrial HVAC air compressor, with system-level efficiency assessment and recommended upgrades.
University
Automotive Differential — Component Analysis & Manufacturing Study
Manufacturing process design and geometric inspection plan for a vehicle differential assembly.
University
Industrial Shredder — Full Drivetrain Design
Individual end-to-end industrial shredder drivetrain design — motor selection, belt, chain, gearbox and shafts, designed to a personalised brief.
University
Wave Industries — Lean Production & Value Stream Analysis
Lean manufacturing redesign of a real production line — future-state value stream map and supporting quality plan.
04 — Gallery
05 — Spotlight
06 — Education
Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours)
University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
Diploma in Professional Engineering Practice
University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
Higher School Certificate
Oxford Falls Grammar, Sydney
Prefect
Highest D&T HSC mark in school history
07 — What I'm Looking For
I'm motivated by engineering that people can feel. Projects that reshape cities, improve lives, or accelerate Australia's energy future — that's the kind of work I want to be part of. Watching something like the Sydney Metro open and knowing millions of people move through their day better because of it captures exactly why I chose engineering.
I'm also deeply passionate about renewable energy and what it means for Australia's future. Whether it's large-scale generation, grid infrastructure, or the systems that make it all work — I want to contribute to that transition in a meaningful way.
Ultimately, I'm looking for opportunities where the work is real, the projects dynamic and interesting, and I can continue growing as both an engineer and a leader.
I'm open to a range of pathways — below are some of the areas I'm most drawn to, though I'm motivated by impact and growth above all else.
07 — Contact
I'm actively seeking graduate mechanical engineering roles starting 2027. If you're hiring or would like to discuss opportunities, please reach out — I'd love to talk.
Sydney, Australia · Open to relocation for the right role
