François has been a mechanical engineer at MBARI since 2010. He has been working on a wide range of oceanographic equipment including AUVs, ROVs, camera systems, and a wave energy converter. He is involved in all phases of product development, from concept to deployment in the field.

Using 3D modeling software, finite element analysis and other engineering tools, François designs mechanical components and assemblies. He supervises the fabrication of these systems, in collaboration with MBARI’s machinists and fabricators, or outside vendors. François spends a lot of time assembling and integrating new systems and testing them first in the lab, then at sea.

François is a certified scientific diver and regularly dives for MBARI, either to deploy instruments or to perform maintenance on them.

François holds a Master’s degree in industrial engineering and a Master’s degree in marine science.