David Emelu
B.Eng. Electrical Engineering, University of Victoria
Fourth-year electrical engineering student specialising in power systems, industrial automation, and embedded electronics. Three industry co-op terms across a kraft pulp mill and an electrical contracting firm: DCS migration, transformer condition assessment, MCC auditing, and project engineering delivery. UVIC Formula Racing accumulator team: PCB design for EV battery and thermal management.
Candidate Snapshot
Academic Record
2023
Present
University of Victoria
Bachelor of Engineering, Electrical Engineering (Co-op)
Victoria, British Columbia
Transfer admission from first-year engineering at Coast Mountain College. Active in the Electrical & Computer Engineering programme with specialisation in power systems and embedded control. Three industry co-op terms completed across a kraft pulp mill and an electrical contracting firm. Cumulative GPA 8.00 / 9.00.
2022-2023
Coast Mountain College
First-Year Engineering Transfer Programme, Terrace, BC
Terrace, British Columbia
Completed the engineering foundations curriculum: calculus, physics, chemistry, and introductory programming with strong academic standing. Selected as Digital Ambassador: featured in college news media and produced representational video content for the institution. Certificate of Completion awarded Spring 2023.
Engineering & Industrial Roles
Co-op
May – Aug 2025
Island Technical Installations
Project Engineering Co-op, Victoria, BC
Electrical Contracting / Commercial & Industrial Project Delivery
Project support role within an active electrical contracting environment, managing procurement, RFI tracking, and cost reporting across 10+ concurrent commercial and industrial projects. Contributed to ISO document control procedures and specification review for transformer and switchgear procurements.
- Reviewed transformer and switchgear specifications against vendor proposals for 10+ active projects, flagging dimensional, rating, and compliance discrepancies before procurement sign-off.
- Developed and maintained Excel-based procurement, RFI, and cost-reporting trackers; consolidated post-IFR financial data to produce 5+ project health reports.
- Authored ISO-aligned document control procedures and SOPs for technical deliverables workflow.
- Improved tracker visibility for project managers, reducing status turnaround time by approximately 30%.
Extracurricular
Jan 2025 – Present
UVIC Formula Racing
Accumulator Team, PCB & Electronics, Victoria, BC
FSAE Electric Vehicle / Accumulator & BMS Development
Technical member on the accumulator team responsible for PCB design, BMS wiring, and battery segment assembly for the university's Formula SAE electric vehicle. Working within a high-voltage engineering environment to SAE EV safety standards.
- Designed PCB circuits for accumulator electronic subsystems: schematic capture in Altium Designer, component selection, and layout review.
- Wired the Battery Management System (BMS) and Thermal Management System (TMS); verified voltage tap harness connections and sensor readings against design specifications.
- Assisted mechanical assembly of battery segment modules, checking cell alignment and electrical isolation per safety standards.
Co-op
Jan – Aug 2024
Canfor Northwood Pulp Mill
Electrical Engineering Co-op, Prince George, BC
Kraft Pulp Mill / 130 kV Distribution System, DCS, 500+ Motor Loads
Eight-month placement embedded in the electrical engineering team at an operating 130 kV kraft pulp facility. Delivered independent project work across DCS migration, transformer condition assessment, MCC auditing, VFD conversion, and PLC safety modification.
- Audited 150+ MCC assets across 15 motor control centers; revised electrical drawings, identified 10+ obsolete units, and documented corrections in the engineering drawing system.
- Migrated 120+ DCS instrumentation loops from obsolete PROVOX hardware to DeltaV M-Series marshalling racks; produced rack drawings, annotated conductor connections and cable tags.
- Led VFD conversion for two critical production systems from Mitsubishi A560 to A860 series: revised conversion wiring packages, procured option cards and pull-down resistor packs.
- Analysed oil-sample DGA reports for 10+ distribution and precipitator transformers; identified 5+ units at elevated failure risk with estimated downtime savings of CAD $400,000 annually.
- Rewired PLC controls for the B Diffuser hydraulic bypass system, adding a local selector switch to prevent unintended operation during maintenance.
