Design Engineer

Celebi YILDIRIM

Hi, I'm Celebi, a mechanical design engineer based in Hamilton, New Zealand, with 15+ years across defence, marine, rail, and machinery manufacturing. I cover the full product lifecycle, from concept and R&D through detailed design in SolidWorks, compliance, testing, and delivery, and I design the jigs, fixtures, and production equipment that make products efficient to build. I'm hands-on from prototype builds and field trials to shop-floor production support, and a Certified Machinery Safety Expert (CMSE®) experienced in CE marking and safety standards including ISO 12100 and ISO 13849.

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About

The Engineer
Behind the Work

I'm Celebi, a mechanical design engineer with a strong focus on combining technical expertise and practical problem-solving. My work centres on delivering reliable, efficient, and well-engineered solutions, covering the full engineering lifecycle from concept design and detailed engineering to prototyping, certification, and on-site implementation.

I bring extensive experience in mechanical design, project management, and cross-functional collaboration, working closely with teams, stakeholders, and clients to achieve technically sound and commercially viable outcomes. I particularly excel in projects that require strategic planning, attention to detail, and a comprehensive approach to design and engineering. Since relocating to New Zealand in 2018, I have been actively contributing to engineering projects while continuing to expand my professional expertise and industry knowledge. Outside of my professional work, I place a high value on family. My wife and young son are my greatest inspiration, and I aim to maintain a healthy balance between professional growth and family life. They keep me motivated and grounded, reminding me of what truly matters.

Celebi Yildirim at IDEF defence industry fair

15+

Years of Experience

Countries of Practice

10+

Major Projects

Based in Hamilton

Core Competencies

Mechanical Design Engineering
SOLIDWORKS, CATIA V5 & AutoCAD
Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
Certified Machinery Safety Expert (CMSE)
CE Marking & Regulatory Compliance
Design for Manufacture & Assembly (DFMA)
Prototyping & Product Testing
Reverse Engineering & 3D Scanning
System Design, Project Management & Coordination
Cross-Functional / Stakeholder Communication

Capabilities

What I Can Do For You

Beyond a record of past projects, here is the value I bring to an engineering team — from first concept through to certified, delivered product.

End-to-End Mechanical Design

I take mechanical projects from concept through detailed design to production-ready drawings — working fluently across SOLIDWORKS / CATIA V5, and AutoCAD / Rhino 3D to deliver complete, manufacturable systems, not just individual components.

Analysis, Validation & Testing

I validate designs before they're built — using finite element analysis, prototyping, and structured test programs to prove performance, then reverse-engineering and 3D-scanning where existing parts or legacy designs need to be brought into the digital workflow.

Safety, Compliance & Certification

As a Certified Machinery Safety Expert (CMSE), I design to meet machinery safety and regulatory requirements from the outset — building compliance and design-for-manufacture into the product rather than retrofitting it, and taking products through full certification, as I did securing CE marking for Hansa's EU chipper range.

Project Delivery & Communication

I lead projects across engineering, production, and client teams — coordinating schedules, resources, and technical workflows to deliver on time and to specification, as Project Leader Engineer on international programs such as the Feadship Como superyacht.

Experience

Career Timeline

Ark Security Ltd

Hamilton, NZ

Feb 2023 – Present

Owner and design engineer applying mechanical engineering expertise to system design, installations, and project management. Hands-on across diagnostics, system integration, and client-focused delivery while managing business operations.

Ark Security Ltd

Hansa Products Ltd

Hamilton, NZ

Jul 2018 – Feb 2023

Mechanical design engineer for a leading New Zealand chipper manufacturer. Responsible for product development, design enhancements, prototyping, and improving production efficiency through innovative jigs, fixtures, and workflow optimization.

Hansa Products Ltd

Turkiye Roles

Turkiye

2010 – 2018

Extensive mechanical design and project management experience across prestigious national and international projects, including:

ALTAY Main Battle Tank Project – mechanical design for key subsystems of Turkey’s first national main battle tank
Robotics & Autonomous Vehicles – design and prototyping for commercial and military unmanned vehicles
International Glazing Projects – full project management for marine, railway, and architectural glazing, coordinating engineering, production, and delivery for clients in multiple countries

BCE Glass Industry Ltd Otokar Automotive and Defense Industry Inc.Gate Electronics Inc.

