Jonah Kadoko

Staff Mechanical Engineer | Robotics | AI | Biotech

Engineering Philosophy

I am a Staff Mechanical Engineer driven by the challenge of bringing complex, high-stakes hardware from initial simulation to physical reality. Currently at Asensus Surgical (acquired by KARL STORZ), I lead the mechanical design of next-generation wristed surgical instruments for the LUNA robotic surgery platform. My approach balances rigorous computational analysis (FEA/CFD) with hands-on clinical validation, ensuring that every micron of precision serves a surgical purpose.

Professional Journey

Staff Mechanical Engineer

Asensus Surgical (KARL STORZ) | 2021 – Present

Leading the design and V&V strategy for the LUNA platform's wristed instruments. I own the full engineering lifecycle, from conceptualizing 5mm TrueWrist mechanisms to leading Design Opportunities reviews that drive root cause analysis for clinical prototypes. My work has supported nine surgeons in demonstrating instrument functionality across 13 unique procedures in live porcine models.

Senior Research Scientist

ABB | Previous Roles

Technology research on various topics to support business goals. Developed use-cases of additive manufacturing for industrial tooling and end-products, e.g., achieved a cost reductions through conformally-cooled 3D-printed mold inserts and design / manufacturing process improvements to high-voltage bushings through novel 3D printing technology. Designed automated cable bundling tools and EV charging robot prototypes. Conducted advanced thermal and computational modeling (FEA/CFD) for industrial power supplies to optimize heat dissipation and material usage.

Mechanical Design Engineer

Solectria Renewables

Mechanical design of commercial-grade solar inverters and combiner boxes from concept to global commercial launch. Focused on IP-rated enclosure design, electrical conductors, thermal management, and electrical wire harness assemblies.

Research & Publications

My work is grounded in academic rigor, with 10+ patents and 5 peer-reviewed publications in prestigious journals including the ASME Journal of Heat Transfer and IEEE Transactions.

  • • Master's Thesis: Investigation of gas diffusion-induced Cassie-to-Wenzel state transitions on structured surfaces.
  • • Additive Manufacturing: Research on fatigue behavior of hot isostatic pressed maraging steel.
  • • Material Science: Peer-reviewed work on the characterization of photocurable epoxy resins.

AI in Engineering

I am actively upskilling in AI agentic coding to build high-efficiency tools for engineering analysis. This AI research site and works show-cased herein, e.g., my Biotech-Analyzer project, demonstrate the power of combining deep domain knowledge with custom AI agents to accelerate research.

Entrepreneurial Streak

I bring an owner’s mindset to everything I build. I hold a Class A CDL and have operated a long-haul trucking business and custom furniture business. This non-traditional background provides a unique commercial and logistics perspective to product development.

Technical Expertise

Mechanical

  • FEA & CFD Simulation
  • GD&T / Tolerance Stack
  • Medical Robotics
  • Wristed Instruments

Product Development

  • Product Ownership
  • FDA 21 CFR 820
  • DFMEA / pFMEA
  • Root Cause Analysis

AI & Software

  • Agentic Coding / Orchestration
  • MATLAB
  • Python / Data Science
  • BigQuery Analytics

Manufacturing

  • Additive Mfg (AM)
  • Injection Molding
  • Enclosure Design
  • Process Validation