Our Team

MACH is divided into five subteams. Our technical subteams are Combustion Dynamics, Propellant Management, and Transfer & Control, supported by the Safety & Logistics and Business Development subteams. Our projects would be impossible without all our subteams working together, and each one offers unique and invaluable experiences for our members.

From a tiny group of students with a big project, we’ve grown to a team of over 70 active members. Not only do we have a large number of engineering students of every specialization, members from unexpected disciplines and outside of TMU have also joined us along the way.

Through early mornings, sleepless nights, and every heavily caffeinated moment in between, a common passion for rocketry has become so much more for everyone at MACH.

Team Leads

  • Umar Shabbir

    Team Director

  • Yiwei Luo

    Technical Director

  • Mykola Sydorenko

    Combustion Dynamics Lead

  • Ben Kubica

    Combustion Dynamics Lead

  • William Pirie

    Combustion Dynamics Lead

  • Shivesh Maraj

    Propellant Management Lead

  • Rui Fernandes

    Propellant Management Lead

  • Rochelle Suarez-Tapanes

    Propellant Management Lead

  • Georgia Jovanovic

    Transfer & Control Lead

  • Kai Stewart

    Transfer & Control Lead

  • Daniel Ibanescu

    Transfer & Control Lead

  • Mark Paul

    Transfer & Control Lead

  • Jack Sinclair

    Safety Lead

  • Liana Farzaneh

    Business Development Lead

  • Laxan Puveendran

    Finance Lead

The development of liquid rocket engines has been an incredible and ongoing journey for all of us. Every subteam offers experiential learning, industry knowledge, professional connections, and countless other opportunities and experiences we’ve never found in our classes, internships, or any other team.

Subteams

Propellant Management

  • Using extensive research, calculations, and hands-on experience, the PM subteam develops all the hardware used to directly support the engine. A robust and failsafe propellant system and other supporting ground infrastructure are absolutely critical to the safe and successful operation of Borealis, GAR-E and all subsequent engines.

    Currently, the PM subteam is working on assembly, testing, and integration of the propellant system, propellant stand, and thrust stand. This subteam will be developing flightweight propellant systems after Borealis, using self-pressurizing supercharged nitrous oxide and common bulkhead tanks, as well as potentially cryogenic propellant systems for kerolox. They will also work closely with the future aerostructures team to develop structural tanks.

    This subteam offers extensive experience in industry practices, hydraulic & pneumatic systems, aerospace valves & actuators, finite element analysis & computational fluid dynamics, pressurized systems & procedure, tool use, and much more.

Combustion Dynamics

  • Using calculations, published references, and simulations, the Borealis was meticulously designed, then redesigned, and redesigned, and redesigned… until it became the engine we have now.

    Currently, the CD subteam is working on manufacturing the engine, developing testing procedures, and integrating it with the other subsystems, as well as concurrent development of flightweight engines. After our first hot-fire, they will continue conducting engineering tests and combustion research using Borealis, GAR-E and subsequent engines.

    This subteam offers extensive experience in novel research, parametric design, finite element analysis & computational fluid dynamics, rapid prototyping, material science, industry practices, computer aided design, design for manufacturing, and much more.

Transfer & Control

  • Working alongside CD and PM, the T&C subteam designs all of the extensive electrical hardware and software systems needed for Borealis, GAR-E and future engines. A liquid rocket engine is an extremely complex system requiring accurate and reliable control of ignitors, valves, actuators, and telemetry to safely and reliably operate. As the Borealis is an instrumentation engine that will continue to be used for research, the necessity for high-quality data collection makes the T&C subteam even more critical.

    Currently, the T&C subteam is sourcing, integrating, and testing the data collection, control, and communication systems for our various tests leading up to the hot-fire. This subteam will be developing flightweight and avionics-integrated engine control systems after GAR-E.

    This subteam offers extensive experience in scientific data acquisition, signal processing, sensor systems, aerospace hardware integration, industry communication standards, real-time control & telemetry, mission-critical systems, circuit & PCB design, physical & radio communications, and much more.

Safety & Logistics

  • The goals of this subteam are straightforward, but the tasks to accomplish them are expansive and ever-changing. Rocketry is a field with very high risks, and the Safety subteam is essential to minimize those risks and ensure MACH’s continual operation and compliance with international standards.

    Currently, the Safety subteam is heavily involved in creating documentation, procedure, risk assessment, and training for our upcoming tests, as well as procuring the necessary protective and communications equipment to carry them out. This team will continue ensuring our flawless safety record for all current and future projects.

    This subteam offers extensive experience in industry standard practices & tools in risk management, reliability modeling, standard operating procedures, logistics management, legal & CGP compliance, cybersecurity, first aid training, radio operations, and much more.

Business Development

  • Rocketry is an extremely costly endeavor in time, money, and talent without immediate potential for profit. The BizDev subteam is indispensable to ensure MACH has the financial, technical, and intellectual support we need to become one of the few student teams and companies to develop a liquid rocket engine.

    Currently, the BizDev team is recruiting and onboarding new members, securing funding and sponsorships, and overhauling our online presence, as well as developing industry connections to support our other subteams. They will also work with the technical subteams to determine our best options for aerostructure integration and future engines.

    This subteam offers extensive experience in project management, technical communication, financial management, public outreach, startup fundraising, legal compliance, research applications, and much more.