Engineer Manager

THOMAS B. SPRINKLE

***** ********* ***** ***** *****, OH 44116 440-***-**** ******.********@****.***

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Accomplished Design, Development, and Research Engineer with 20+ years experience in the medical

device, industrial automation, and aerospace industries. Excels in solving complex problems in high pressure

fast-paced environments. Recognized as an outstanding leader of technical staffs and a collaborator with

multi-disciplined teams. Delivers results even in areas outside of expertise with outcomes of increased sales,

reduced costs, and productivity improvements. Excellent communication and computer skills.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

INVACARE CORPORATION, Elyria, OH 1999 to 2009

Develops and markets medical equipment to the homecare market with $1.5B in sales and 5000 employees.

PRINCIPAL ENGINEER – Respiratory Products (2002 to 2009)

• Initiated and led key development projects for $100MM oxygen concentrator product line; developed

portable battery powered travel oxygen concentrator; introduced smaller, quieter, lower power oxygen

concentrator; extended product line with quieter European model.

• Continued product line growth through methods to incorporate automated energy saving features and

improving operating efficiencies. Significantly reduced time required for accelerated life testing of oil-less

air compressors.

• Provided technical and market leadership for all respiratory product development. Initiated numerous

materials and processes changes to reduce cost. Multiple patents pending.

ENGINEERING DIRECTOR – Respiratory Products (2001 to 2002)

• Led 15-person multi-disciplined group (project managers, engineers, designers, technicians) responsible

for all respiratory product development.

• Directed development and launch of 5-stage 2000-psi compressor enabling home refilling of portable

oxygen cylinders.

• Supervised development and launch of new oxygen concentrator. Patents awarded for research and

development of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) nasal mask.

LEAD ENGINEER / ENGINEERING MANAGER (1999 to 2001)

• Led development of all sleep therapy products. Reduced operating sound pressure level of CPAP flow

generator by 6 decibels. Redesigned CPAP electronics to save $280,000 annually. Developed and

launched CPAP humidifier.

• Proved oxygen sensor field failures were due to supplier process variation – resulting in vendor improving

process and conceding cost. Specified architecture and electronics for new oxygen conserving device.

NEUROCONTROL CORPORATION, Cleveland, OH 1997 to 1998

Develops products that restore function in persons with paralysis.

LEAD ENGINEER / ENGINEERING MANAGER

• Led compliance testing activities in support of market approval for Freehand system. Supported effort

for U.S. market approval for Vocare system.

• Designed and tested RF output stage and transmitting coil components.

Page 2 THOMAS B. SPRINKLE

PRESSCO TECHNOLOGY, INC. Solon, OH 1989 to 1997

Supplier of high-speed on-line machine vision systems to beverage and food container industry.

DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY (1994 to 1997)

• Provided technical leadership to marketing and engineering groups. Participated in corporate strategic

planning offering technical insights and evaluated new product and market opportunities.

• Initiated and engineered improvements in Charged Couple Device (CCD) sensor for camera, lighting, and

lenses realizing annual cost savings of $600,000+.

MANAGER OF ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING (1991 to 1995)

• Led 8 staff in system engineering, electrical design, electronics design, and PCB design. Improved

documentation standards and established formal design review process aimed at reducing design errors,

development costs, and improving project completion requirements.

• Initiated effort and supported purchasing in acquiring electronic components realizing annual cost savings

of $200,000+ and minimizing dependence upon sole source suppliers.

SENIOR ELECTRONIC DESIGN ENGINEER (1990 to 1991)

• Introduced surface mount technology, Hardware Description Language (HDL), and functional / timing

analysis tools allowing development of more sophisticated product designs.

• Created “turbo” processing module – HDL-based coprocessor that executed software code in scanning

hardware, multiplying system performance with significant system cost savings.

• Led development and system integration of Motorola 68030 processor modules.

SENIOR SOFTWARE ENGINEER (1989 to 1990)

• Created software development environment, selected “C” compiler, developed “Pressco O/S” – real-time

kernel and device drivers for multiprocessor machine vision systems.

• Trained software engineers and led porting of OS/9 applications. Optimized time critical tasks. Ported

“Pressco O/S” to Faster Processors. Upgraded device drivers.

LOCKHEED SANDERS, Nashua, NH 1987 to 1989

Research, development, and manufacture of electronic based defense systems.

LEAD DESIGN ENGINEER.

• Evaluated 32-bit processors for use in new product. Programmed in “C” to test avionics breadboard.

• Developed single chip replacement for AMD AM2900 based bit-slice design using ASIC technology.

LOCKHEED MISSILES AND SPACE CO., Sunnyvale, CA 1984 to 1987

Research, development, manufacture, and maintenance of satellites, missile systems, and space transportation systems.

TEST ENGINEER

• Programmed in Pascal, “C”, and Motorola 68000 Assembly language.

• Tested avionics hardware and software in flight simulation laboratory.

EDUCATION

• Graduate work in Electrical Engineering, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA, 1985-1986

• B.E.E., Computer and microprocessor emphasis, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, 1984

Contact this candidate