Hello! Thank you for being here!

My name is Ciaran Rochling.

I am a Mechanical Engineer and University of Colorado Boulder graduate (B.S. Mechanical Engineering, December 2024) with a passion for engineering, science, and exploration. Originally from Nebraska, I moved to Colorado for school and quickly developed an appreciation for the mountains, outdoor adventure, and the dark skies of the American West.

My interests span both engineering and astronomy. Outside of professional work, I am an active astrophotographer and amateur astronomer, spending countless nights under dark skies capturing distant galaxies, nebulae, and other deep-sky objects. I also support astronomy and space outreach efforts through the Denver Astronomical Society (DAS), traveling to different communities of all ages (from three to ninety three), helping introduce others to the night sky and sharing the science behind our universe.

My engineering journey began long before college through competitive robotics. Over more than a decade, I accumulated over 8,000 hours of experience in the VEX Robotics program as a designer, builder, strategist, driver, team captain, and mentor. Through countless design iterations, competitions, and problem-solving challenges, robotics taught me the value of teamwork, adaptability, and engineering under real-world constraints. These experiences laid the foundation for my passion for systems engineering, rapid prototyping, and technical leadership.

Today, I continue to give back to the robotics community by mentoring students and sharing the lessons I learned throughout my competitive career. Since 2020 I have served as an engineering design and competition strategy mentor for my younger brother’s VEX Robotics team, 1028A WASHED. During the 2025–2026 season, they went on to win the 2026 VEX Robotics World Championship(!!).

Professionally, I enjoy solving complex technical problems and working at the intersection of design, manufacturing, and systems engineering. My experience includes mechanical design, product development, robotics, automation, prototyping, metrology, and engineering project leadership. During my time at the University of Colorado Boulder, I supported multidisciplinary engineering teams through the CU Boulder Mechanical Engineering Senior Design Capstone Program while also contributing to facility planning, laboratory operations, and manufacturing initiatives within the Idea Forge. Supporting the next generation of engineers and innovators has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my engineering journey!

My technical background includes CAD modeling, engineering analysis, rapid prototyping, and test development. I have experience with SolidWorks, CREO, MATLAB, Simulink, Ansys, LabVIEW, PixInsight, and a variety of manufacturing and metrology tools. I enjoy working across disciplines and am particularly interested in aerospace systems, robotics, optical design, automation, scientific instrumentation, and technologies that enable exploration and discovery.

My passion for space systems and astronomy in recent years has since evolved to include Space Situational Awareness (SSA), monitoring of minor planets, and citizen science in the form of spectroscopy, photometry, and astrometry. I also find my self closely following upcoming rocket launches at the professional and amateur level.

Whether I'm designing hardware, supporting engineering teams, mentoring students, or imaging distant galaxies under sprawling dark skies, I am driven by an endless curiosity and a desire to better understand how things work, and how they can be improved. The balance between technical precision and artistic expression inherent in astrophotography mirrors my approach towards engineering, combining rigor, creativity, problem solving, and curiosity in the pursuit of understanding and exploration.

Reach out! I’d love to go out for a night of stargazing! 🔭🌌