Melbourne, Australia ● High Voltage Systems
Athanasios Pirpiris
Electrical engineer with biomedical roots.
Masters of Electrical Engineering student at the University of Melbourne and High Voltage Electrical Engineer with MUR Motorsports, building the systems that put a student-designed electric race car on the track.
Profile
About
My path into engineering began in biomedical science. I completed the Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Scholars Program) at Monash University, a competitive research-focused stream that trained me to think in systems, from cellular signalling to whole-body physiology. Along the way I realised that the systems I most wanted to build were electrical ones.
I am now completing a Masters of Electrical Engineering at the University of Melbourne, graduating in 2027, with a focus on power electronics, embedded systems, and high-voltage design. As part of MUR Motorsports, the university's Formula SAE team, I work on the high-voltage systems of an electric race vehicle, including the accumulator, the safety systems, and the electronics that tie the powertrain together.
I also build things for the joy of it. Recent projects include an 8-bit computer wired from basic TTL logic with no microcontroller shortcuts, and 3D printers that I design, tune, and continuously improve as my own rapid-prototyping pipeline.
Outside the lab, I am active in Melbourne's Greek community. As Co-President of the Melbourne University Greek Association (MUnGA), I led a committee of more than twenty people to deliver the association's third consecutive sold-out annual ball.
01. Professional history
Experience
Engineering, leadership, and the community and industry roles that shaped how I work.
Current
Electrical Engineer (High Voltage)
MUR Motorsports designs, builds, and races an electric vehicle every twelve months for the Formula SAE-Australasia competition. On the High Voltage team I work on the systems that store and deliver the car's energy safely.
- Design and assembly of the tractive-system accumulator to FSAE EV regulations
- High-voltage safety architecture including isolation monitoring, interlock loops, and shutdown circuitry
- Battery management system integration with vehicle CAN communications, testing, and scrutineering preparation
Current
Co-President
Leading one of the university's largest cultural associations, with responsibility for the committee, the calendar, and the association's flagship events.
- Led a 20+ member organising committee across the 2025/26 term
- Delivered the third consecutive sold-out annual ball, covered by Neos Kosmos and The Greek Herald
- Budgeting, vendor negotiation, sponsorships, and stakeholder management
Event Staff
Supporting the delivery of large-scale community and cultural events for one of Australia's largest Greek community organisations, including front-of-house operations, logistics, and event-day coordination.
Earlier industry & community roles
A mix of construction industry exposure, creative studio work, coaching, and hospitality. These roles taught me to communicate clearly, work in teams of every shape, and deliver on commitments.
02. Educational history
Education
Two disciplines with one throughline: understanding complex systems well enough to build and improve them.
Current
Masters of Electrical Engineering (M.Elec.Eng)
Specialising in power systems and embedded electronics, with hands-on high-voltage experience through MUR Motorsports.
- Focus areas: power electronics, embedded systems, and high-voltage design
- Practical FSAE EV engineering alongside coursework
Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Scholars Program)
The B.Bmed.Sci(Scholars) is an enriched, research-focused stream for high-achieving students.
- Research writing within the Scholars Program, including a review of protein tyrosine phosphatases as anti-tumor therapeutic targets
- Systems-level training from cellular signalling to whole-body physiology
Melbourne Grammar School
A strong grounding in mathematics and the sciences, and a lasting appreciation for doing things properly.
03. Capabilities
What I work with
A toolbox that grows every semester.
⚡ Electrical & power
- High-voltage EV systems & accumulator design
- Battery management systems (BMS)
- Power electronics & motor control
- PCB design & schematic capture
- HV safety, isolation & FSAE EV rules compliance
💻 Embedded & software
- C/C++ for microcontrollers (Arduino)
- CAN bus & vehicle communication protocols
- Digital logic & computer architecture (TTL-level)
- Python for data analysis
- 3D printing & CAD/CAM design
🧬 Science & leadership
- Biomedical science & research methods
- Scientific writing & literature review
- Team leadership (20+ member committees)
- Event & project management
- Bilingual in English & Greek
04. Contact
Let's connect
For electrical engineering, Formula SAE, graduate opportunities, or the Greek community in Melbourne, feel free to reach out on LinkedIn or Instagram.
linkedin.com/in/athanasios-pirpiris-443357186 · @ath.pirpiris