Sushanth KantharajuSK

Mechanical engineer, Adelaide

Sushanth
Kantharaju

I make production equipment faster, write the procedures that keep it that way, and model airflow when the answer is not obvious.

Master of Engineering (Aerospace), University of Adelaide. Full working rights in Australia.

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Potential flow around a cylinder, coloured by speed. Move your pointer to drag the body. slowerfaster

Work, sorted for your role

Seven pieces of work from industry, research and placements. Pick what you are hiring for and the most relevant ones move to the top.

I am hiring for

    The packaging step was the slowest point on the line. I redesigned the equipment, built the new component myself, confirmed the result, then fitted the same design to two more production lines.

    • Redesigned the equipment around a cantilever support, cutting cycle time from 40 to 50 seconds down to 20 to 25 seconds per unit
    • Fabricated the new sheet metal component using MIG and TIG welding
    • Fitted the improved design to two more production lines after validation
    • Investigate equipment faults and complete root cause analysis on recurring problems
    • Maintain work instructions, preventive maintenance logs and compliance documentation, and coordinate with production teams and airline customers

    Heat seeking missiles track exhaust in the 3 to 5 micron band. I tested whether fins in the nozzle could mix the exhaust enough to lower that signature.

    • Modelled the baseline nozzle and five fin configurations at 1:1 scale in CATIA V5
    • Ran parametric CFD in ANSYS Fluent across fin number, height, thickness and inclination, with a grid independence study and validation against published data
    • Calculated infrared intensity with Planck's law, Wien's displacement law and the Stefan-Boltzmann equation
    • Best design: 6 rectangular fins, 4 mm high, 2 mm thick, at 30 degrees
    • Published in the International Journal of Mechanical Engineering (Scopus indexed, impact factor 2.1). Read the paper
    CATIA V5 model of an exhaust nozzle with fins inside
    Nozzle with fins, CATIA V5
    ANSYS Fluent temperature field of the exhaust plume, side view
    Exhaust temperature, ANSYS Fluent
    ANSYS Fluent temperature field of the exhaust plume, angled view
    Plume in 3D, ANSYS Fluent

    On the ground, an engine inlet can pull a vortex up from the surface. That risks ingesting debris and hurting compressor performance. I tested plate designs on an A320 inlet to break the vortex up.

    • Modelled the CFM56-5B inlet and ground plane to scale in CATIA V5 from published aircraft parameters
    • Designed three plate concepts, including a flat plate and a knife-type plate
    • Simulated airflow in ANSYS CFX across velocity ratios and inlet heights above the ground
    • The knife-type plate cut turbulence kinetic energy at the inlet plane by 45% and worked for crosswinds up to 15 knots
    • Published in a peer-reviewed engineering journal, co-authored with the project team. Read the paper
    CATIA V5 model of an Airbus A320 engine inlet
    A320 inlet, CATIA V5
    ANSYS CFX streamlines showing a vortex forming under the inlet
    Vortex forming at the inlet, ANSYS CFX
    ANSYS CFX streamlines around the inlet with a modified design
    Streamlines with the inlet at a lower height, ANSYS CFX

    I wrote and controlled the maintenance documentation that airline crews use on Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft, working from engineering inputs across several Airbus teams.

    • Authored maintenance procedures in SAP Arbortext to Simplified Technical English (ASD-STE100)
    • Verified part numbers and latest revisions in ENOVIA before referencing them in documentation
    • Processed engineering changes into publications, with revision control and peer verification before release
    • Used CATIA V5 to show assembly and disassembly sequences for parts and their connecting parts in procedures
    • Resolved documentation discrepancies with engineering teams in multiple countries

    After the equipment redesign, I moved on to making sure the work is done the same way every time and that every part can be traced.

    • Wrote three standard operating procedures with photographed steps: ironer mattress fitting and packing (in two parts, fitting then packing and labelling), Emirates cutlery pack assembly (7 steps) and face cloth rolling, tray packing and cold storage (10 steps)
    • Every procedure uses the same layout: purpose, tools and materials, safety notes, numbered steps and a final check before the work goes out
    • Safety notes come from the floor itself, such as clamp and heat sealer hazards, conveyor and emergency stop checks, and hygiene for items that touch food or guests
    • Assigning part numbers to the components of the mattress maker equipment, and classing the equipment as an assembly fixture in the scheme
    • Structuring each document so staff are trained consistently and engineering changes can be tracked through the part numbers
    First page of the Mattress Fitting and Packing Manual: purpose, tools and materials, safety notes
    Mattress fitting and packing SOP, first page
    First page of the Cutlery Pack Assembly Manual with a labelled diagram of the guide, plunger and base
    Cutlery pack assembly SOP, first page
    First page of the Face Cloth Rolling and Packing Manual: purpose, tools and materials, safety notes
    Face cloth rolling and packing SOP, first page

    Can a carbon nanotube coating turn ordinary polyurethane foam into a low cost sound absorber? I took it from design and fabrication through testing and analysis.

