About Me

Justin Zacharia

Hi, I’m Justin Zacharia. Ever since I was little, I have been interested in how things work, especially if it involves mechanical systems or a chance to build something. Whether it was taking apart everyday objects, sketching ideas for rides, or learning how to make something work just a little better, I have always been interested in the design of the world around me. This is what led to my passion for roller coasters and engineering projects.

Today, I’m a Mechanical Engineering student at Purdue University and a member of the John Martinson Honors College majoring in mechanical engineering and minoring in themed entertainment design. My background consists of CAD modeling in SolidWorks, Fusion and Siemens NX, CNC machining, laser cutting, product data management, and rapid prototyping. My internship with Bohler strengthened my technical precision from the civil engineering side by working on site plans, truck turn analyses, construction documents and concept layouts for large scale developments like Costco, Brookfield and Walmart.

I’m also involved in the Theme Park Engineering & Design Club at Purdue where I’ve worked on coaster themed design challenges, full working ride models, themed entertainment design competitions, concept generation and engineering documentation.

Outside the classroom, I’ve invested hundreds of hours in leadership and service, from tutoring younger students, to teaching piano to students of all ages through non-profit organizations. These roles have improved my communication, teamwork and project management skills which I carry into every engineering challenge.

Every day, I’m excited to learn more, take on new problems and push myself toward a career in ride engineering whether I’m building, analyzing, designing or dreaming up the next project that brings people joy.