Nicholas Knauf
Auburn Hills,MI
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Powertrain Engineer
Scout Motors
08.2024 - Current
- Led design and development of Front Electric Drive Unit and Drive Unit NVH Covers while meeting program timing requirements.
- Led design and development of Rear Electric Drive Unit (eBeam) while on boarding of new Engineers
- Developed and owner of technical requirements (Statement of work) for sourcing of NVH covers, Front and Rear Axle assemblies
- Owner and contributor of design/performance requirements, DVP&R, DFMEA, Analysis DVP&R and design change request documentation for the Front Drive Unit and EDU NVH Covers
- Implemented engineering best practices and lessons learned to enhance design and performance of Front Drive Unit, NVH covers and Front/Rear Axle assemblies. Led trade off studies and root cause analysis to implement needed design changes.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to optimize Electric Drive Units performance, efficiency and compliance to vehicle requirements.
- Developed and delivered two prototype mule designs to meet vehicle and program requirements
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure Drive Unit ECUs complied with Rivian & Volkswagen Group Technologies software-define vehicle architecture
Design System Engineer (DSE) – Heavy Duty Automatic Transmissions (Powerline, 68RFE, AS66RC/AS69RC)
Stellantis: Chrysler Technology Center
07.2023 - 07.2024
- Design System Engineer of transmission from prototype phase to production launch
- Owner of bill of materials for Nine transmission variants
- Approver of change notices that impact design and process changes to transmission assemblies and components
- Lead and coordinate design reviews, trade off studies, and root cause analysis for transmission components and assemblies.
- Project manager and timeline prioritization of testing schedule and DVP&R completion
- Post test of validation testing pass/fail determination and evaluation.
- Integration and system balancing of all transmission components between technical experts, manufacturing, suppliers, and development and validation center.
- Lead and generate cost reduction and benchmarking activities.
Product Engineer – Senior Design Release Engineer
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles/ Stellantis : Chrysler Technology Center
09.2017 - 07.2023
- Torque Transfer Systems Center of Excellence (COE)
- Torque Transfer Systems COE set lead DRE for future BEV gearbox
- Introduction to one way clutches class instructor
- Responsible for gears, differential, bearings, spline components, shafts, one-way clutches, planetary carriers, thrust washers, etc.
- Developed and experience in gear microgeometry optimization
- Experience with conventional planetary transmissions, eCVTs and BEV gearboxes
- Provides guidance and lead suppliers through resourcing, process, and development changes with Stellantis change management systems via Change Notices (CNs)
- Developed engineering best practice, DFMEAs, DRBFMs, DVP&Rs and tools for responsible components and subsystems
- Supports and evaluates manufacturing production related issues
- Generates cost reduction ideas and changes
- Improvement of design through benchmarking
- Conducts root cause investigations for component/subsystem failures in transmission
- Generation of shim charts and selections for various applications
- Proficient understanding of GD&T and tolerance stacks
- Interpretation and understanding of FEA to improve and evaluate design of parts
EBOM Change Management: Powertrain Change Specialist & Powertrain Change Specialist Liaison
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: Chrysler Technology Center
07.2015 - 08.2017
- Powertrain Change Specialist Liaison: Responsible for tracking all Powertrain changes and preventing any “roadblocks.” Pull daily reports of CNs/PERs/IAAs.
- Responsible for 9-Speed transmissions, steering columns, Tigershark, World Gas engines, internal Stamping, 8-Speed, FIRE engines, and diesel engines
- Led change management meetings as well as create meeting agendas and followed up meetings with meeting minutes
- Final approver and auditor of technical changes via the WebCN and CODEP Stellantis systems
Engineering Intern
Superior Essex: Head Quarters/Metal Processing Center
06.2014 - 07.2015
Education
Master of Science -
Oakland University
Rochester, MI12.2024
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E) -
Indiana Institute of Technology
Fort Wayne, IN05.2015
Skills
- Experience with design and development of Automatic Transmission and Electric Drive Module components and assemblies
- Experience with leading cross functional teams to meet program deliverables and objectives from Transmissions, drive units and components (timing, mass, NVH, performance, cost)
- Proficient in Gear microgeometry optimization with Windows Load Distribution Program (Ohio State University GearLab Software)
- Experience with gear design, microgeometry and macrogeometry
- Experience with Taguchi and Design of Experiments
- Experience with reactive problem-solving studies using Shainin Red-X and Kepner Tregoe
- DFSS, Six Sigma Green Belt Certified
- Proficient in transmission & Drive Unit GD&T, tolerance stacks, and component design
- Patent filing for Electronic Locking and Disconnection Differential
Timeline
Powertrain Engineer
Scout Motors
08.2024 - Current
Design System Engineer (DSE) – Heavy Duty Automatic Transmissions (Powerline, 68RFE, AS66RC/AS69RC)
Stellantis: Chrysler Technology Center
07.2023 - 07.2024
Product Engineer – Senior Design Release Engineer
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles/ Stellantis : Chrysler Technology Center
09.2017 - 07.2023
EBOM Change Management: Powertrain Change Specialist & Powertrain Change Specialist Liaison
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: Chrysler Technology Center
07.2015 - 08.2017
Engineering Intern
Superior Essex: Head Quarters/Metal Processing Center
06.2014 - 07.2015
Master of Science -
Oakland University
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E) -
Indiana Institute of Technology