Industrial
Summer 2023
Consultant S.L.B Inc (Rio Tinto)
Operational Support, Anode Plant, Kitimat, BC
Primary Aluminium Production / Industrial Operations
First direct exposure to large-scale industrial electrical infrastructure at one of Canada's primary aluminium smelting facilities. Operations centred on carbon anode casting within a high-temperature, safety-critical plant environment.
- Maintained anode plant casting operations, controlling carbon block temperatures within ±450°C of target and achieving 100% conformance to casting parameters over the term.
- Operated overhead crane and forklift for material handling in a high-temperature industrial environment under site safety protocols.
Engineering Work
Structured technical briefs for major course projects, independent work, and team engineering programmes. Each entry documents system type, tools used, problem statement, approach, and outcomes.
ENGR 121, Engineering Design and Drafting
Haisla Bridge, 2D Drafting and Rehabilitation Cost Estimate
System Type
2D structural documentation, field-survey to ANSI-compliant AutoCAD drawings
Tools & Env.
Software: AutoCAD · Field: tape measure + survey notebook · Standards: ANSI Y14.5 layering and annotation
Problem
The Haisla Bridge rehabilitation project required accurate 2D documentation of existing conditions and a material cost estimate for paint work before any design or procurement could proceed.
Approach
Conducted on-site field measurements of the bridge structure; transferred survey data to 2D AutoCAD drawings using ANSI-compliant layering and annotation conventions. Performed a detailed paint quantity take-off from the drawings to produce a material cost estimate for the rehabilitation scope.
Media
Add project video or demonstration link
Coast Mountain College, City of Terrace Engagement
Terrace Transit Ridership Analysis
System Type
Multi-route ridership dataset, statistical performance analysis against BC Transit service standard targets
Tools & Env.
Software: Microsoft Excel · Data: BC Transit ridership exports · Output: formal technical memorandum
Problem
The City of Terrace requested an independent analysis of BC Transit ridership data against the Service Standard and Performance Guidelines to inform transit planning decisions.
Approach
Processed multi-route ridership datasets provided by BC Transit; structured the data in Excel and calculated performance metrics against BCT service standard targets. Identified routes and time periods with statistically significant ridership shortfalls; compiled a formal technical memorandum submitted to the City of Terrace for planning review.
Media
Add project video or demonstration link
Engineering Skill Set
Each item notes where the tool or method was applied: co-op, coursework, or project.
Power & Electrical Systems
Embedded & Real-Time Systems
Simulation & Software Tools
Professional & Field Skills
Activities
UVic
2025–Pres.
Vice President, Equity
ECE Students' Society (ECSS), University of Victoria
Elected executive role responsible for EDI policy and programming within the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science. Led the student delegation to the Engineering EDI Conference; conducted a competitive selection process across 15+ applicants and authored a post-conference policy report adopted by the student society. Coordinates faculty committee participation, high-school outreach, and cross-stakeholder institutional governance.
UVic
2025–Pres.
Accumulator & Electronics Member
UVicX Formula Racing, Formula SAE Electric
Technical member responsible for accumulator system and electronics design on the university's Formula SAE electric vehicle programme. Practical application of high-voltage battery engineering, BMS and TMS wiring, PCB schematic capture in Altium Designer, and iterative hardware development within a team design environment to SAE EV ruleset compliance.
UVic
2024–Pres.
Vice President
African & Caribbean Students' Association, University of Victoria
Executive committee member supporting strategic planning and event programming for African and African-diaspora students at UVic. Assumes executive authority in the President's absence; mediates internal disputes and maintains team cohesion. Collaborates with the UVic Student of Colour Collective (SOCC) on joint funding applications. Contributes to student well-being and campus belonging beyond the engineering programme.
CMC
2022–2023
Digital Ambassador
Coast Mountain College, Terrace, BC
Selected to represent the college in digital media. Featured in a published news article on the college website and produced a YouTube video as part of the Digital Ambassador programme, communicating student experience and institutional values to prospective students. One of a small cohort selected from the student body for this representational role.
Contact
Available for co-op and full-time electrical engineering roles from May 2026. Preference for power systems, industrial controls, and electrical design; open to other EE domains.
Open to hybrid and remote roles, based in Victoria, BC.