Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Engineer Technical Lead Project Manager Consultant

Currently exploring opportunities that include: research, development, new products, new processes, new

methods, or new technology to solve complex technical problems

SUMMARY

I am an experienced engineer who has work on every stage of product and process development, in a diversity

of realms (communications, nuclear, environmental, renewable energy, instrumentation). I have been engaged

in solving difficult and varied technical problems, and I have done it successfully. In several cases, my efforts

led me to the creation of new methods and new technologies that set us free from the no-solution paradigm and

allowed workable solutions (several unique measurement devices, 10 patents and 2 submissions speak to that).

I am a very fast learner, data driven decision maker; my broad background often permits me see situations from

different (and outside the box) perspectives, allowing me to contribute answers and novel (often simpler)

solutions. I have been well trained and experienced in design, not just machine and mechanical design, but

system and process design as well. I have worked in direct support of commercial organizations, and

sometimes direct support to the costumer. I understand deliverables, deadlines, and budgets. I have troubleshot

complex manufacturing, product, and production issues using first principles, modeling, and statistical tools. I

am a US Citizen and a registered professional engineer (PE).

CORE COMPETENCES

• Mathematical Modeling, Simulation and Analysis of complex multi-domain physical systems (thermal, fluid,

chemical, mechanical).

• Test design, execution (I do it myself), and data analysis

• Commercial Nuclear Reactor thermohydraulic safety analysis

• Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) applications and uncertainty evaluation (CSAU) applications.

• Experienced user of statistical analyses, evaluation of risks, and decision making

• Non-intrusive, non-destructive sensors and instrumentation and Measuring thermophysical properties of

materials.

• Subject matter expert in Scaling Analysis, Durability, Vibrations, and CSAU.

• Problem solving and out-of-the-box thinker, capable of inventing new methods, and new technology to

solve problems

• Unusually broad background and familiarity with rate processes and diffusion processes.

• Writing: In addition to 30 refereed publications and many reports of archival quality, including two NUREG

reports, I have been regular editor and contributor of several newsletters

Languages And Computer Skills

• Fluent in English and Spanish and able to read and speak a little German and Italian.

• Proficient in FORTRAN, Basic, VB, C, Pascal, and some C++, Lisp, and Forth.

• Experienced working in MSDOS, Windows, MacOS, and UNIX Operating Systems; text processors

(LaTeX, Troff); and using productivity tools – Word, EXCEL, MATLAB, MATHEMATICA.

INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

January 2010 – November 2012 Information Systems Laboratories, Inc.

Principal Engineer: Technical consultant in support of regulatory processes: new commercial nuclear reactors

license applications, license renewals, and issues resolution in support of the USNRC and foreign regulators

(i.e.: UAE). Subject matter expert on Dynamic System Modeling, Scaling Analyses, Uncertainty Evaluation,

PIRTs, and CSAU. Developed a methodology to quantitatively assess the impact of scaled facilities scaling

distortions, and created a simulation tool for such purpose, demonstrating its application comparing PUMA and

GE’s ESBWR transient behavior. Prior to joining Information Systems Laboratories full time, worked with ISL as

independent consultant since 2003.

November 2005 – December 2009 Corning, Incorporated

Project Manager in the Advanced Engineering Group: Technical leader and individual contributor to projects

relating to the early stages of new product development. Developed and tested methods to measure effective

thermophysical properties of cellular ceramics (a non-homogeneous anisotropic material); developed a

mathematical model of a glass Melter system, and developed the systems engineer’s job function for Corning

mercury abatement initiative. Designed, assembled, instrumented, and installed the first 1-MW scale system for

testing in a real power plant (Plant Yates, in GA). Developed and implemented a seal geometry that allowed

the robust and hermetic mounting of large format solid oxide fuel cell devices; also developed a composite seal

configuration that electrically insulates fuel cells from the frames, allowing the survivability of the seal under

open circuit conditions. I was often called in to assist and participate in troubleshooting processes issues of a

variety of products and processes.

April 2003 – October 2005

Diesel Systems Engineer in Environmental Technologies: Technical support for the diesel commercial

organization and liaison with the research and development organization. Subject matter expert in the areas of

vibrations, system mechanical durability, testing, reliability, and ash management. Developed system solutions

for heavy duty and passenger car emissions after-treatment; and designed particulate filter systems and

emissions treatment components; provided technical support for account and application engineers (consulting,

technical presentations, data analyses). I was an in-house mechanical vibrations expert, charged with

supporting customers in the design of tests, analyses of their data, and made recommendations for their

application. In particular, I participated in the design of bench tests based on on-the-road vibration data and the

development of relationships to scale from bench data to vehicle life. Developed reliability predictions for

warranty cost calculations and developed and submitted recommendations for manufacturing quality initiatives.

