Phillip Davis
Charlotte,NC
Summary
Multi-skilled motorsports, automotive, and academic research professional with decades of experience in high performance engines, data acquisition and analysis, dyno testing, and trackside development.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Lab Manager/Instructor for Automotive Technology Program
North Carolina State Agricultural & Technical University
01.2021 - Current
- Oversee laboratory spaces for automotive program
- Instruct undergraduate automotive engineering classes
- Oversee development of practical education related to automotive/motorsports degrees
- Maintain equipment and work with instructors to improve correlation between classroom and laboratory experiences in the undergraduate thermo-fluids, materials, and instrumentation labs.
Owner
Razor Motorsports
01.2007 - Current
- Authorized Motec Systems dealer
- Design, install, and calibrate competition engine management and data acquisition systems
- Manufacturer of mil-spec quality custom wiring harnesses for a variety of competition vehicles including drag racing, road racing, and watersports/powerboat racing
- Consultant for multiple teams to better improve tuning algorithms, data analysis, and post-event diagnosis of collected information using mathematical models, Excel spreadsheets, and engineering software platforms such as MathCAD
- Design, test, and manufacture new engine and chassis components for use in motorsports, as well as contract design work for robotics and other non-motorsports environments
- Design process heavily relies on top-down modeling primarily using Creo (formerly Pro Engineer) parametric CAD modeling software, but also have varying use of Solidworks, AutoCAD, DeltaCAD, and other CAD/CAM packages depending on customer needs
- Design work focused on prototype and low-production projects, requiring oversight of project from initial design phase to final deliverable product
- Design requirements maximized using engineering principles as well as modern computer tools such as FEA, dynamic mechanical simulators, and CFD
- Perform all manufacturing processes include manual & CNC milling, manual turning, TIG & MIG welding, jigging & fixturing, and various metal-forming techniques
- All CNC programming performed in-house utilizing MasterCAM and SurfCAM
- Holding fixtures, work process flows, and other manufacturing solutions designed and constructed in-house.
Research Operations Manager
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
01.2015 - 01.2021
- Lead design engineer overseeing construction of the new Motorsports Department wind tunnel
- Instruct Junior Design students on implementation of top-down design methods using parametric CAD
- Consult with Junior & Senior design teams concerning electromechanical designs, CAD modelling & simulations, manufacturing, and design viability
- Maintain equipment and work with instructors to improve correlation between classroom and laboratory experiences in the undergraduate thermo-fluids, materials, and instrumentation labs
- Fabricate fixtures, testing & working sections, and various other devices for graduate research projects throughout the department.
Co-owner
Cycle Concepts
01.2001 - 01.2007
- Specializing in motorcycle and powersports-based competition vehicles including road racing, drag racing, mini-sprints, and sand drags
- Assembly, cylinder head porting and design, dyno testing, and trackside tuning of high performance engines
- Fabrication of chassis and suspension components, trackside tuning and analysis of suspension design and functionality
- Fabrication of custom turbo induction and exhaust systems.
CNC Operator & Programmer (Part-Time Employee)
Major Machine
01.2005 - 01.2006
- Medium to high-production rate manufacturing facility focusing primarily on CNC milling and turning processes
- Set up and operated multiple 3 & 4-axis CNC milling centers, as well as multiple CNC turning centers with various configurations including live tooling and bar feeders
- Responsible for maintaining quality control during all supervised shifts
- Programmed CNC machines utilizing CAM software packages Mastercam & SurfCAM
- Designed fixtures and other manufacturing tools to aid in the production quality and efficiency of manufacturing processes.
