Technical foundation
My first technical role was at Auto-Chlor, servicing, installing, diagnosing, and refurbishing commercial dishwashing equipment across mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and chemical systems.
Hardware prototype engineering
Elton Santini builds the hardware that helps ideas survive the lab.
I build the harnesses, fixtures, debug tools, and embedded systems that make prototype hardware real for robotics, autonomous vehicles, and fast-moving R&D teams.
Prototype Build StackLive
HarnessCANHV BenchESD LabFixturesBOM
7+ yearsprototype and R&D hardware support
30+harnesses and cable assemblies released at DoorDash Labs
AV + roboticsDoorDash Labs, Wayve, Zoox, Nuro, Cruise, Waymo
Embeddedfull systems design released for Wayve
I specialize in turning incomplete engineering ideas into physical systems that can be built, tested, debugged, documented, and handed off. My work sits where electrical integration, mechanical fabrication, lab operations, sourcing, and practical troubleshooting meet.
About Me
Built by curiosity.
Repair it. Understand it. Give it a second life. Then build what comes next.
I was born in Brazil and grew up with limited resources, but I was always fascinated by machines, electronics, and robots. Building the things I imagined once felt out of reach. After coming to America, I found the tools and opportunities to reconnect with those early dreams and turn them into real systems.
Much of what I know is self-taught. I learn by taking things apart, studying how they work, experimenting, and troubleshooting until I find a solution. That instinct has carried me from field service into prototype hardware, robotics, and autonomous vehicles.
Personal workshop
My home lab is where I repair electronics, build battery packs, experiment with solar energy, fabricate furniture and shelving, install lighting, and develop practical systems for daily life.
Repair and repurpose
I restored several nonworking 3D printers and turned them into useful fabrication tools. I also designed an outdoor PVC misting system to make hot summer days more comfortable.
Featured Build
Portable CAN sniffer built for real bench debugging.
When an e-bike or prototype system needs fast network visibility, waiting on a full laptop setup slows everything down. I built a mobile CAN debug tool with live frame capture, configurable baud rates, on-device filtering, TFT visualization, and signal generation for validation work.
Standalone CAN captureOn-device filteringBench signal generationNo laptop required
Featured System
Automated monotub with embedded control and backup power.
Build Gallery
Real prototypes, fixtures, benches, and maker work.
Experience
Prototype work across robotics and autonomous systems.
DoorDash Labs
Prototype / Hardware Engineering Technician
Released 30+ harnesses and prototype cable assemblies, owned Raspberry Pi integration support, ESD workflows, BOMs, sourcing, test fixtures, and build documentation.
Wayve
Fleet Service Maintenance Technician
Released full embedded systems design for Wayve, built complex vehicle harness systems, prototype test benches, CAN/LIN diagnostic workflows, SOPs, and helped launch a new R&D service facility.
Zoox
R&D Engineering Technician - Propulsion and Central Test
Executed electrical and mechanical testing for propulsion and HV systems, improved test readiness with harnesses, fixtures, and validation tools.
Nuro, Cruise, Waymo
R&D / AV Technical Operations
Supported autonomous vehicle integration, diagnostics, retrofits, sensor and compute systems, field readiness, and fast feedback loops to engineering teams.
Capabilities
Built for teams that need clean hardware fast.
Available for
Prototype hardware buildsWiring harness designEmbedded systems bring-upCAN / LIN diagnosticsValidation fixturesR&D lab support
Hardware prototypingElectromechanical assemblyWiring harness designRapid HarnessCAN / LIN diagnosticsRoot cause analysisTest fixturesValidation benchesRobotics integrationEmbedded systems designSensors and computeSoldering and crimpingIPC 610 / 620ESD-safe lab operationsBOM managementProcurement3D printing and fabrication
Selected Projects
Diagnostic tools, fixtures, benches, and practical builds.
Portable CAN Bus Sniffer + Signal Generator
Arduino-based diagnostic tool with live CAN frame capture, TFT visualization, configurable baud rates, filtering, and bench signal generation for software validation.
CANDiagnosticsArduinoBench Validation
Harness Assembly Prototype Workflow
Designed and released harnesses using Rapid Harness, with clear separation of power, communications, and safety paths for prototype systems.
Rapid HarnessCable RoutingBOMsIntegration
CAN Fault Injection Box
Bench hardware for introducing controlled faults into vehicle and subsystem networks during diagnostics and validation work.
Fault InjectionValidationDebug Tooling
HV Charger Bench Jig
Small-system representation of larger high-voltage behavior, built to support repeatable bench testing and engineering checks.
HV SafetyTest FixturesPrototype Support
Lidar EOL Testing Booth
End-of-line booth for functionality checks and final validation support around lidar hardware before release or deployment.
SensorsEOL TestingQuality Checks
Bolt Characterization Thread Jig
CAD-designed and 3D-printed fixture for IPC457 testing, iterated until the fit and function matched the test need.
CAD3D PrintingFixture Design
Automated Monotub Embedded Control System
Personal embedded-systems build for environmental control and backup power, using a custom battery pack, protection electronics, and control hardware to reduce manual intervention.
Embedded SystemsBattery PackAutomationControls
Builder Mindset
Not just lab hardware. Systems thinking everywhere.
My portfolio also includes reclaimed-wood furniture, camper van work, a mobile planter, grooming-shop garage conversion support, IR sniffer experiments, and a fully automated monotub with embedded control and backup power. The thread through all of it is the same: make the system real, useful, serviceable, and better after every iteration.
ES2× Excellence
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