James Clarke

Mechanical Engineering Graduate (Cum Laude)

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

About

I am a recent Mechanical Engineering graduate from Stellenbosch University, driven by a passion for applying systems thinking and analytical rigor to the world of finance. My engineering journey has honed my ability to break down complex problems, model scenarios and deliver practical solutions - skills I now aim to leverage in financial markets, investment analysis and strategic planning. • Awarded Merit Bursary (Top 5% Faculty) and ABSA Fellowship Scholarship for academic excellence. • Experienced across engineering internships, corporate banking exposure and a research project involving VR-based training simulations accepted for international conference submission. • Proficient in MATLAB, C++, C #, R with strong communication and presentation abilities (SAIMechE Award for Best Final Year Project Presentation). • Passionate about bridging engineering precision with financial insight, contributing to innovative solutions in investment banking, asset management and quantitative analysis.

Experience

  • Investment Banking Exposure Programme – ABSA Corporate & Investment Bank at Absa Group
    Jun 2025 - Jun 2025 · 1 mo

    Observed deal execution and trading activity; strengthened understanding of market analysis and execution processes.

  • Engineer Intern at City of Cape Town
    Jan 2025 - Feb 2025 · 2 mos

    Assisted technical assessment for DHL Stadium upgrade; supported research in planning, sustainability and procurement.

  • Workshop Engineer at Cellstop
    Jun 2024 - Jul 2024 · 2 mos

    Repaired IoT tracking PCBs using precision soldering and diagnostics; contributed to workflow improvements.