Cylinder Head & Engine Specialist
Cooper Performance
01.1999 - 01.2001
- Specialists in the machining and assembly of high performance powerplants for various forms of motorsports utilizing production motorcycle & powersports engines
- Performed most common engine shop machining processes including boring, decking, surfacing, guide & seat installation, and Serdi valve jobs
- Cylinder head porting, flow bench analysis, cam & valve train assembly
- Assembled complete engines, performed failure analysis, and experimented with new methods to improve competition engine power & longevity.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering -
University of North Carolina At Charlotte
12.2024
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering -
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
05.2014
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with Motorsports Focus -
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
08.2011
Aviation Maintenance Technician Certification -
North American Institute of Aviation
12.1995
Skills
- Chassis and suspension design
- Vehicle dynamics
- Vehicle system packaging and integration
- Engine management
- Fuel injection
- Data acquisition
- Electrical systems
- CAD operator
- Top-down design techniques
- Manufacturing and fabrication processes
- CNC programming and operation
- Product development and prototyping
- Component design and manufacturing
- Road vehicle dynamics
- Road vehicle aerodynamics
- Instrumentation and data acquisition
- Performance engine design and assembly
- Scrutineering and motorsports rules formulation
- Team management
- Laboratory Management
- Experimental design
- Instrument Calibration
- Research coordination
- Lab equipment maintenance
- Data Interpretation
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Documentation And Reporting
- Process Improvement
- MS Office
Publications
- Journal, Superatmospheric MOCVD Reactor Design for High Quality InGaN Growth, Melton, A. G., Davis, P., Uddin, M., Stokes, E., ECS Trans., 2012, 45, 7, 73-77
- Journal, On the Effectiveness of Scale-Averaged RANS and Scale-Resolved IDDES Turbulence Simulation Approaches in Predicting the Pressure Field over a NASCAR Racecar, Misar, A., Davis, P., Uddin, M., Fluids, 2023, 8, 5, 157
- Conference, A Comparison of RANS-Based Turbulence Modeling for Flow over a Wall-Mounted Square Cylinder, Davis, P. L., Rinehimer, A. T., Uddin, M., 20th Annual Conference of the CFD Society of Canada, May 9-11, 2012, Canmore, AB, Canada
- Manuscript, Investigation of the Effects of Rotation and Heat Transfer on the Topology of Flow inside a High Pressure Epitaxial Growth Chamber, Davis, P. L., Uddin, M., Manuscript in preparation
References
- Dr. Mesbah Uddin, Director, North Carolina Motorsports and Automotive Research Center, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC, 28223, (704)-687-7020
- Adam Stahl, Engineer, JR Motorsports, 346 Cayuga Dr, Mooresville, NC, (843)-901-4826
- Jason Miller, Owner, Miller Brothers Productions, PO Box 2388, La Plata, MD, 20646, (240)-349-2538
- Dr. Ronald Smelser, Associate Dean, Lee College of Engineering, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC, 28223, (704)-687-8244
- Steve Earwood, Owner, Rockingham Dragway, 2153 US 1, Rockingham, NC, 28379, (910)-582-3400
- Dr. Jerre Hill, Senior Lecturer, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC, 28223, (704)-687-8335
Timeline
Lab Manager/Instructor for Automotive Technology Program
North Carolina State Agricultural & Technical University
01.2021 - Current
Research Operations Manager
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
01.2015 - 01.2021
Owner
Razor Motorsports
01.2007 - Current
CNC Operator & Programmer (Part-Time Employee)
Major Machine
01.2005 - 01.2006
Co-owner
Cycle Concepts
01.2001 - 01.2007
Cylinder Head & Engine Specialist
Cooper Performance
01.1999 - 01.2001
Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering -
University of North Carolina At Charlotte
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering -
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with Motorsports Focus -
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Aviation Maintenance Technician Certification -
North American Institute of Aviation
Similar Profiles
MICHAEL WADDELLMICHAEL WADDELL
Technology Support Analyst at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State UniversityTechnology Support Analyst at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Harsh Patel, Ph.D., E.I.THarsh Patel, Ph.D., E.I.T
Postdoctoral Research Associate at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State UniversityPostdoctoral Research Associate at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Jasmine MilesJasmine Miles
Police Officer, Uniformed Road Patrol at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State UniversityPolice Officer, Uniformed Road Patrol at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Samantha CottonSamantha Cotton
Manager at Mellow MushroomManager at Mellow Mushroom
Kevin DoughertyKevin Dougherty
Hospitality Manager, Guest Servies, Bayhost at TopGolfHospitality Manager, Guest Servies, Bayhost at TopGolf