Vinayak Khade is an Automotive Engineer and Ph.D. researcher at Clemson University specializing in Advanced Manufacturing and Automation. Working within the School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, his current research focuses on developing data-driven frameworks to facilitate zero-defect production in complex manufacturing environments.

He earned his M.S. in Automotive Engineering in 2020, specializing in Vehicle Manufacturing & Materials. During this time, he played a key role in the Deep Orange 11 program, designing a lightweight vehicle structure featuring metal AM (Additive Manufacturing) nodes and CFRP components that achieved a 16% reduction in mass. His expertise spans the intersection of structural optimization, 3D printing, and intelligent systems.