Engineer Manager

JEFFREY LIPA

***** *********** *****

Canton, Michigan 48188

h9bomn@r.postjobfree.com 734-***-****

Chief Engineer with success in leading component design and release, vehicle/system development and the manufacturing launch of new components, systems and vehicles. Expertise in dealing with all levels of management, suppliers and customers.

Conscientious Program Manager with broad business acumen. Developed and executed short-cycle product work plans and led engineering design teams through numerous new component launches from the advanced component design stages through final design, procurement, component test prove out, component manufacture and launch.

Proactive Technical Expert with high level of innovation, technical excellence, and proven leadership skills. Championed and managed a technical team for integration of all vehicle level attributes such as overall vehicle design package, vehicle dynamics, NVH, performance and fuel economy to deliver functionality that aligned with customer requirements

MBA, Management – University of Detroit and BSME – Lawrence Technological University

WORK HISTORY

Engineering Management:

Advanced Vehicle Technologies – June 2010 to Present:

Chief Engineer

Directed chassis architecture and component designs, analysis and vehicle development for the all new hybrid electric Fisker Karma platform, an all-new 2nd Fisker vehicle platform and an all new electric vehicle platform with Coda Automotive.

Lead and mentor Engineering, CAD and CAE resources to deliver system/component design objectives.

Coordinate and direct supplier activity as it relates to stated projects from RFQ through development and initial production.

Insure development and execution of component and vehicle test plans for validation.

Business Development/Program Manager

Developed overall business/marketing plans and sold to customers to secure new contracts.

Mentor customers through development of OEM Vehicle Program Plans and lead execution of final plan.

Manage component supply base to insure hardware delivery for build phases meet program timing.

Manage and coordinate cross-functional activities from program design phase through manufacturing launch.

Responsible for defining engineering, analysis and designer resources for new project quote development to insure profitability.

Ford Motor Company – 1985 to 2007:

Manager, Vehicle Engineering

Directed a cross-functional vehicle team of powertrain, chassis and body design and release managers, vehicle integration managers, supervisors and engineers for a small SUV program.

Drove marketing, engineering and business decisions that led to the best selling small sport utility vehicle with over $260 million in vehicle line profitability for a given model year.

Defined the system architecture and component designs necessary to deliver target functionality and led the technical execution for the overall vehicle platform through functional/cost trade-offs.

Developed and managed a $43 million budget efficiently through optimizing engineering headcount and prototype hardware purchases required to deliver the program.

Identified efficiencies in vehicle prototype plan that delivered $11 million in annual material savings.

Delivered numerous cost reduction design actions that resulted in a $1 million year over year savings.

Developed and implemented total vehicle program plans from vehicle design concept stage through final design, release, manufacturing and vehicle assembly launch.

Championed market research clinics that provided direct interface with customers to define the required level of vehicle functionality including, but not limited to vehicle styling, ergonomics, design features, steering performance, ride comfort, NVH and purchase price.

Monitored daily vehicle prove out testing and approved the necessary late design changes due to durability failures.

Led the manufacturing launch of the 2005 Escape through resolution of vehicle assembly and functional issues.

Traveled abroad frequently to lead vehicle and supplier component manufacturing launches.

Supervisor, Vehicle Dynamics

Defined the vehicle dynamics functional targets for a major platform and defined component designs required to deliver functionality.

Conducted front and rear suspension development for ride, steering and handling performance and effectively managed engineering design issue resolution and functional trade-offs required for vehicle signoff.

Performed maximum handling testing required to meet NHTSA standards and internal corporate requirements.

Supervisor, Steering Department

Responsible for design and release for numerous components for a new electric power assist steering system including column, intermediate shaft, rack and pinion for two new forward model vehicles.

Decreased warranty on current production designs through root cause analysis of failure modes and expedient implementation of design changes required to resolve issues

Supervisor, Advanced Chassis Engineering

Designed new front and rear suspension geometries for numerous passenger vehicles including Mustang, Focus, Taurus, Windstar, Lincoln LS and Explorer.

Verified suspension kinematics and compliant functional performance through use of ADAMS CAE modeling.

Interfaced daily with the Vehicle Dynamics team to confirm suspension system functional performance against system and vehicle level objective performance.

Chassis Champion for Volvo platform commonality team in Sweden for applicability to Ford forward model program.

Liaison engineer, Ford of Europe for Focus vehicle program transfer to North America

Awarded a United States Patent for a Vehicle Suspension Attachment Assembly.

Instructor for Chassis Systems Integration Design course held internally and at local college

Financial Management:

Quality Plus, Inc – 2007 to 2010

Chief Financial Officer

Within six months conducted a full corporate analysis and substantially increased profitability through implementing employee headcount reductions, organizational efficiencies, improved customer job quoting processes and reduced corporate spending. Decreased overall fixed cost by 60% since job start.

Championed initial and ongoing monthly corporate financial analyses to monitor and maintain financial health.

Interface monthly with company bank to secure the necessary commercial loan credit required supporting corporate operations. Prepare monthly borrowing base reports that define levels of borrowing eligibility.

Developed and managed an optimized Finance Department that included Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable personnel and processes to insure proper daily customer billing, collections and vendor payments to insure incoming and outgoing payments support cash flow requirements.

Developed and implemented detailed customer quoting process that included incorporation of all fixed and variable costs to optimize profitability of awarded contracts.

Developed numerous customer quotes by interfacing with the production department to secure all inputs for a total material and labor cost assessment.

LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND SKILLS

Consumer Driven Six-Sigma Greenbelt/Project Champion Training

Provided the enablers to define six sigma goals and key principles to lead and direct design and process improvements through the DMAIC process.

Sponsored numerous projects that resulted in substantial warranty reduction, improved customer satisfaction and increased program profitability.

Pathways to Leadership

Developed employee motivation techniques that unleash the best in the working team through focus on positive versus negative feedback.

Salaried Supervisor Institute

Developed the tools necessary to improve confidence as a leader when working with teams in addition to assessing and practicing skills in conflict management, coaching, delegating and motivating employees.

Management Training Program

Through six unique 4-month work assignments over a 2-year period, developed the necessary technical and managerial skills to lead an engineering design/development working team.

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