James ‘Corwin’ Snyder

13835 Walnut Canyon, Helotes, TX  78023

210-288-4118 (cell)

Email:  pdvconsult@att.net

 

Objective:  To provide technical and mechanical services to meet client needs for engine research, testing, and development; including aviation and automotive internal combustion engine testing and development, engine test cell / test stand specification and installation, test instrumentation, data acquisition and analysis, and testing / process control.  Services include program planning, project scheduling & management, technical project management, and other supervisory functions. 

 

Summary:  Highly experienced in the research and development of internal combustion engines, propulsion systems, and turbo-machinery.  Expert in the use of computers, design & development of data acquisition software, implementation of data acquisition systems, engine test cell / test stand specification and installation, test instrumentation & calibration, test methods, and data collection and analysis.  Data acquisition and control systems are developed using National Instruments hardware and LabVIEW software.  Testing and management experience includes research and development, product development and testing, and manufacturing support.  Project management includes complete project execution, from client interface, test requirement definition, and proposal generation, to test execution, data analysis and reporting, and including promotion to, and interface with, multiple clients. 

 

Experience:          

P dV Consulting:      Mechanical & Technical Consultant          web:  www.pdvconsult.com

(8/2006 to Present)

v  Performing mechanical and technical consulting services on a contract basis. 

v  Define customer engine testing needs and use to develop engine test cell specifications and design plans

v  Providing test planning and advisory services for engine development programs.

v  Conducted engine testing and development on gasoline and natural gas alternative fuel engines

v  Developed and built a high performance twin-turbocharged gasoline and methanol fueled engine

v  Developing engine test cell data acquisition software and hardware for engine testing and monitoring, including automated data storage and test results display. 

v  Test cell data acquisition systems include configuration files for individual engines, data acquisition channels, and/or test protocols, allowing separate configurations for individual engines and tests. 

v  Developing high speed data acquisition systems for engine combustion cylinder pressure data acquisition & analysis.  Also providing data acquisition for calibration of pressure transducers.

v  Conducted engine testing with cylinder pressure analysis of peak pressure and location of peak pressure to determine effects of spark timing and air-fuel ratio in different combustion chambers.

v  Specified test cell instrumentation, interface to data acquisition, and calibration requirements

v  Developed a data acquisition system for a compressor test stand to measure internal pressures & rotor position versus rotor shaft degrees over the compression cycle.  Consulted on compressor and engine related technical aspects and data analysis. 

v  Developed a data acquisition & control system hardware and software for an industrial test stand for testing prototype & production articles for strength and fatigue resistance in a cyclic manner using hydraulic pressure.  Software controlled pressure, frequency, pressure waveform, and recorded data for each cycle.  Included numerous features and safeties for autonomous, unattended testing.

v  Developed test stand data acquisition and test control software for wind turbine test stands for use in development, durability, and end-of-line testing.

v  Data acquisition and control systems developed using National Instruments hardware and LabVIEW software.  User of NI and LabVIEW products since 1995, providing 19 years’ experience. 

v  A partial list of non-confidential clients includes: Power Solutions, Inc., Emission Solutions, Danbury Aerospace/ECI, Torad Engineering, Viryd Technologies, Spec-Pro Technical Services, Texas Management Associates, and ICE Prototyping.

Karta Technologies, Inc.;                Manager, Engineering Mechanics Department

(10/2004 to 8/2006)

Ø  Manager of an engineering group consisting of seven engineers, draftsmen, and technical staff. 

Ø  Responsible for performance reviews and appraisals for employees, setting goals and measuring progress.   Also interviewed prospective employees. 

Ø  Performed technical management and oversight of projects using a systems engineering approach, insuring technical requirements were met on time and under budget. 

Ø  Provided business development functions: defined and executed department goals, and selected and implemented technical standards and processes. 

Ø  Conducted proposal writing (scope, cost, and schedule) for potential projects/clients. 

Ø  Provided technical input and engineering analysis where required to support the project goals.

Ø  Presented technical reports and presentations to clients for project status and final reporting.

Ø  Wrote and presented proposals in response to government requests.

Ø  Participated in implementing a Capability Maturity Model® Integration (CMMI) program.

Southwest Research Institute;       Senior Research Engineer, Engine Research Dept.

(2/1991 to 9/2004)

¨       Over 13 years experience conducting research and development on internal combustion engines, including mechanical component selection, combustion & performance development, engine durability, emissions testing, and alternate and conventional fuels testing. 

¨       Responsible for complete project oversight, including client interface, test requirement definition, proposal generation (scope, cost, and schedule), test execution, data analysis, and reporting. 

¨       Managed numerous projects while responsible for daily activities of technicians and test cell activities, including utilizing capabilities of other engineers, and mentoring junior engineers.

¨       Conducted numerous projects, including a high-speed engine program evaluating F1 racing fuels. 

¨       Specified and supervised the installation and testing of engines in dynamometer test cells.

¨       Implemented PCs for data acquisition, data analysis, and test/process control of engine test cells. 

¨       Experienced with high-speed cylinder pressure data acquisition instrumentation, test, and analysis.

¨       Developed and calibrated electronic fuel control systems for gasoline and alternative fuel engines. 

¨       Used National Instruments hardware and LabVIEW software for daq system and control purposes. 

¨       Designed, specified, and supervised the construction and commission of a dedicated turbocharger test facility allowing the testing and mapping of turbochargers independent of an engine. 

Link Flight Simulation;                     Project Lead; Propulsion Systems Engineer

(1/1985 to 1/1991)

v  Designed and developed gas turbine engine computer software models for aircraft flight simulators. 

v  Designed new engine thermodynamic models for improved simulation fidelity and performance. 

v  Modeled various electronic and hydro-mechanical turbine engine fuel control systems, learning their logic and functions and applying it to the engine model software. 

v  Specified requirements for, analyzed, and reduced engine flight test data for use in computer models. 

Pratt & Whitney Aircraft;                 Test Engineer, Government Products Division

(1/1983 to 1/1985)

o    Responsible for design, procurement, and testing of experimental gas turbine engine components for military engines used in fighter aircraft. 

o    Tasks involved planning, scheduling, cost tracking, coordination of support group efforts, procurement, assembly, testing, and evaluation of experimental engine hardware. 

o    Provided engineering support for field problem investigations, component failure analysis, production assistance, and field inspection and evaluation of lead-the-fleet hardware.

Texas A&M University;                    Research Assistant, TAMU Research Foundation

(1982)

·          Undergraduate research assistant testing alternative automotive fuels on a dynamometer-mounted engine, gaining valuable experience in testing, instrumentation, and computer data acquisition.

Education:           

Texas A&M University                     College Station, TX                                      12/1982

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering; coursework included elective courses in internal combustion engines, automotive engineering, turbo-machinery, and combustion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

13835 Walnut Canyon, Helotes, TX  78023                                 210-288-4118 (cell)                                            email: pdvconsult@att.net