2023
– Present
Lead Problem Solving Engineer & Prevent Recurrence
(2023 – Present) Drive complex, high-visibility problem-solving investigations (30-day timelines
for safety, 48-day for non-safety) to identify root causes and execute permanent corrective
actions. Regularly present project deep-dives to executive leadership.
Leadership Style: Assertive,
data-driven, and unflappable. I thrive in high-pressure situations, cutting through the noise to
align global suppliers and internal teams on hard data. I do not accept surface-level answers
and routinely challenge teams to dig into the systemic "Whys."
Leadership Examples: * Navigating
Conflict & Demanding Data: During an investigation into a complex moving interior mechanism, I
met heavy supplier resistance regarding dimensional characterization tests. Instead of accepting
their baseline, I stood my ground, insisted on physical measurements to prove out the noise
factors, and personally traveled to the supplier's lab to oversee the testing and ensure data
integrity.
Driving Systemic Root Cause: Led a highly compressed safety
investigation for a missing critical fastener on a new EV braking system platform. In parallel,
during an exterior lighting investigation, I rejected the initial root-cause findings and drove
the engineering team to answer the deeper, systemic "Whys" regarding bypassed requirements and
incorrect ground planes, ensuring the true root cause was addressed.
2019
– 2023
Global Failure Mode Avoidance (FMA) Coach & Design
Assurance (2019 – 2023) Coached vehicle program teams, core engineering, and Tier-1 suppliers to
execute critical FMA deliverables prior to major production milestones.
Leadership Style: Mentor-focused
and strategic. I lead by empowering others, providing the exact tools and frameworks they need
to succeed, and taking the initiative to create roadmaps when standard procedures don't fit or
direction is unclear.
Leadership Examples: * Leading in
the "Gray Area": Stepped into an ambiguous launch environment with a new international audio
hardware supplier that lacked any foundational FMA processes. With no clear direction from
management, I developed and pitched a highly compressed 45-day turnaround plan. To execute it, I
brought physical training materials to their facility, walked their global team step-by-step
through OEM expectations for DFMEAs and Control Plans, and successfully brought their design
robustness up to standard.
Proactive Test Improvement: Independently reviewed supplier test
specifications for a critical fluid module and identified missing environmental noise factors
(such as extreme voltage and temperature variations). I drove the engineering teams to
characterize the components dimensionally and create "Best of Best" (BOB) and "Worst of Worst"
(WOW) physical combinations prior to validation testing, significantly improving the robustness
of the test plan.
1999
– 2006, 2014 – 2019
Function Owner & Product Development Engineer (1999 –
2006, 2014 – 2019) Managed full-lifecycle design, development, and quality delivery for driver
instrumentation and steering column control modules. Led cross-functional teams to meet strict
program quality metrics.
Leadership Style: Proactive and
collaborative, focusing heavily on upfront planning to prevent downstream warranty issues.
Leadership Example: Owned the core
DFMEAs for multiple interior modules, ensuring that all cross-functional inputs from studio
design, ergonomics, and hardware engineering were translated into robust, measurable validation
tests. Additionally, I co-created a strategic core DFMEA addressing systemic battery drain
issues and cascaded this standard across the top 10 module owners.