April 1999 – September 2002

Senior Product Engineer in Optical Fiber: Developed new coating specifications, qualification requirements,

and testing for new coatings, fibers with new coatings, fiber packages, and new or modified wind- or

coating-related processes; also conducted and oversaw the testing, analyzed the data, and published the

results with qualification recommendations. Developed the change control system, based on the analytical

hierarchy process, for new coatings and for coating manufacturing processes. Coordinated the team that

investigated and contained serious fiber quality issues due to raw coating material defects and led the

development and implementation of the tests that safeguard the manufacturing process from recurrence of

same. Designed, developed and established the qualification testing required of fiber packages for international

fiber shipments. Developed the package attributes, metrics and analysis tools that permit the evaluation of wind

quality of spools across all plants. Participated as technical consultant on issues of testing and data analysis of

optical performance measurements.

July 1997 – April 1999

Senior Manufacturing Engineering Specialist in the Project Engineering Department: Developed a

mathematical model for optical fiber winders, which enabled to predict vibration modes and natural frequencies

of the equipment and perform diagnostic and troubleshooting analysis. Developed a mathematical model (and

an Excel tool) of the optical fiber package that permitted the prediction of package density, and shed insight into

micro-bending and package stability issues.

April 1989 – July 1997 INL- Idaho National Laboratory

Advisory Engineer: Responsible for project management, interaction with the customer (DOE and USNRC),

technical leadership, technical support and assistance to the customer, technical presentations and technical

reporting related to thermohydraulic safety analyses of nuclear reactors and the validation and assessment of

computer models and simulation codes. Invented a non-intrusive, multiphase mass flow meter that was

installed and used in the Rig of Safety Assessment (ROSA/LSTF) during Westinghouse AP600 simulation

experiments; Also invented the modified version of the multiphase mass flow meter, and several variants, that

were licensed by LMITCO to the agricultural/irrigation industry (ID Tech, Inc. of Blackfoot, Idaho) for commercial

use. Consulted for ID Tech throughout the technology transfer to its manufacturing operation and field

installation, resolved minor issues and developed improvements. Developed the lumped parameter

mathematical model of AP600 used to obtain the governing equations for the dynamic system response,

subsystems and its interactions. Deduced the important non-dimensional groups and equations that allowed

data comparison among different facilities.

Principal investigator of the top-down scaling analysis team that developed the scaling analysis methodology to

evaluate the sufficiency of the data from large integral test facilities that simulate the new passive advanced

reactor design of Westinghouse, the AP600 (Advanced Pressurized-Water Reactor 600). Performed the

scaling analysis of several large integral test facilities for application to AP600 integrated studies in support of

the code adequacy evaluation effort. I led the team that analyzed the data and performance of several integral

test facilities, as well as the computer simulations in support of the AP600 safety assessment programs of the

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Developed the analysis strategy, the technical methodology, the

project plan, the specification of the final product, technical direction of the analyses, and the integration of the

parts for the first comprehensive SBLOCA analysis and scaling of the AP600 design. Project Manager and

Principal Investigator for the review and analysis of Westinghouse separate effect tests and their utilization in

code assessment and scaling. I was the Project Manager and Principal Investigator for the design of

modifications to the ROSA (Rig of Safety Assessment) Large Scale Test Facility (LSTF) to perform AP600

tests; responsible for design and instrumentation specifications, scaling, acceptance tests, and technical

assistance during final design and construction. Project Manager and Principal Investigator of the Code Scaling,

Applicability and Uncertainty (CSAU) study to evaluate the uncertainty of RELAP5/MOD3 computer code for a

Small Break Loss-of-Coolant Accident scenario in a B&W Pressurized Water Reactor.

• Facilitated the experts meetings to develop the SBLOCA PIRT.

• Responsible for including and modeling the operator response as one of the determining phenomena in the

performance of this plant design.

• Evaluated the scaling and statistical nature of the available data and modeling errors for the most important

phenomena.

• Conducted RELAP5 sensitivity calculations and analyses.

• Developed the discussion leading to final results and conclusions.

As part of a internally seeded research program, developed a 3-dimensional temperature sensor and system

integrity monitor for electrically conductive materials or systems (which resulted in two patents)

June 1986 – 1988 AT&T Bell Laboratories, Holmdel, NJ

Member of Technical Staff in the Undersea Systems Laboratory: Evaluated and tested optical fiber

coatings, packaging, and handling performance during the undersea cable manufacturing process. Assessed

the survivability of undersea cable insulation subjected to electric fields and abrasion. Conceived, designed,

developed, tested, and implemented non-intrusive infrared inspection systems to find, evaluate, and document

cable insulation flaws during manufacturing (using infrared cameras and primitive computerized image

enhancement). Trained operators of all shifts to use the new device. Planned and conducted environmental

and vibration testing of telecommunication equipment cabinets. Developed and conducted experiments with live

deep water sharks to determine the stimuli that attract them to the undersea cables. Developed a mechanical

simulator of shark bites and compared the data with actual shark data obtained in the field to size the threat and

test our solutions. Investigated and resolved multiple manufacturing issues during the development of

undersea systems, mainly TAT-8 and TAT-9.

Education/Training/Certifications:

• Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Mechanical Engineer’s degree, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Ingeniero Mecanico, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas

• Registered Professional Engineer, Idaho P-6887

• Certified Advanced Online Facilitator, University of Phoenix

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