Zachary Graham
Belleville,MI
Summary
Chemistry B.S. candidate (May 2026) and U.S. Navy submarine veteran seeking Engineer Intern, Quality Technician, or contract-to-hire role in materials engineering, battery chemistry, or advanced manufacturing. Direct experience with Rockwell/Vickers hardness testing, microstructure analysis, root-cause investigation, and battery systems monitoring at General Motors metallurgical lab and aboard fast-attack submarine.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Metallurgical Laboratory Technician
General Motors Co.
Romulus, MI
06.2024 - 08.2025
- Prepared and reviewed professional and technical reports regarding sampling and testing.
- Detected work-piece defects and machine malfunctions, maintaining apparatus to prevent future issues.
- Communicated with outside parties and laboratory management regarding test results.
- Maintained, calibrated, and troubleshot Rockwell hardness and Vickers traverse microhardness testers.
Service Tech / Sales Rep
Purewater NW
Poulsbo, USA
06.2022 - 12.2022
- Installed water purification systems both for household and commercial use.
- Worked independently and with a team troubleshooting water quality related problems and implementing solutions.
Fire Control Technician
US Navy
Guam, USA
12.2017 - 12.2022
- Operated, maintained, and served as Information Assurance (IA) System Administrator for the AN/BYG-1 combat control system; directly responsible for diagnosing and rebuilding failed nodes, installation of classified packages, and restoring cluster communication for the central nervous system that fuses sonar, radar, periscope, and electronic warfare sensor data into a single, real-time tactical picture used for navigation safety and mission execution.
- Performed electrical troubleshooting and maintenance on legacy and modern electrical systems and components; interpreted blueprints and one-line diagrams, conducted safety briefs on hazards (energized equipment, arc flash boundaries, confined spaces), and rigorously applied tag-out/lock-out procedures to ensure personnel and equipment safety.
- Qualified Fire Control Technician of the Watch (supervisory watch station), directly responsible for continuous validation of sensor accuracy, system integrity, and immediate discrepancy reporting to prevent navigation or collision hazards.
- Qualified Below Decks Watch (supervisory watch station), responsible for conducting in-port ship-integrity rounds verifying hydraulic/pneumatic pressures, control-surface positions, battery temperatures, trim/list angles, and atmospheric life-support parameters; identified and coordinated containment of out-of-spec conditions that could lead to flooding, fire, or uncontrolled sinking
- As divisional Repair Parts Petty Officer, managed critical spare parts inventory and expedited procurement to ensure 100 % weapons battery and control system readiness during deployed operations.
- Held Top Secret clearance, SCI eligible.
Hazardous Waste Assistant
Drug and Laboratory Disposal
Plainwell, USA
05.2016 - 09.2016
- As a seasonal warehouse worker filled many roles; unable to disclose details about operation due to NDA.
- Also helped with community 'household hazardous waste' pickup operations.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI05-2026
Key Technical Skills
- Rockwell & Vickers microhardness testing / calibration
- Metallographic preparation and optical microscopy
- Destructive testing, failure analysis and root-cause investigation
- Sensor/data fusion and real-time system validation
- Measurement system analysis (gage R&R) principles
- Control plans, layered process audits
- Electrical troubleshooting, tag-out/lock-out procedures, and safety protocols
- Chemical instrumentation and analysis
Relevant Coursework/Projects
Working with Dr. Wilmes at Eastern Michigan University, investigating poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM)-based copolymers to form invertible micelles capable of controlled reagent delivery and surface coating applications, with emphasis on greener solvent alternatives to dichloromethane (DCM). Research involves polymer synthesis, micelle characterization, thermodynamic analysis of phase transitions, and sustainable materials design.
Chemistry: General, Analytical, Physical, Organic, Biological, Polymers
Instrumentation: NMR spectoscopy (¹H, ¹³C, COSY, TOCSY, HSQC, HMQC, HMBC, NOESY/ROESY), Infrared and UV/Vis spectroscopy, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, Gas Chromatography, Flame Emission Spectroscopy
Analytical Techniques: Acid-base titrations, back titrations, complexiometric titrations (e.g., EDTA); calibration and use of ion-selective electrodes/probes (pH, sodium-ion, calcium-ion)
Accomplishments
Awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Timeline
Metallurgical Laboratory Technician
General Motors Co.
06.2024 - 08.2025
Service Tech / Sales Rep
Purewater NW
06.2022 - 12.2022
Fire Control Technician
US Navy
12.2017 - 12.2022
Hazardous Waste Assistant
Drug and Laboratory Disposal
05.2016 - 09.2016
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
Eastern Michigan University