Teddy Polkosnik

I'm an engineer who enjoys the challenge of taking complex ideas and pushing them through development and testing. I’m currently at NYU studying Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, but I spend most of my time either in our maker garage or running test operations. Most of my engineering experience has centered around propulsion, fluids, and heat transfer, with a strong focus on designing and testing high-pressure and high-temperature fluid systems. 

I founded NYU’s first hybrid propulsion program, focusing on a safer, modern, and experimental Nitrous Oxide/Paraffin system fully custom built in-house. While building I have had to wear every hat, being the lead engineer defining the overall vehicle and propulsion system requirements, fluids modeling, to writing the P&ID and CONOPS for safe operation. 

Last summer I spent time at Radiant Industries where I was responsible for designing and developing the qualification testing for the reactor safety system which was made of a pneumatics panel and high temperature valves. I drove test requirements, success criteria, designed a test plan, and created an automated test stand to run operational cycle life and high temperature testing. All following Nuclear standards and getting buy off from both nuclear and mechanical engineering leadership.

I have lots of experience in 

• Fluids Design and Modeling -> P&ID Modeling, REFPROP, Dual Phase Fluid Modeling, Compressible Flow

• Manufacturing Methods -> CNC & Manual Machining, Metal 3D Printing, Waterjet, Composite Layups

• Test Operations -> High Temperature Testing, Pneumatic and Hydrostatic Testing, Cycle Life Testing, Accelerated Life Testing, Ejection Charge Testing, Material Testing 

I enjoy applying unconventional thinking to solve complex engineering problems.

One of the biggest achievements I took on was founding and leading NYU's first experimental Hybrid Propulsion Rocket Program at Rogue Aerospace. From the start, I was responsible for defining the entire propulsion system architecture, running fluids modeling to predict performance, and designing the Oxidizer tank.

Beyond the core design, a successful program requires planning and testing. I took the lead on creating all critical documentation, including the design presentations, P&ID's ,and CONOPS to have clear procedures for standardized testing. We are currently proving the design through a comprehensive testing sequence (Expected Spring 2026): hydrostatic testing to verify our designed pressure vessels, cold flow testing to validate injector performance, all leading to our planned static fire testing in April. 

At Radiant, I was a Thermo-Fluids Test Engineering Intern where I owned qualification testing for the reactor safety pneumatics system which includes the high-temperature butterfly valves and pneumatic actuators that function to cool the reactor down after shutdown. I designed and instrumented an automated test stand to run hot venting, temperature cycling, leak tests, and accelerated life testing. 

To ensure the tests were representative of the requirements and operational environments, I performed heat-transfer, gas-dynamics, and structural analysis using both spreadsheet calculations and FEA, created P&IDs, and drove test requirements. During the project, I worked directly with valve and actuator manufacturers to clarify specifications and solve test design questions. I delivered design reviews and qual test plans that are now used as reference examples for future test campaigns. 

The role gave me real ownership of a complex hardware test program and exposed me to multiple facets of test engineering like high temperature fluid systems, instrumentation, data analysis, procedures, and hands-on test execution.

As the Prototyping Director for EG1004 I oversee the strategic development and practical implementation of hands-on, project-based learning experiences for all first-year engineering students. My primary responsibility is to design and manage the course's prototyping component, ensuring that all projects contain core engineering principles and use common design methodologies, to help students create tangible solutions. This involves leading and training a team of student assistants and TAs who run the EG-1004 workshops, providing essential guidance on tooling, fabrication techniques, and the critical process of iterative design. I also manage the course's prototyping labs and resources, which utilize technology such as microcontrollers, 3D printing, and basic mechanical fabrication.

Documentation I created to help students and makers:

• Bambu Studio Guide

• Battle Bots Project Proposal

• Sensors and Component Guide