The engineer behind the work
Adam Crimmins
Principal Engineer · Elemental Designs LLC
Background
Hello — I'm Adam. I'm a mechanical engineer based in San Diego with nearly a decade of experience spanning defense, marine technology, aquaculture, and data center infrastructure. My foundation is a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University, earned with a Dean's Scholarship through a co-op program that put me in real engineering environments from day one.
My career has taken me from designing waterproof electronics enclosures for torpedo test equipment at SAIC, to engineering autonomous vessel coupling systems for the Office of Naval Research at MDG, to leading hardware teams on offshore aquaculture platforms with Forever Oceans, to delivering thermally validated GPU expansion chassis for hyperscale data centers at One Stop Systems. That range is deliberate — I'm drawn to hard problems in demanding environments.
I'm an experienced draftsman with deep SolidWorks expertise across solid modeling, sheet metal design, and technical drawing packages. Configuration management for CAD data — revision control, PDM structure, and documentation discipline — is something I take seriously because clean data packages prevent expensive mistakes downstream.
What sets me apart from a purely desk-bound engineer: I go to the field. I hold a PADI Rescue Diver certification with over 100 dives and am fully comfortable supporting hardware deployments in marine and amphibious environments. I've commissioned equipment in Panama, tested marine robotics at sea, and validated systems under real operating conditions. I find deep satisfaction in seeing a concept survive contact with the real world.
I started Elemental Designs LLC to bring this breadth directly to hardware teams — especially early-stage startups that need senior-level mechanical judgment without the overhead of a full-time hire. Beyond the consultancy, I'm actively interested in returning to marine engineering: UUVs, AUVs, wave energy converters, and ocean-deployed systems are where my passion for technology intersects with my belief in a sustainable future.
Experience
- Designed and delivered custom PCIe expansion systems for scalable, data-center deployment of thermally validated high-performance GPUs.
- Led enclosure and thermal architecture integrating next-generation graphics cards with proprietary circuit boards into production-ready platforms for composable infrastructure.
- Led a team of engineers to design, automate, and commission offshore aquaculture equipment, advancing remote capabilities of deepwater feeding platforms.
- Increased feed system capacity 600% and improved cage coverage from under 1% to over 35% through simulation-driven design and rapid prototyping.
- Managed full project cycles from design through field integration and testing at remote marine sites.
- Designed and structurally analyzed a coupling mechanism enabling two free-floating vessels to establish mechanical and electrical connections autonomously in Sea State 3.
- Served as team representative in classified design reviews with the Office of Naval Research.
- Designed, fabricated, and field-tested marine robotics technologies for complex system-of-systems programs.
- Redesigned waterproof electronics enclosures and thermal mitigation strategies for integration into underwater vehicles.
- Managed torpedo test equipment technical data packages — 3D models, drawings, schematics, and requirements — for DOD approval.
Notable Work & Accomplishments
How I Work
Precision before production
Every design decision should be traceable to a requirement. Simulation and analysis exist to surface problems early — when changes are cheap and schedules are intact.
From the drawing board to the field
I don't just hand off designs — I validate them. With a PADI Rescue Diver certification and 100+ dives, I'm comfortable supporting hardware deployments in demanding environments, including offshore and amphibious operations.
Collaboration over transaction
The best engineering outcomes happen when the consultant becomes part of the team. I work to understand your constraints, your customers, and your goals — not just your spec.
A brighter future, enabled by technology
I'm passionate about technology that moves us toward a more sustainable world — from efficient data center infrastructure to wave energy converters and beyond. The hardware we engineer today shapes what's possible tomorrow.
Where I want to push next
Let's work together
Whether you need design validation, field support, or a full mechanical engineering engagement — tell us what you're working on.
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