Pratik Chandan

Leadership and Team Management:

• Coach and manage a high-performance multi-site team (35+ members: Virtual Validation Engineers, Automation Engineers) to deliver high-value engineering services across the enterprise.
• Architected and deployed roadmap for digital transformation and automation in Engineering. AI ROM based multi-attribute engineering architecture development through Multi Domain Optimization to reduce lead time in product development. Lead engineering wide automation deployment and AI initiative to improve engineering speed and efficiency.
• Architect and develop ground-up automation solution for requirements tracing and standard work deployment for virtual validation process.
  

Engineering Product Development:

• Led central Virtual Validation and Product Development team assisting design engineers and systems architects with New Product Development (Chassis, Powertrain, Driveline) across all Business Unit Segments. (OnRoad, OffRoad, Snow)
• Deployed 1D tools for vehicle performance and architecture development using tools like GT Suite and Amesim. Experience with Controls Software Testing and Development using MIL (Model In Loop), HIL (Hardware In Loop)
• Key part of the team developing first electrified vehicle at Polaris and evaluation and roadmap for ADAS.

Budget and Resource Management:

• Manage Powertrain, Driveline, and 1D Systems Engineer budget (~$10MM), including resource planning, allocation, and utilization.
  Collaborate with GBU Directors to ensure appropriate budget allocation through quarterly, annual, and long-range planning forecasting cycles, resulting in a 15% improvement in YOY Allocation (vs 2023).
  Oversee vendor relationships, contract negotiations, and capital purchase planning for High-Performance Computing and software (~$3MM capital).
  

Stakeholder Engagement and Process Improvement:

• Engage with leadership stakeholders to identify capability gaps and implement process changes to enhance the value of services.
  Achieved 86+% standard works documentation and process deployment across the team.
  Implement Lean principles (SIPOC, RACI) for stakeholder alignment to standardize, simplify, and improve end customer value across the product development process.
  

• Developed and deployed detailed strategic plans to stand up Engineering Center in Bangalore, India supporting global engineering footprint.
• Collaborated with GBU Vice Presidents, Engineering Directors to advertise talent bench expansion opportunity, identify growth opportunities and roles to hire at in-sourcing center.
• Scouted, interviewed and hired talented Engineering Manager with expertise in Product Development and Team Building to build high potential talent bench at Polaris Bangalore Center.
• Coordinated recruitment waves, calibration meetings and weekly engineering updates.
• Met with project stakeholders on weekly basis to assess progress, plan and calibrate hiring.
• Established ~ 28 HC team integrated across 7 functional units within Engineering, providing 30% annual savings over competing out-sourcing engineering service.

• Managed Powertrain Virtual Validation Team budget, resource planning, allocation and utilization. Collaborated with GBU Directors to ensure the right budget allocation through Long Range Planning, Annual, and Quarterly forecasting cycles.
• Engaged with Powertrain design stakeholders to identify capability gaps, and process changes to improve the value of service.
• Conceptualized, architected, and deployed Resource Management Tool to enable real-time work priority management, resource allocation, and CAE customer status updates.
• Drove change management in product development through Early Engineering - Analysis Led Design. Instituted pre Gate 1 phase-gate process changes to drive design maturity and improved efficiency. (Cross-Functional)
• Scouted, hired, and developed an initial talent bench of automation engineers in Bangalore, India.

• Managed CAE analysis plan, resource, CAE budget for Royal Enfield Joint Venture as well as Polaris's first I4 powertrain engine platform.
• Led weekly CAE action register meeting and managed communication with PT and Chassis teams on analysis related tasks. Managed project activities with a 3 site team (US, UK, India).
• Key primary interface with outsourcing services manager for CAE team. Managed relationship and grew engagement by 140% from 5 offshore engineers to 12 engineers (offshore+onsite).
• Developed project management tools to manage analysis tasks, resources, identify resource bottlenecks and reduce planning overhead significantly.
• Risk management and communication with senior management at Critical Design Reviews.
• Co-authored analysis method to calculate engine durability under engine excitation + road loads using flex body approach.

• Responsible for developing and managing CAE analysis plan for new ~ $2.3M powertrain engine platform at Polaris.
• Oversaw and contributed to product and analysis planning on several major engine programs.
• Co-authored engineering standards work for Powertrain Group as part of Knowledge Management group at Polaris.
• Led weekly CAE action register meeting and managed communication with PT and Chassis teams on analysis related tasks.
• Founding member of the peer group responsible for developing, documenting analysis methods as part of knowledge management initiative.

• Stretch assignment supporting Purchasing Manager to establish supplier footprint in Mexico to support Monterrey facility.
• Scouted, Identified and initiated contact with new supplier in Mexico to increase NAFTA part content in product developed in Mexico by 10%.
• Developed initial supplier qualification process based on production capacity, certification and fit within the company culture.

• Managed and executed chassis CAE analysis plan for small bore youth ATV program.
• Managed CAE plan on youth ATV developed jointly with an International supplier/partner. Collaborating on design and analysis effort.
• Helped establish design targets for chassis stiffness and metrics to evaluate design iterations.
• Worked on design and analysis of first SxS chassis platform at Polaris.