I'm Kaelan,
an Engineer
Hi, my name is Kaelan (/ˈkeɪlən/) Grafton and I am a design engineer with a strong background in aerospace. I have a passion for designing and building products, and have worked on a variety of projects throughout my career. I am always looking for new challenges and opportunities to learn and grow as an engineer.
About Me
From autonomous underwater vehicles, to advanced aircraft design, and the future of space travel I’ve had the opportunity to work on it all!
Multi-disciplined engineer with diverse project experience.
I was born in London but grew up in Cape Town, where I developed a love for the outdoors and activities like sailing, hiking, mountain biking, and scuba diving.
After high school, I started my journey into engineering as a technician, completing a diploma and apprenticeship developing and manufacturing SATCOM antennas.
Working with amazing engineers ignited my passion to further my engineering studies, and so I pursued a BSc. (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cape Town, the oldest extant University in Sub-Saharan Africa, located on the slopes of the famous Table Mountain.
Having achieved a 1st class pass for my degree, I went on to do an MSc. in Aerospace Vehicle Design at Cranfield University – world renowned for its work in the aerospace field.
In my free time, you can find me reading, tinkering with new projects, or learning new skills (like building this website).
A Few of My Skills
I love learning new skills, but here are a couple of things I already know how to do.
Computer Aided Design
I am proficient at 3D modelling, and 2D technical drawings in a number of suites like Siemens NX, and Solidworks.
Putting the upfront work into designing parametric models allows for quick and easy modifications, or part family creation. My drawings are produced to BS8888 specifications, and I have good working knowledge of GD&T.
Communication
Engineering is hard, so work together! Being able to convey abstract and deeply technical concepts is the first step to collaborative work, and where I excel at.
Through the use of 1-pager explanatory notes, or hour long white-board sessions I achieve clear and concise communication with my team members.
Modelling
Being able to predict how systems or parts will function in the real-world is the best way to iterate through designs in a cost and time efficient manner.
I accomplish this through the use of hand calculations, Python and MATLAB scrips, as well as more advanced computer models .
Work Experience
A few highlights of the projects I’ve been privileged to work on.
I am responsible for the design of mechanical systems and components to meet technical and industry certification requirements. This includes leading conceptual design, analysis, and trade studies to inform and influence the vehicle architecture, as well as identifying materials, manufacturing processes, and suitable COTS components to achieve design aims.
As the project lead for the physical vehicle architecture, I was responsible for owning, tracing, and maintaining requirements that affect the physical design and manufacture of the system. I worked in a multidisciplinary team with electronic, systems, software, and manufacturing engineers, and contributed to the design, sizing, and refinement of sub-systems and individual mechanical components.
The PYRAMID Reference Architecture is a reusable and open core mission system architecture for current and future systems. I utilized Model Driven Architecture to develop a reusable and adaptable system of systems, and created models of systems using the PTC Integrity Modeller toolset with a combination of UML and SysML modelling languages. I also generated executable code from these models.
I developed software, using MATLAB Simulink, based on derived requirements for the engine control system. I also integrated software changes with a physical test rig, allowing for rapid testing and verification. I wrote test procedures for software verification and ensured traceability with requirements. Additionally, I integrated high-fidelity dynamic models that replicate engine performance into a desktop environment where it can be tested alongside the engine control software.
My Portfolio
A few photos I took
