Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Timeline
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Shannon Howard

Sr. Principal Team Leader
Fayetteville,GA

Summary

Senior Principal Team Leader with almost 20 years of leadership and engineering experience across manufacturing, product development, and equipment innovation. Leads teams through Prototype, Validate, and Launch, delivering complex projects while improving how work gets done across the lifecycle.

Known for connecting strategy to execution—bringing clarity, aligning stakeholders, and helping teams navigate ambiguity to keep projects moving. Values strong relationships, breaking down barriers, and developing people to grow, succeed, and deliver meaningful results.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience

Work History

Program Manager, Rollout Strategy Team

Chick-fil-A, Inc.
01.2025 - Current
  • Selected for a 2-year development role supporting rollout strategy, readiness, and sequencing of business-wide initiatives and projects
  • Bring an enterprise lens to planning, ensuring the right conversations happen at the right time to prepare teams for rollout
  • Partner with project and program leads to define “readiness” and guide when and how to engage with the Rollout Strategy Team
  • Identify gaps and improve rollout planning by helping establish and apply readiness criteria, guidance, and supporting resources (e.g., readiness guide, rollout checklist, planning templates)
  • Coordinate cross-functional alignment and facilitate monthly stakeholder meetings to support visibility, planning, and decision-making
  • Partner with FP&A, Org Planning, and Corporate Communications to align on strategic initiatives, annual planning, and rollout priorities
  • Co-create and manage the annual campaign and rollout calendar (updated ~5x/year), a key enterprise tool guiding rollout timing, pivots, and sequencing decisions
  • Support team effectiveness and culture by improving processes, managing shared resources, and strengthening collaboration

Sr. Principal Team Leader

Chick-fil-A, Inc.
04.2024 - Current
  • Led and developed a team of 4 engineers working on 6-8 restaurant equipment projects at a time, from Prototype through Validate & Launch and into ongoing lifecycle improvements
  • Directed a multi-million-dollar project portfolio using the Blueprint process, making sure projects stayed on track for scope, timeline, measures of success, and budget
  • Helped teams move faster by improving process discipline and driving continuous improvement across the innovation lifecycle
  • Shaped project and partnership strategies that improved equipment performance and supported broader cost savings and efficiency goals
  • Partnered with cross-functional leaders to align priorities, remove roadblocks, and move complex projects forward
  • Strengthened ways of working across Prototype/Validate/Launch and post-launch phases, improving consistency and overall team effectiveness
  • Balanced budget, team capacity, and vendor support to keep projects moving and maximize impact
  • Built and managed vendor relationships, including selection, performance feedback, and capability development to meet engineering standards

Principal Team Leader

Chick-fil-A, Inc.
01.2023 - 04.2024
  • Led and developed a team of 3 engineers supporting Validate & Launch initiatives, including performance management, career growth, and fostering a strong team culture
  • Served as a subject matter expert in project execution and Production Design's Blueprint process utilization, guiding engineers and shaping engineering standards
  • Oversaw Production Design projects and sprint reviews to ensure on-time delivery, high-quality execution, and continuous improvement of processes and tools
  • Drove equipment reliability, standards, and regulatory compliance to support long-term operational effectiveness and business needs
  • Partnered with cross-functional stakeholders to align priorities, provide input to strategy and planning, and advance continuous improvement initiatives
  • Built and managed vendor relationships, including selection, performance feedback, and capability development to meet engineering requirements

Sr. Lead Engineer – Production Design

Chick-fil-A Inc.
12.2019 - 01.2023
  • Facilitated projects through the Validate & Launch Phases to ensure equipment projects were successfully launched to 2,500+ restaurants
  • Led execution of field and market testing, and confirmed readiness of equipment for launch
  • Led weekly cross-functional collaboration with equipment suppliers and stakeholders through project completion
  • Ensured all project specifications, drawings, and documentation were accurate, detailed, and current
  • Built and maintained relationships with suppliers and stakeholders to improve quality of equipment and communication
  • Led and challenged suppliers through 8D, root cause analysis, and corrective actions of equipment projects
  • Served as "Quarterback" of Triad (team of 3)- stewarding project budget and timeline, serving as Scrum Master managing multiple projects, execution of work prioritization, project Blueprint completion, escalating roadblocks, and leading coordination for formal project communication(s)

