April T.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER PROFILE: A result-oriented, self-motivated Development Engineer with more than 23 years of experience including the design of a patented lightweight, armored cockpit door module system for the commercial airline industry. A problem-solver, with strong analytical and interpersonal communication skills and relates well with coworkers, management and customers. Expertise lies in designing and executing plans, creating positive-collaborative environments, communicating, and implementing solutions; experience in Interdisciplinary mechanical, aerospace and electrical design. HIGHLIGHTS * Finite Element Analysis * Materials Research * Mechanical Device Design * Energy Attenuation Design * Rotating Machinery Design *Artistic and organic design * Six Sigma Green Belt * ANSI Y14.5-2009 * ISO 9001:2008 SELECTED ACHIEVEMENTS Created the cockpit door module system for the Airbus A350 and A380 aircraft, managed a development team of two engineers, a drafter and two fabrication people that designed a new lightweight aircraft bulkhead armor that led to being named first inventor on a patent, conducted extensive materials testing, prioritized assembly tests and evaluated test results and collaborated with customer on customer driven design changes according to FAA requirements. At the preliminary and critical design reviews presented directly to Airbus on design and test results. Collaborated with vendors, purchasing and testing to obtain results in a timely manner. Result: A contract for 30+ million and exposed the product to the industry with business from Mitsubishi with other manufacturers. Developed the troop seat for the Stryker military vehicle; due to strict deadlines issued by the military, delivered the first prototype in six weeks. Led the project in conceptual design and brainstorming and developed an innovative seat back folding mechanism and innovative footrest retracting mechanism that resulted in patents, oversaw the prototype through drop tower and FMVSS testing. Result: This new seat design led to a 40 million dollar contract and is being installed in all new Stryker vehicles. Designed a high speed air intake blower for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, conducted research to determine best type of blower utilizing customer driven parameters to design blower at maximum efficiency. Created 3D models and performed tolerance stack-up and thermal analysis. Designed test procedures and parameters, built test set up and conducted extensive, long term testing for electromechanical systems utilizing data logging equipment and software. Conducted failure analysis investigations, primarily on bearings, and presented results to customer in presentation and report. Result: This blower is currently running in hydrogen fuel cell buses in CA as ongoing testing of the reliability of the design and concept. Designed a new innovative helicopter crash attenuating seat system that allowed selection of attenuation levels based on occupant weight. Technology resulted in a patent with further development work requested by the Navy. Designed an endoscopic grasper in conjunction with a leading medical professional. Researched materials compatible with the human body. Created grasper to be able to be used in conjunction with cauterizing cutters. Worked with vendor utilizing EDM process to achieve tolerances of .0002 inch including inspecting incoming parts. Oversaw successful testing on live pigs. Result: Design is ready for human test subjects. This design can decrease complications caused by traditional method of sampling esophageal material. Lead a design team to create a VTOHL (vertical takeoff, horizontal landing vehicle) to illustrate the economic feasibility of space travel, designed a flying wing aircraft using airfoil design software, constructed a twenty-inch-long scale model for wind tunnel testing and design refinement, then a 36” model for further flight and controls testing and the final model, 5 foot in length, equipped with aileron and rudder controls and a GPS system for tracking. This aircraft, dubbed UAX, was powered by a team created aluminum oxide hybrid engine using nitrous oxide as the oxidizer. Result: The design won senior project of the year in the mechanical and aerospace engineering department.