Abhishek Bharadwaj
Engineering Leader
San Jose,CA
Summary
Seasoned Quality and Reliability Engineering leader with over two decades of experience driving business outcomes across New Product Introduction, fielded systems, supplier quality, and enterprise AI applications. An ASQ Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) with a proven track record of leading transformative initiatives in the semiconductor equipment industry (12 years) and automotive sectors (11 years). At Applied Materials, I led enterprise-wide Design for Reliability (DfR) and Continuous Improvement (CI) programs.
Expert in establishing greenfield Verification and Validation (V&V) labs and Centers of Excellence (CoEs) focused on Reliability, Functional Safety, and Quality. Currently spearheading the development and deployment of advanced data analytics platforms, leveraging Generative AI and Agentic AI workflows, to accelerate Q&R risk automation.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Sr. Manager, Reliability | Func. Safety | GenAI
Applied Materials Inc.
Santa Clara, CA
10.2020 - Current
- Delivered over 80% successful product reliability outcomes while leading reliability, functional safety, and analytics on needle mover programs for AMAT.
- Delivered reliable semi-equipment supporting advanced packaging, D2W hybrid bonding, and high-bandwidth memory applications.
- Advanced system reliability modeling for multi-config/application field performance and asset maintenance, spares, and COO planning.
- Developed a GenAI and agentic workflow-based component FMECA agent, enabling over a 75% reduction in engineering risk assessment effort.
- Safety hazard modeling using IEC/SIL standards, supporting architecture risk assessment.
- Quarterly supplier reliability scorecards, top risk parts, failure rate trends, and hotspots.
- Established V&V playbook of tools and methods, n+2 roadmaps, OKRs, and Q&R experts.
- Chair Enterprise Reliability COP, focusing on product success, BKMs, field performance, and enterprise GenAI adoption.
Specialist, Safety and Reliability | Eng. Research
Eaton India Innovation Center
Pune, India
07.2019 - 08.2020
- Managed a new technology introduction portfolio across power systems, mechanical, data science services, materials, and 3D printing COEs.
- Acted as the final reliability approver for high-impact initiatives in vehicle, aerospace, and electrical technologies, driving robust validation and risk mitigation strategies.
- Actuarial and physics-based dynamic life models helped define component remaining useful life prediction under customer use conditions.
- A new technology risk assessment framework delivered a success rate of over 75% for NTI.
- Led the Eaton DFR practitioner certification and training program.
Associate Director, Quality & Reliability
Applied Materials Inc.
Santa Clara, CA
01.2012 - 07.2019
- Integrated quality and reliability effectiveness into the NPI process. Designed DfQR metrics, Product Readiness Scorecard, and product development BoK.
- Led DFR implementation at AMAT's global sites. Delivered V&V framework, training, business processes, tools, and methods.
- Custom applications for component reliability and AFR predictions based on field returns.
- Established a new reliability testing lab for semiconductor component risks, and an environmental lab for electronics. Custom test stand automation and lab management.
- Accelerated life testing and modeling of components such as servers, power supplies, vacuum pumps, robots, lift mechanisms, I/O controllers, heaters, drives, valves, sensors, etc.
- QMS, quality procedures, and DFR BKMs for the enterprise knowledge analytics middle layer.
Manager, Product Verification & Validation
John Deere
Pune, India
07.2010 - 12.2011
- Managed product reliability modeling, V&V assessment, and field warranty analytics.
- Implemented FRACAS, 8D, and CAPA processes for the harvester product line.
- Sensor data acquisition (RLDA) in customer conditions, fatigue, and vibration analytics, supported by design recommendations.
- Led supplier quality and reliability assessment, HALT/HASS protocols, APQP and SPC.
Low Cycle Fatigue Group Lead
Cummins
Pune, India
07.2007 - 07.2010
- Established and managed the Applied Mechanics team at the India technology center as the global Low Cycle Fatigue Group Lead for turbocharger reliability.
- Developed methodologies to correlate vehicle applications with engine-turbo integration, enhancing warranty return predictions by 20%.
- Realized over 30% product reliability improvement through turbo speed limit guidelines and compressor/turbine wheel material recommendations.
- Proficiency in nSoft and GlyphWorks (nCode) applications for fatigue life predictions.
- Led Applied Mechanics Functional Excellence practice for enterprise scalability.
Sr Reliability Engineer | NPI R&D
TVS Motors | Hero Motors | Eicher Motors
Pune, India
07.2002 - 05.2007
- Led cross-functional team to establish greenfield reliability test lab at TVS, completing project in 12 months under $3.5M budget.
- Developed custom reliability test stands for vehicle chassis, suspension, and transmission risks.
- Developed data-driven maintenance strategies, COO models, and warranty proposals using life data analysis from warranty returns.
- Adept at noise source identification, noise intensity mapping, and suspension ride comfort.
- Developed methodologies and internal standards in NVH based on customer usage analytics.
- Engineering consulting services in vehicle NVH, strain data acquisition, fatigue analysis, and DfR improvements at Eicher Automotive and Industrial Vehicles.
Education
Applied Agentic AI For Org Transformation
01-2025
Systems Engineering - Architecture and Systems Engineering: Models and Methods to Manage Complex Systems
01.2019
Certified Reliability Engineer -
01.2013
Bachelor of Engineering - Mechanical Eng.
05-2002
Skills
- DFR, Design quality and CI
- QMS and Q&R processes
- Functional safety, Hazard modeling
- FRACAS, CAPA and 8D
- Agentic AI, GenAI, and Databricks
- Reliasoft, JMP, Relex, nCode
Trade Secret
Automated System Level Reliability Growth:
- Sensor data anomaly detection (dynamic time warping), trends, fingerprinting, control limits
- Estimate and predict system reliability growth using AI/ML methods
Timeline
Sr. Manager, Reliability | Func. Safety | GenAI - Applied Materials Inc.
10.2020 - Current
Specialist, Safety and Reliability | Eng. Research - Eaton India Innovation Center
07.2019 - 08.2020
Associate Director, Quality & Reliability - Applied Materials Inc.
01.2012 - 07.2019
Manager, Product Verification & Validation - John Deere
07.2010 - 12.2011
Low Cycle Fatigue Group Lead - Cummins
07.2007 - 07.2010
Sr Reliability Engineer | NPI R&D - TVS Motors | Hero Motors | Eicher Motors
07.2002 - 05.2007
Massachusetts Institute of Technology - , Applied Agentic AI For Org Transformation
Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Systems Engineering, Architecture and Systems Engineering: Models and Methods to Manage Complex Systems
American Society of Quality (ASQ) - Certified Reliability Engineer,
National Institute of Karnataka (REC Surathkal) - Bachelor of Engineering, Mechanical Eng.