Chicago, Illinois, United States
Mechanical design engineer and manager with Purdue University BSME and 16+ years’ experience in robotics, warehouse automation, medical devices, industrial hydraulics, and agricultural equipment. Comprehensive development of mobile material handling robotic systems, prosthetic devices, surgical devices, and hydraulic components. Responsibilities include engineering team leadership, project management, mechanical design, engineering analysis, component selection, 3D CAD, FEA, GD&T, prototype builds, engineering training, and STEM outreach
Toyota Automated Logistics (formerly Bastian Solutions - name change April 1, 2026) -Generate functional designs, 3D models, 2D drawings, and GD&T specifications for machinists. -Improve robot functionality by brainstorming and developing various new mechanical features. -Develop provisions for high-precision sensor and vision system integration and calibration. -Perform FEA to improve product reliability and resolve performance issues. -Constantly interface with Controls and Software Teams for brainstorming, design guidance, improvement, and troubleshooting. -Coordinate with Production Team on manufacturing priorities, tolerance reviews, design revisions, bill of material management, and QC issues. -Utilize Product Data Management (PDM) software to manage and control designs and revisions. -Plan and execute field installations of robots. -Provide customer support, troubleshooting, and design improvement retrofits. -Participate in weekly status update and support meetings with customers. -Generate detailed maintenance and operations manuals for customer technicians and operators.
-Managed computer labs, lab assistants, and classrooms; resolved any software or hardware issues. -Prepared campus computer labs for academic use; maintained printers, projectors, and stations. -Worked on upgrade team summers of 2008 and 2009, installed new computer hardware on campus. -Provided computer support during new student orientation program summers of 2008 and 2009.
Mobile Robotics Division
(Formerly the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago) -Developed innovative prosthetic devices and surgical devices to restore ability and function to unique amputee populations that lack current suitable technology. -Developed robotic and body-powered prosthetic devices; saw projects through from concept to prototyping and validation, to small batch production. -Tasked with the design, optimization, and testing of compact, high-efficiency robotic mechanisms driven by custom DC brushless motors, gear trains, and linkage systems. -Performed analysis and optimization of motors and mechanisms using MATLAB, structural analysis of components and assemblies using SolidWorks Simulation FEA and hand calculations. -Performed continuous improvement of devices focusing on weight reduction, noise reduction, improved design for manufacturability, and enhanced aesthetics/cosmesis. -Project manager and lead engineer for $574,000 grant to develop a novel residual limb lengthening surgical system. Responsible for design, optimization, budgeting, technical reporting, cadaver experiment coordination, and FDA clearance coordination. Co-author of article published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research. -Collaborated with international teams for design licensing, technology transfer, and production. -Provided formal and informal mentorship to engineering students, interns, and staff. -Participated in outreach programs to promote interest in bionic research for students and professionals.
-Project manager responsible for hydraulic valve design projects including new product development as well as miniaturization of existing product lines. -Responsible for initial concept generation, mechanical design, and prototype builds. Developed manufacturing tooling and fixtures, and oversaw preparation for production. -Used SolidWorks to create 3D models, part and assembly drawings, product literature, and test procedures; SolidWorks Simulation to perform Finite Element Analyses of valve parts and assemblies. -Provided cross-functional engineering support to customers, application engineers, manufacturers, assemblers, and testers. -Projects included: family of 11 hydraulically piloted directional valves, proportional directional flow control valves with load-sensing, hydraulically/pneumatically piloted pressure-reducing modulating valves, spring-biased shuttle valves, as well as a family of miniature counterbalance load-control valves. -Collaborated with engineering team in Sulzbach, Saarbrücken, Germany on multiple product development projects and training.
-Collaborated with small engineering and clinical team to develop a lightweight, modular, myoelectric upper limb prosthesis suitable for children and individuals of low-percentile body size. Work published in IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). -Utilized SolidWorks to develop components and optimize layout of sub-systems to achieve goal of 25th-percentile female form factor. -Developed custom robotic actuators based on extensive efficiency optimization and analysis. -Applied design for manufacturing techniques for production and assembly to achieve low cost. -Used human factors engineering to maximize prosthesis functionality. -Provided day-to-day engineering support and interaction with patients during research studies related to prosthesis control and outcome measures.
-Prepared tractors for R&D testing by installing prototype assemblies as well as test instrumentation. -Supported and performed endurance testing, high and low temperature testing, and sound level testing.
-Lead and manage a team of Mechanical Design Engineers in the development of cutting-edge mobile robotic platforms for material handling and warehouse automation. Manage multiple projects at different stages of development and production. -Responsible for development of all mechanical systems including robot chasses, omni-directional wheels, linkage systems, conveyor systems, end-of-arm tooling, warehouse interfaces, safety systems, electronics integration, testing fixtures, machining fixtures, and various small actuators. -Team management duties include planning, task delegation and scheduling, design reviews and approvals, performance reviews, career development, and training/mentoring.