Jack the Ripp3r was a product of my desire to improve and prove my worth to my upperclassmen. As one of only 3 first-years students accepted into our BattleBots design team, I wanted to make a strong, long-lasting impression of the type of engineer I was, and my technical capabilities. It started with the weapon concept, as most bots up until now had used horizontal-axis based designs, I wanted to test the limits of what could be done with a vertical option, which is where the vertical saw came to be. I drew up a sketch and got it critiqued by the upper-year students. Their criticism, was harsh, but strongly constructive, and using their feedback, I fully modelled the frame in Onshape and continued to develop it through review of more experienced members. For weeks I was glued to my computer, pulling inspiration, tweaking small inconsistencies, until I was ready to bring my idea to life. With the help of some friends, I was able to 3D print a prototype, and begin testing practicality and incorporation of electrical components. The next weeks were spent picking components, testing functionality, and squeezing into the strict weight limit provided by the competitions regulations. I didn't just want this bot to compete, I wanted to win the entire thing. This project taught me system-level engineering from mechanical design to embedded control, combining both into a combat-ready robot that could do more than just function. I was able to learn and grasp many new concepts and technologies that not only improved my skills as an engineer, but help make a meaningful first-year contribution to the team.