Projects

Selected Work

CE CertificationTest EngineeringStandards Compliance

Hansa Wood Chipper CE Certification

Hansa, New Zealand

Hansa manufactures 2–64 hp wood chippers in New Zealand and was expanding into the Australian and European Union markets during my time with the company. I led the CE certification process for all models destined for the EU. This involved reviewing all relevant AU/EU machinery standards and legislation under the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC (now transitioning to the Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230) — including EN 13683 for the integrally powered garden/bench-class chippers (both petrol and electric variants) and EN 13525 for the larger forestry-class machines — designing the required custom test jigs and apparatus, carrying out the full test program, and documenting every stage to meet compliance requirements. After successfully completing the testing and reporting, I secured CE certification for the product range, enabling Hansa to grow in the EU market.

Transit EngineeringGlass DesignManufacturing Support

Istanbul Ulaşım RTE T4 – 1st Indigenous Tram

BCE, Turkiye

Istanbul Ulaşım A.S., a government-owned transportation company, designed Turkiye's first Indigenously produced tram for the RTE T4 line. I worked with their engineering team to deliver the full glazing package for the vehicle. My primary responsibility was designing the control cab's glass panels, including several heated and complex-geometry windshield units that were challenging to manufacture, designed to meet EN 15152 (Railway applications — Windscreens for trains), which governs the optical, impact, and residual-visibility requirements for rail and tram windscreens. Despite the technical difficulties, I successfully completed the design and supported production to ensure all panels met the required performance, safety, and quality standards. The project was delivered with excellent results, and the tram entered service with fully compliant and reliable components.

SuperyachtProject ManagementISO 11336-1

Feadship Como Superyacht (688) Glazing in NL

BCE, Turkiye

Feadship Como is a 46-metre superyacht designed by Dubois and built by De Vries Aalsmeer in the Netherlands, where BCE was responsible for delivering the complete glazing package. The project featured double-curved, chemically tempered glass (an extremely complex material to certify, measure, and manufacture) making it one of the more challenging glazing scopes in the industry. As the Project Leader Engineer during the design phase, I coordinated resources, schedules, and technical workflows to ensure precise execution and high-quality results. Despite tight timelines and the technical difficulties of the glass geometry, we successfully delivered the glazing system on time and to full client specifications. To meet Feadship's expectations for reduced glass thickness, I also designed two hydrostatic test machines in accordance with ISO 11336-1, enabling us to validate performance using advanced methods. The Feadship team was highly satisfied with the final outcome.

Defence EngineeringSystems DesignMechanical Subsystems

ALTAY Main Battle Tank Project

Otokar, Turkiye

I contributed as a mechanical systems designer for the ALTAY Main Battle Tank, Turkiye's first indigenous main battle tank project. The project involved the design and production of four complex vehicles to meet the tactical and technical requirements of the Turkish Armed Forces. During the project, I was responsible for designing three key mechanical subsystems, including the Fire and Explosion Suppression System and the Water Crossing systems, which were successfully produced and integrated. This challenging and high-profile project required precision, problem-solving, and collaboration under tight deadlines, and I received commendations from both the military and my managers for my contributions. As a classified defence program, the specific technical standards and specifications applied remain subject to confidentiality.

ROV DesignUnderwater SystemsConcept to Manufacture

Gelibolu – Turkiye's First Indigenous Work-Class ROV

GATE Elektronik, Turkiye

Gelibolu is Turkiye's first Indigenously developed work-class Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). During my time at GATE Elektronik, I was responsible for the entire mechanical design, including component development, assembly layouts, production drawings, and design-to-manufacture support. All production drawings were prepared to standard engineering drawing and tolerancing conventions (such as ISO 2768 for general tolerances and ISO 286 for limits and fits on shafts, bearings, and manipulator-arm joints). Gelibolu was showcased at the IDEF 2011 International Defence Industry Fair in Istanbul, where it attracted significant attention. One of the highlights of the event was a visit by the 11th President of the Republic of Turkiye, Abdullah Gül, who viewed the Gelibolu ROV during his tour.

My Engineering Contributions:

Led the mechanical development from concept to manufacturing, including selection and sourcing of components (prioritising Indigenous suppliers)
Design of several subsystems such as underwater robotic manipulator arms, thrusters, torches, cameras and full mechanical design of the complete work-class ROV
Technical documentation, production drawings, and coordination with manufacturing teams

Gallery

A selection of photos from projects and work over the years.