Arif Ali

Mechanical Engineer and AI/ML Specialist with 3+ years of experience integrating structural design,
propulsion engineering, and data-driven intelligence to develop advanced autonomous systems. Delivered bespoke UAV platforms for civil and defence applications, incorporating lightweight composites, hybrid propulsion, and AI-enabled flight autonomy. Skilled in Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, SQL, and statistical modelling, with deep expertise in machine learning, deep learning, data analytics, and visualization. Experienced in transforming complex engineering and operational data into actionable insights and uniting hardware with software to create robust, explainable, and mission-ready solutions. Committed to advancing AI-driven engineering with a particular focus on healthcare and cross-disciplinary innovation.

I am a Mechanical Engineer and AI/ML Specialist with over 3 years of professional experience at the intersection of engineering design, autonomous systems, and artificial intelligence.

Independent UAV Engineer (Jan 2020 – Feb 2024, Bangalore, India)

• Designed and delivered 15 custom UAV platforms (quadcopters and fixed-wing drones) for civil and defence applications.
• Integrated AI/ML-driven autonomy, object detection, and navigation systems.
• Conducted full flight-testing and optimization, improving stability and control algorithms.
• Engineered structural innovations achieving 18% weight reduction using carbon-fibre and titanium composites.
• Led development of a hybrid-electric propulsion system and an aquatic drone for marine search-and-rescue.
• Created technical documentation and conducted client training programs for UAV operation and safety.

Engineering Intern – Mechanical Department, Rail Wheel Factory (Jun 2022 – Aug 2022, Bangalore, India)

• Supported manufacture and inspection of railway wheelsets, ensuring adherence to precision tolerances.
• Oversaw CNC machining and quality control, reducing defects by 3%.
• Analyzed casting stress data for dissertation research.
• Conducted ISO:9001-compliant safety and QA audits maintaining a zero-incident record.

Engineering Intern – Drone Development, Ezenith (Jan 2018 – Feb 2018, Bangalore, India)

• Designed and tested a fixed-wing UAV prototype through 18 flight trials.
• Assembled hardware modules and optimized flight control systems, improving setup time by 35% and flight stability by 25%.

Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence
Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (Aug 2024 – Expected Nov 2025)

• Focus on AI ethics, machine learning, neural networks, big data, and robotics.
• Dissertation: “Data-Enabled Mental Health: Exploring ML Models for Screening and Predicting the Severity of Depression.”

Bachelor of Engineering in Automobile Engineering
Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belgaum, India (Aug 2019 – Jan 2024)

• Coursework in propulsion systems, control systems, finite element analysis, and computational modelling.
• Dissertation: “Residual Stress in Castings” – supported by an internship at the Indian Railways’ Rail Wheel Factory.