Sakthivel Narendran
Summary
Dynamic leader with seven years of technical program management experience and a proven track record in delivering cost effective next generation electric powertrains. Skilled in engineering design, manufacturing (ten years of full-time) and strategic planning, adept at fostering teamwork and collaboration. Excelled in global supply chain optimization, ensuring product excellence and innovation.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Staff Engineering Program Manager
Tesla
02.2023 - Current
- Lead Engineering TPM for the electric drivetrain development of the Gen V mass market car and the Robotaxi platforms. Owned the product timeline, continuously retired program blockers through active risk management, kept the program on-track for cost, design validation. supply chain and manufacturing readiness.
- Managing a team of four engineering program managers in Drivetrain R&D across five different vehicle platforms. Design driven cost downs (saving multiple million $/year/vehicle), Range improvements (>=0.4% system efficiency increase), Developing best in class NVH (< 3Db)
- Drove scalable supply chain initiatives for teslas global carbon initiatives in the Drive unit product stream for 3 & Y mass production volumes (saving multiple million $/year/vehicle and duties and tariffs plus reducing single sourced supply chain risk.
- Managing global product mix of drive unit to vehicle trims, managing performance, cost and balancing manufacturing efficiencies across teslas global factories.
- Improvised phase gate process and checklists for product development increasing effectiveness to manage product goals (on-time, in-budget, meet performance)
Senior Engineering Program Manager
Tesla
08.2020 - 02.2023
- Started as a geartrain EPM supporting product development of gears, bearings and differential in the motorgearbox sub-system for all Tesla vehicles (SX3Y, Semi).
- In early 2022, i took over as the lead program manager for development of the new generation drive unit for model 3&Y, the most powerful e-motor Tesla developed for passenger cars (torque performance). The uncorked performance of this drive unit is now successfully launched on the new Model3 Performance car. This product was also successfully scaled across three our of manufacturing sites and three continents (Austin, Berlin & Shanghai).
- Unlocked significant global cost downs (multiple million $/year/vehicle) by driving magnet R&D and motor design optimization projects to completion in an accelerated fashion.
Senior NPI Technical Program Manager
Tesla
05.2019 - 08.2020
- Drove the teams to launch Model3Y Battery remanufacturing globally (NA, EU and China).
- Sustained NPI work globally for SX battery through change controls and effective management of Excess and Obsolescence by working closely with the factories and engineering teams
NPI Technical Program Manager
Tesla
08.2017 - 05.2019
- Led the launch of model 3 battery Remanufacturing operations in North America.
- Saved $40M /year in service and warranty cost through setting up remanufacturing supply chain and operations.
Project Engineer - Launch Quality
ZF Transmissions
12.2016 - 08.2017
- Led the APQP and manufacturing line qualification activities for the new Jaguar Land Rover vehicle 9-Speed Transmission program in ZF's gray court facility.
- Managed aspects of supply quality assurance, machine and gage qualifications, first article inspection and machine design with manufacturing engineering.
Quality Engineer- Launch
GKN Driveline
03.2016 - 12.2016
- Forming, Machining & Assembly of Driveshaft components for Jeep Cheroke ballspline halfshafts.
- I drove cross functional teams from quality front to launch this new factory from bar-to-car in a record eight months at GKN sanford.
Manufacturing Quality Engineer
GKN Driveline
03.2014 - 03.2016
- Led factory quality control and assurance across sixteen production lines making interconnecting shafts for driveline covering bar shaft machining, spline rolling, heat treatment, paint, grinding processes. I championed factory wide SPC implementation including non-contact part inspection techniques in a 30 year old factory.
Education
Master of Science - Industrial Engineering
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC12.2013
Bachelor of Science - Production Engineering
Anna University (MIT Campus)
Chennai, India05.2012
Skills
- Engineering Design
- Requirements Analysis
- Software Integration
- Technical Problem-Solving
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Organizational Skills
- Effective Communication
- Strategic Planning
Timeline
Staff Engineering Program Manager
Tesla
02.2023 - Current
Senior Engineering Program Manager
Tesla
08.2020 - 02.2023
Senior NPI Technical Program Manager
Tesla
05.2019 - 08.2020
NPI Technical Program Manager
Tesla
08.2017 - 05.2019
Project Engineer - Launch Quality
ZF Transmissions
12.2016 - 08.2017
Quality Engineer- Launch
GKN Driveline
03.2016 - 12.2016
Manufacturing Quality Engineer
GKN Driveline
03.2014 - 03.2016
Master of Science - Industrial Engineering
North Carolina State University
Bachelor of Science - Production Engineering
Anna University (MIT Campus)
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