    • Designed and hand-fabricated carbon nanotube coated foam absorbers in 7.5 mm and 15 mm thicknesses
    • Wrote the test plan and tested on a BSWA SW 477 impedance tube across 800 to 6,300 Hz
    • Measured airflow resistivity with a Mecanum SIGMA instrument
    • Delivered within budget and wrote a 50 page scientific report covering method, results and conclusions
    Four foam absorber samples: 7.5 mm coated on one side, 7.5 mm both sides, 15 mm one side, 15 mm both sides
    Coated foam samples I fabricated
    Impedance tube test rig with speaker, microphones, sample holder and data acquisition
    Impedance tube test rig
    Chart of absorption coefficient against frequency, peaking near 0.8 at 2,000 Hz
    Absorption coefficient against frequency

    Four months in the turboshaft engine division of an aerospace manufacturing and overhaul organisation, on engines used in the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter programme.

    • Supported overhaul, assembly, inspection and functional testing of TM333-2B2 and Shakti turboshaft engines
    • Gained exposure to dye penetrant and magnetic particle inspection, heat treatment, gear shop machining and FADEC systems
    • Worked to airworthiness, traceability and quality procedures, and saw how complete maintenance records support each overhaul

    Background

    Where I have worked and studied, what I have published, and the courses I have completed.

    Experience

    • Jun 2025 to presentProcess EngineerNorth East Dry Cleaners, Adelaide. Commercial laundry and airline services.
    • Nov 2022 to Jun 2023Technical AuthorCapgemini, Bengaluru. Airbus A320 and A330 programmes.
    • Jan to Apr 2022Aircraft Engine Maintenance InternHindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bengaluru. Turboshaft engine division.

    Education

    • 2023 to 2025Master of Engineering (Aerospace)University of Adelaide
    • 2018 to 2022Bachelor of Engineering (Aeronautical)Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, Bangalore

    Publications

    • Reduction of IR detection by modifying the exhaust nozzleInternational Journal of Mechanical Engineering. Scopus indexed, impact factor 2.1. Read the paper
    • CFD analysis of an engine inlet for ground vortex preventionPeer-reviewed engineering journal. Read the paper

    Courses

    • Lean FoundationsLinkedIn Learning, 2026
    • Lean Six Sigma FoundationsLinkedIn Learning, 2026
    • Root Cause Analysis: Systemic Problem PreventionLinkedIn Learning, 2026
    • Aviation Safety and Human FactorsLinkedIn Learning, 2026
    • ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems, Internal AuditorUdemy, 2025
    • Core Quality Tools: FMEA, SPC and Control PlansUdemy, 2025
    • Document Control and Records Management FundamentalsUdemy, 2025
    • Aircraft Maintenance Planning and Records ManagementUdemy, 2025

    Skills, and where I used them

    Each tool is tied to work you can open above. The groups that match your chosen role stay bright.

    CAD and design

    CATIA V5
    Full scale nozzle and inlet models, and assembly illustrations for Airbus procedures
    SolidWorks, Fusion 360, AutoCAD
    Part modelling and engineering drawings

    Analysis and simulation

    ANSYS Fluent
    Thermal CFD of jet exhaust, with a grid independence study
    ANSYS CFX
    Airflow and vortex simulation at an A320 inlet
    Also
    FEA and structural analysis, thermal analysis, MATLAB

    Technical documentation

    SAP Arbortext
    Authoring Airbus maintenance documentation
    ENOVIA
    Checking part numbers and revisions before release
    Also
    Simplified Technical English (ASD-STE100), standard operating procedures, controlled document management, configuration and revision control

    Process and quality

    Root cause analysis
    Investigating recurring equipment faults at North East Dry Cleaners
    Preventive maintenance
    Maintaining logs and compliance documentation
    Also
    ISO 9001:2015 QMS, FMEA, SPC and control plans, Lean and Lean Six Sigma foundations

    Hands-on

    MIG and TIG welding
    Fabricated the redesigned sheet metal component
    Test rigs and instruments
    Impedance tube testing and airflow resistivity measurement
    Engine overhaul
    Turboshaft assembly and inspection exposure at HAL

    Contact

    Based in Adelaide and open to roles across Australia, with full working rights. Email is the quickest way to reach me.

    sushanthnaidu0603@gmail.com
    +61 451 958 308 linkedin.com/in/sushanth-kantharaju

    References available on request.