James Corwin Snyder
13835
210-288-4118 (cell), 210-695-9433
(home)
Email:
pdvconsult@att.net
Objective: A challenging and responsible position in the Mechanical
Engineering field, providing engineering management, technical project
management, and/or engineering consulting services.
Summary: Engineering manager and project management
experience related to research and development, product development and
testing, and manufacturing support. Responsibilities
include complete project execution, from client interface, test requirement
definition, and proposal generation, to test execution, data analysis and
reporting. Project management experience
includes promotion to, and interface with, multiple clients. Highly experienced with internal combustion
engines, propulsion systems, and turbo-machinery. Knowledgeable of computers, especially
related to software development, data acquisition, test instrumentation, test
methods, data reduction and analysis.
Experience:
8/2006 – Present P
dV Consulting Helotes,
TX
Mechanical & Technical
Consultant / Proprietor web:
www.pdvconsult.com
Ø
Performing
mechanical and technical consulting services for firms on a contract
basis.
Ø
Currently
developing engine test cell data acquisition software and hardware for engine
testing, including high speed cylinder pressure acquisition for analysis.
11/2004 – 8/2006 Karta
Technologies, Inc. San
Antonio, TX
Manager, Engineering Mechanics; Engineering
Department
Ø
Manager
of an engineering mechanics 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, including defining and executing department
goals, and selecting and implementing technical standards and processes.
Ø
Conducted
proposal writing (scope, cost, and schedule) for potential projects, including
oral presentations to potential clients.
Ø
Provided
technical input and engineering analysis where required to support the project
goals.
Ø
Presented
technical reports and technical presentations to clients for project status and
final reporting.
Ø
Participated
in implementing a Capability Maturity Model® Integration (CMMI)
program for continuous process integration and product improvement, working
towards Level II CMMI certification.
1991 – 2004 Southwest
Research Institute San
Antonio, TX
Senior Research Engineer, Engine Research
Department
¨ Conducted research
and development on internal combustion engines, including mechanical component
selection, combustion development, performance development, engine durability,
and fuel testing.
¨ As a project
manager, was responsible for complete project oversight, including client
interface, test requirement definition, proposal generation (scope, cost, and
schedule), test execution, data analysis, and reporting to clients.
¨ Responsible for
daily activities of technicians and test cell activities, including drawing on
capabilities of other engineers as required, and mentoring junior engineers.
¨ Managed numerous
projects, including a high-speed engine fuels test program evaluating F1 racing
fuels.
¨ Specified and
supervised the installation and testing of engines in dynamometer test cells,
including the design of driveline components.
¨ Set up PCs for data
acquisition, data analysis, and test/process control of engine test cells.
¨ Experienced with
high-speed cylinder pressure data acquisition and analysis.
¨ Conducted development
and calibration of electronic fuel control systems for gasoline and alternative
fuel engines.
¨ Knowledgeable of
basic control theory, and proficient in the use of National Instruments
hardware and LabVIEW software for test and control purposes.
¨ Designed, specified,
and supervised the construction and commission of a turbocharger test
facility.
¨
Proficient
with turbo-machinery, and in turbocharger test methods.
1985–1991 Link
Flight Simulation Houston, TX
Project Lead; Propulsion Systems Engineer
v Designed and
developed gas turbine engine computer software models for aircraft flight
simulators, including helicopter turbo-shafts and fighter aircraft
turbofans.
v Responsibilities
included team leadership of several other engineers.
v Designed new engine
thermodynamic models for improved simulation fidelity and performance.
v Modeled various
turbine engine fuel control systems, learning their logic and functions.
v Developed
requirements for, analyzed, and reduced engine flight test data for use in
computer models.
v
Integrated
software models within the complete simulator system.
1983–1985 Pratt
& Whitney Aircraft West Palm Beach, FL Experimental Test
Engineer, Government Products Division
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.
1982–1983 Texas A&M
University College Station, TX
Research Assistant, TAMU Research Foundation
·
Undergraduate
research assistant on NASA Lewis Research Center sponsored-project “Reformed
Methanol as an Automotive Fuel.”
·
Tested
the feasibility of alternative automotive fuels on a dynamometer-mounted engine,
while gaining valuable experience in testing, instrumentation, and computer
data acquisition.
Education:
Texas A&M University 1978-1982 College Station, TX
B.S., Mechanical
Engineering, including elective courses in internal combustion engines, automotive,
turbo-machinery, and combustion.
Training:
o
National
Instruments – LabVIEW hardware and software data acquisition and control
o
DSP
Technology – ADAPT/ACAP RedLine high-speed data acquisition and analysis
o
Capability
Maturity Model® Integration (CMMI) training course for staged and
continuous guidelines for process integration and product improvement
o
Participated
in numerous in-house, company-provided project management courses
Professional Organizations / Awards:
o
Member
- Society of Automotive Engineers
o
Awarded Patent No. 6,962,143;
“High-Efficiency, Low Emission Gasoline Engine for Heavy-Duty Applications”