The Level Engineering team is an incredibly motivated and relentless group of Cal Poly engineers inspired by the 'Learn by doing' mantra.
Christopher D’Elia Engineer, President
PhD Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Davis
MS Mechanical Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
BS Mechanical Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Christopher has hands on experience in the development, testing, and manufacturing of complex multidisciplinary devices. Previous projects include precision linear actuator design, surface temperature measurements in a hybrid rocket nozzle for heat flux determination, and a complete hand-held orthopedic implant delivery system. Christopher has expertise in the development of test fixtures, data acquisition systems, and complex data analysis. He is proficient in SolidWorks®, CAMWorks®, and operating CNC milling machines. Christopher has experience developing with circuit design, PCB layout, and assembly. He programs in Java™, C, C++, MATLAB®, and Visual Basic. In addition, Christopher is also familiar with computational modeling techniques including finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics. Christopher is an inventor on 1 issued US patent.
Nicholas Bachus, Research and Development Program Manager
PhD Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Davis
MS Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Davis
BS Mechanical Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow
Nicholas possesses extensive experience in mechanical relaxation and diffraction‑based residual stress measurement techniques to characterize material performance. He earned his PhD from the University of California, Davis, where his research focused on the measurement and computational modeling of residual stress within metal additive manufactured components. During his time at UC Davis he also developed fracture mechanics solutions to aid fatigue testing of components containing residual stress. He has worked with several national laboratories including the Department of Energy Los Alamos, Sandia, and Lawrence Livermore labs, as well as the Department of Defense Air Force Research Laboratory. In addition, he has hands on experience wire electrical discharge machining (EDM) and CNC milling operations. His technical skills encompass a wide range of software tools, including SolidWorks®, Creo Parametric®, Abaqus®, Ansys®, MATLAB®, and Python.
Colton Westwood Engineer
BS Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Davis
Alex Hill Engineer
BS Mechanical Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe
Alex specializes in strain measurement, data acquisition, and mechatronic control systems. He derives his strain measurement and data analysis skills from lab experience supporting residual stress measurements, cyclic plasticity experiments, and developing load cells. He developed multidisciplinary electromechanical skills by programming controllers for a strain-based load frame, participating in FIRST robotics, and robotic arm capstone design project. Alex continues to expand his skills at Level Engineering through full life-cycle hardware development and testing. During his work he has onboarded several processes including the manufacturing of large diameter glass fiber optic cable chains and full operation of a thermal test chamber including various sensor arrays.
Trevor Metz Engineer
BS Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Davis
Trevor is knowledgeable in many areas of mechanical engineering including software development and mechatronics. Notable projects include the design and implementation of a PID speed control system on an electric bike, measurement of real world impact forces on a bicycle wheel for informing wheel impact energy specifications, and design of a rugged mounting system to support a suspension instrumentation setup on a mountain bike. He is experienced in CAD, 3D Printing, Python and Java Script software development, and data analysis and presentation in Matlab. Trevor’s skills include mechanical design, design for manufacturing, software development, data analysis and presentation, and instrumentation.
Charles Ringham Engineer
MS Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Davis to be conferred 2026
BS Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Davis
Charles is a mechanical engineer with a wide range of practical experience in design, manufacturing, and system integration. At Level Engineering, he supports both mechanical and electrical projects, with a focus on instrumentation, shop operations, and prototype assembly. He began with tolerance stack-up analysis and hardware assembly, then expanded into CNC machine operation, quality inspection, custom wire harness builds, and precision strain gauge installation. He also developed a comprehensive coolant maintenance tracking system and led a full IT infrastructure overhaul to meet compliance requirements. Charles is skilled in CAD, 3D printing, MATLAB, data analysis, and has recent experience in PCB design and assembly. He joined Level part-time during his final undergraduate quarter and transitioned to full-time immediately after graduation, working two years before shifting back to part-time while pursuing his Master’s degree at UC Davis.
Madeline Brown Engineering Intern
BS Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley (expected to be conferred 2028)
Madeline Brown is a mechanical engineer going into her second year of undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley, where she has focused on design, fabrication, and engineering ethics. She designs brakes and ergonomics components for the FSAE electric team and has experience in machining, CAD, and design for manufacturing. Madeline has also conducted research in environmental engineering and completed internships in agriculture equipment and design.
Meghan Sylvia Engineer
MS Mechanical Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
BS Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
Meghan is the backstop at Level Engineering. When we are up against a deadline, she is always around to make sure we meet the deliverables. Meghan is an experienced research and development engineer with practical hands on skills in instrumentation and data acquisition in the biomedical and electronics industries. She also has a wide skillset of manufacturing skills including CNC operation, machined part inspection, circuit board assembly, and even some TIG welding!
Richard D’Elia Co-founder, Retired
BS Mechanical Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
BS Manufacturing Process, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Richard D’Elia is a senior level engineer with over 15 years of experience in the medical device field. Currently, he is providing contract services to automate high end architectural components. Recent projects supported device developers and manufacturers in the San Francisco Bay Area involving assembly of complicated injection-molded parts. Previous experience includes designing and testing medical devices for blood processing and drug delivery. Richard has been a technical leader in developing an ambulatory insulin pump, automated glyceralization and deglyceralization system for long-term storage and reinfusion of red blood cells, and an automated portable apheresis system for blood component collection and separation. Some of Richard’s technical expertise includes continuous flow centrifugal blood separation, face seal tribology, fluid systems control, disposable device manufacturing and packaging, algorithm development, system integration, user interfaces, electromechanical design, infusion pump flow measurement, and system test methodologies. Richard is an inventor on 9 issued US patents.