Development Engineer- Oxygen Sensor Division

Robert Bosch LLC
05.2017 - 11.2019
  • Developed oxygen sensor for two-wheel applications with lower cost and time to market
  • Optimized grommet sealing design by collaborating with Suppliers, Purchasing, and Supplier Quality to improve material selection and component design
  • Conducted Design of Experiment studies to test multiple component variables
  • Led Assembly Design Validation testing from planning phase through completion of testing and interpretation of results
  • Purchased and maintained weekly inventory of all sample components for testing and customer samples
  • Developed and maintained component maturity level index to track each component
  • Communicated with cross-functional worldwide teams weekly for component deliveries, design changes, and validation testing
  • Maintained multiple project documents and facilitated review meetings

Manufacturing Engineer- Automotive Electronics Division

Robert Bosch LLC
08.2011 - 05.2017
  • Plant process authority for ASM, ESEC, and Kaijo gold wire bond equipment
  • Plant process authority for Panasonic and March plasma equipment, Schiller handling stations, and intermediate program/test
  • Developed and maintained all Cleanroom CP, PF, and FMEA documentation
  • Purchased, performed acceptance, installed, released, and optimized new equipment
  • Oversaw gold wire bonding for Quality, Maintenance, and Operations groups
  • Facilitated cleanroom line extensions/equipment moves
  • Executed Engineering documentation including PQI(s), ECR(s), and Material Acquisition Requests

Associate Design Materials Engineer

Fluor Corporation
06.2007 - 08.2011
  • Conducted research and developed material specifications for piping, plumbing, and fire protection systems, ensuring compliance with industry standards
  • Interfaced with mechanical design, fire safety, and HVAC teams for design verification of Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams
  • Created and maintained over 30 piping specifications, enhancing project design consistency and reliability
  • Compiled technical specifications for unique piping components to support accurate and efficient Request for Quote processes
  • Prepared project documents according to ASME (and various industry standards)

Education

Bachelor of Science - Ceramic and Materials Engineering

Clemson University
Clemson, SC
05.2007

Skills

  • Problem Solving
  • Relationship building and networking
  • Cross-functional Collaboration
  • Strategic leadership
  • Organizational development
  • Teamwork
  • Program Management
  • Project Management
  • Product Development
  • Equipment Development & Validation

Affiliations

  • Rollout Strategy Team Program Manager, 2025-Present (Chick-fil-A, Inc.)
  • Marketing-Engineering Culture Team Leader, 2021-2024 (Chick-fil-A, Inc.)
  • WIB Masterminds Participant, 2022 (Chick-fil-A, Inc.)
  • WIB Member, 2021-Present (Chick-fil-A Inc.)
  • Production Design Triad Quarterback, 2021-2023 (Chick-fil-A, Inc.)
  • Board Member, women@bosch Anderson, 2018 to 2019 (Robert Bosch)
  • Program Manager, STEM Event 2019 (women@bosch) (Robert Bosch)

Timeline

Program Manager, Rollout Strategy Team

Chick-fil-A, Inc.
01.2025 - Current

Sr. Principal Team Leader

Chick-fil-A, Inc.
04.2024 - Current

Principal Team Leader

Chick-fil-A, Inc.
01.2023 - 04.2024

Sr. Lead Engineer – Production Design

Chick-fil-A Inc.
12.2019 - 01.2023

Development Engineer- Oxygen Sensor Division

Robert Bosch LLC
05.2017 - 11.2019

Manufacturing Engineer- Automotive Electronics Division

Robert Bosch LLC
08.2011 - 05.2017

Associate Design Materials Engineer

Fluor Corporation
06.2007 - 08.2011

Bachelor of Science - Ceramic and Materials Engineering

Clemson University
Shannon HowardSr. Principal Team Leader