Corwin Snyder

dba P dV Consulting

13835 Walnut Canyon, Helotes, TX  78023

210-288-4118 (cell), 210-695-9433 (home)

Email:  pdvconsult@att.net  Web: www.pdvconsult.com

Objective:  Providing technical management, project & program management, and mechanical & technical consulting services to the Mechanical & Aerospace Industry. 

Summary:  Engineering manager & project management experience related to project execution, research & development, product development & testing, and manufacturing support.  Experience includes complete project execution from client interface, test requirement definition, and proposal generation, to test execution, data analysis and reporting.  Includes promotion to, and interface with, single and 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, test control, modeling, data reduction and analysis. 

Experience:          

¨       Performing mechanical and technical consulting services for firms on a contract basis.  Mechanical and technical services provided include:

Ø  Specified and installed PCs for data acquisition, data analysis, and test/process control of engine test cells. 

Ø  Experienced with automotive engine high-speed cylinder pressure data acquisition for analysis.

Ø  Knowledgeable of basic control theory, and proficient in the use of National Instruments hardware and LabVIEW software for test and control purposes. 

Ø  Wrote LabVIEW software for engine test cell data acquisition and control

Ø  Wrote LabVIEW software for high speed cylinder pressure data acquisition. 

Ø  Specified National Instruments hardware for test cell data acquisition, including instrumentation to work with the data acquisition system (temperatures, pressures, fuel flow, engine speed, etc.)

Ø  Wrote LabVIEW software for a hydraulic pressure test stand, controlling pressure cycles to a test article.  Software controlled pressure, frequency, pressure waveform, and recorded data for each cycle.

Ø  Conducted research and development on internal combustion engines, including mechanical component selection, combustion development, performance development, engine durability, and fuel testing. 

Ø  Managed numerous projects and test cell activities, including a high-speed engine fuels test program evaluating F1 racing fuels. 

Ø  Specified and supervised the installation and testing of engines in dynamometer test cells, including the specification of dynamometers, drive motors, and the design of driveline components. 

Ø  Conducted design, development, test and calibration of electronic fuel control systems for gasoline and alternative fuel engines.  Adapted test cell-developed controls to an engine running in a vehicle. 

Ø  Designed, specified, and supervised the construction and commission of a turbocharger test facility. 

Ø  Proficient with turbo-machinery, and in turbocharger test methods.

Ø  Technical lead on AIRPRINT project for the Air Force; performing front-end analyses on the processes, methods, and software tools to guide the conduct of Human Systems Integration (HSI) efforts.

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  Designed and developed gas turbine engine computer software models for aircraft flight simulators, including helicopter turbo-shafts and fighter aircraft turbofans. 

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

Ø  Modeled various turbine engine fuel control systems, learning their logic and functions. 

Ø  Developed requirements for, analyzed, and reduced engine flight test data for use in computer models. 

Ø  Integrated individual engine software models within complete aircraft flight simulator systems.

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

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

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

Ø  Undergraduate research assistant on NASA Lewis Research Center sponsored-project “Reformed Methanol as an Automotive Fuel”, testing the feasibility of alternative automotive fuels on a dynamometer-mounted engine.

Management services provided include:

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

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

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

o    Provided business development functions, including defining and executing department goals, and selecting and implementing technical standards and processes. 

o    Participated in implementing a Capability Maturity Model® Integration (CMMI) program for continuous process integration and product improvement, working towards Level II CMMI certification.

o    Project manager responsibilities include complete project oversight, including client interface, test requirement definition, proposal generation (scope, cost, and schedule), test execution, data analysis, and reporting to clients. 

o    Responsible for daily activities of laboratory technicians, including drawing on capabilities of other professionals as required, mentoring junior engineers and team leadership of several other engineers. 

Non-confidential client companies to date for which services have been provided include:

Engine Components, Inc.,  San Antonio, Tx:  Engine testing & cylinder pressure, test cell data acquisition SpecPro Technical Services, Inc.,  San Antonio, Tx:  Contracting on AIRPRINT Project for the Air Force

ICE Prototyping, Inc.,  Boerne, Tx:  Provided LabVIEW process control system for shop equipment

Texas Management Associates, Inc.,  San Antonio, Tx:  Contracting on Government Projects

Karta Technologies, Inc.,  San Antonio, Tx:  Manager, Engineering Mechanics; Engineering Department

Southwest Research Institute,  San Antonio, Tx:  Senior Research Engineer, Engine Research Department

Link Flight Simulation,  Houston, Tx:  Project Lead & Propulsion Systems Engineer

Pratt & Whitney Aircraft,  West Palm Beach, Fl:  Experimental Test Engineer, Government Products Div.

Texas A&M University,  College Station, Tx:  Research Assistant, TAMU Research Foundation

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.  Worked as undergraduate research assistant in engine power laboratory during senior year.

Training:

o    National Instruments – LabVIEW hardware and software data acquisition and control

o    DSP Technology – ADAPT/ACAP RedLine high-speed cylinder pressure data acquisition and analysis

o    Capability Maturity Model® Integration (CMMI) training course for staged and continuous guidelines for process integration and product improvement

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”