Christopher D’Elia Engineer, President
PhD Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Davis
MS Mechanical Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
BS Mechanical Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Christopher has hands on experience in the development, testing, and manufacturing of complex multidisciplinary devices. Previous projects include precision linear actuator design, surface temperature measurements in a hybrid rocket nozzle for heat flux determination, and a complete hand-held orthopedic implant delivery system. Christopher has expertise in the development of test fixtures, data acquisition systems, and complex data analysis. He is proficient in SolidWorks®, CAMWorks®, and operating CNC milling machines. Christopher has experience developing with circuit design, PCB layout, and assembly. He programs in Java™, C, C++, MATLAB®, and Visual Basic. In addition, Christopher is also familiar with computational modeling techniques including finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics. Christopher is an inventor on 1 issued US patent.
Nicholas Bachus, Research and Development Program Manager
PhD Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Davis
MS Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Davis
BS Mechanical Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow
Nicholas possesses extensive experience in mechanical relaxation and diffraction‑based residual stress measurement techniques to characterize material performance. He earned his PhD from the University of California, Davis, where his research focused on the measurement and computational modeling of residual stress within metal additive manufactured components. During his time at UC Davis he also developed fracture mechanics solutions to aid fatigue testing of components containing residual stress. He has worked with several national laboratories including the Department of Energy Los Alamos, Sandia, and Lawrence Livermore labs, as well as the Department of Defense Air Force Research Laboratory. In addition, he has hands on experience wire electrical discharge machining (EDM) and CNC milling operations. His technical skills encompass a wide range of software tools, including SolidWorks®, Creo Parametric®, Abaqus®, Ansys®, MATLAB®, and Python.
Colton Westwood Engineer
BS Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Davis
Alex Hill Engineer
BS Mechanical Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe
Alex specializes in strain measurement, data acquisition, and mechatronic control systems. He derives his strain measurement and data analysis skills from lab experience supporting residual stress measurements, cyclic plasticity experiments, and developing load cells. He developed multidisciplinary electromechanical skills by programming controllers for a strain-based load frame, participating in FIRST robotics, and robotic arm capstone design project. Alex continues to expand his skills at Level Engineering through full life-cycle hardware development and testing. During his work he has onboarded several processes including the manufacturing of large diameter glass fiber optic cable chains and full operation of a thermal test chamber including various sensor arrays.
Trevor Metz Engineer
BS Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Davis
Trevor is knowledgeable in many areas of mechanical engineering including software development and mechatronics. Notable projects include the design and implementation of a PID speed control system on an electric bike, measurement of real world impact forces on a bicycle wheel for informing wheel impact energy specifications, and design of a rugged mounting system to support a suspension instrumentation setup on a mountain bike. He is experienced in CAD, 3D Printing, Python and Java Script software development, and data analysis and presentation in Matlab. Trevor’s skills include mechanical design, design for manufacturing, software development, data analysis and presentation, and instrumentation.
Charles Ringham Engineer
MS Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Davis to be conferred 2026
BS Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Davis
Charles is a mechanical engineer with a wide range of practical experience in design, manufacturing, and system integration. At Level Engineering, he supports both mechanical and electrical projects, with a focus on instrumentation, shop operations, and prototype assembly. He began with tolerance stack-up analysis and hardware assembly, then expanded into CNC machine operation, quality inspection, custom wire harness builds, and precision strain gauge installation. He also developed a comprehensive coolant maintenance tracking system and led a full IT infrastructure overhaul to meet compliance requirements. Charles is skilled in CAD, 3D printing, MATLAB, data analysis, and has recent experience in PCB design and assembly. He joined Level part-time during his final undergraduate quarter and transitioned to full-time immediately after graduation, working two years before shifting back to part-time while pursuing his Master’s degree at UC Davis.
Madeline Brown Engineering Intern
BS Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley (expected to be conferred 2028)
Madeline Brown is a mechanical engineer going into her second year of undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley, where she has focused on design, fabrication, and engineering ethics. She designs brakes and ergonomics components for the FSAE electric team and has experience in machining, CAD, and design for manufacturing. Madeline has also conducted research in environmental engineering and completed internships in agriculture equipment and design.
Meghan Sylvia Engineer
MS Mechanical Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
BS Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
Meghan is the backstop at Level Engineering. When we are up against a deadline, she is always around to make sure we meet the deliverables. Meghan is an experienced research and development engineer with practical hands on skills in instrumentation and data acquisition in the biomedical and electronics industries. She also has a wide skillset of manufacturing skills including CNC operation, machined part inspection, circuit board assembly, and even some TIG welding!
Richard D’Elia Co-founder, Retired
BS Mechanical Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
BS Manufacturing Process, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Richard D’Elia is a senior level engineer with over 15 years of experience in the medical device field. Currently, he is providing contract services to automate high end architectural components. Recent projects supported device developers and manufacturers in the San Francisco Bay Area involving assembly of complicated injection-molded parts. Previous experience includes designing and testing medical devices for blood processing and drug delivery. Richard has been a technical leader in developing an ambulatory insulin pump, automated glyceralization and deglyceralization system for long-term storage and reinfusion of red blood cells, and an automated portable apheresis system for blood component collection and separation. Some of Richard’s technical expertise includes continuous flow centrifugal blood separation, face seal tribology, fluid systems control, disposable device manufacturing and packaging, algorithm development, system integration, user interfaces, electromechanical design, infusion pump flow measurement, and system test methodologies. Richard is an inventor on 9 issued US patents.