Theresa Parker
Richmond,MI
Summary
Experienced Mechanical Engineer with 24-years background designing and implementing safety products and corresponding design activities from program award through production launch. Polished in building products through concepts, testing, and creating prototypes and selecting appropriate materials for manufacturing. Highly focused and results-oriented professional possessing strong communication, organizational and motivational skills.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Principal Product Engineer - Mechanical/R&D - SBS
ZF Lifetec
05.2016 - 02.2026
- Engineering Design Responsible for the launch of the Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Dodge Durango from program award through launch.
- Tasks including: creating designs, drawings, models, test plans, validation, reliability, DFMEAs, FEAs, etc.
- First Launch of the ZF SPR8 technology in North America.
- North America Webbing Engineer - Released and validated various webbing constructions for production across all customers; high level of focus on customer specifications
- Drove continuous improvement in engineering to improve product designs and improve manufacturability processes.
- Tested completed projects for functionality and implemented changes to production methods to rectify issues in final products.
- Mentored and monitored entry level engineers and assisted on various projects outside the standard workload.
- Interpreted technical drawings, schematics and reports for product conformance with engineering design and performance specifications.
- Collaborated with prototype team to identify and manage project deliverables for customer orders.
- Created designs at minimal costs w/ improved performance using high-volume manufacturing processes and careful material selection.
- Created a standard SBS Design Checklist to standardize SBS drawings across customers.
- Responsible for leading the engineering team with cross-customer changes due to force majeures, plant closures, and commonizations and localizations
- Reconfigured core bill of materials and drawings to match the production process for SPR8 technology
- Created new test specifications
- Responsible for deviations, LSAs for all types of parts including Pyrotechnics
Resident Engineer - GM Seatbelts
ZF Lifetec
01.2024 - 09.2024
- Collaborated between GM and ZF engineering while residing at the GM Tech Center.
- Released numerous ECRs for GM changes specific to the BT1YL/ZL platform.
- Responsible for writing DRBFMs and supporting diagrams
- Supported new designs, samples, prototype orders for vehicle builds.
- Successfully implemented new designs and products for GM from knowledge learned working on cross-customer changes.
Principal Product Engineer - Value Management
ZF
06.2007 - 05.2016
- Drove continuous improvement culture in engineering to provide lower cost product designs while improving performance'
- Recommended new designs and promoted commonization across OEM products
- Extensive Validation of all seatbelt products such as components, sub-assemblies, end items
- Led customer-driven design reviews to enhance customer products, experiences and efficiency.
- Insourcing of buckle wire harnesses into the ZF Reynosa plant; worked closely with the plant, purchasing and suppliers to source the components needed. Collaborated with the ZF Electrical Technical Lead in meeting USCAR and other industry standards.
- Responsible for the localizations of various components into North America
- Validated and implemented new materials to improve manufacturing processes; SBS frames, anchors, latchplates, d-rings, anchor pretensioners, buckles, retractors and more
Project Engineer - Seatbelts and Airbags
Takata Holdings Inc.
06.2003 - 03.2007
- Lead engineer on the launch of the Cadillac STS with continuous engineering on the Cadillac STS, CTS, DTS, and SRX seatbelts
- Lead engineer on the launch of the Jeep Wrangler SBS and SAB with unique designs suitable to sustain the extreme environmental conditions the vehicle endures.
- Led the GM team in the elimination of Hexavalent Chromium on SBS systems
- Responsible for releasing engineering changes, DFMEAs, Designs, Drawings, Validation, Compliance, Reliability, FEAs, Six Sigma, GD&T
- Supported Prototypes and Customer Deliverables
- Anthro-Measurements completed at GM to be used as a 5th percentile female
Engineering Intern
Volkswagen of America, Inc
09.2001 - 12.2002
- OBDII - Performed OBD powertrain tests using various scan tools on the engineering development vehicle fleet.
- Created a new Microsoft frontPage database to track and organize warranty data and output reports/charts.
- Federal Regulations - Assisted in the preparation and distribution of regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of
Transportation, and NHTSA. - Monthly Reports - Gathered the engineering department's input in problem
areas, meetings attended, and upcoming assignments. These reports were used to program manage the Engineering off and distribute tasks. - Access Database - Created a database to compile specifications and data which results in Queries and Reports and distributed. This database formed the basis for a corporate wide database.
- Engineering Website - Built the environmental office a website using Microsoft FrontPage to post important laws and regulations to be distruted to other departments.
Education
Mechanical Engineering
Oakland University
Rochester, MI12-2002
Skills
- Designing and implementing various automotive products into production
- CV, DV, PV testing
- Vast knowledge of specifications including customer specs, FMVSS, ECER16, CCC, GSO, CCC
- Proficient with DFMEAs
- Six-Sigma Activities
- Fixture Design
- Prototype Builds
- Writing Change Notices
- Experience with Pyrotechnics
- Problem-Solving / Root-Causing
- Punctual with deadlines and great time management
- FEAs and simulations
- Capable of managing a much higher workload than others
- Promotes a professional but happy workplace
- Learn much quicker than others
- Organizational Skills
- Excellent Time management
- Strong desire to continue learning
- In-vehicle testing as a 5th% female
- Thrive while handling a high workload
- Passion for Vehicle Safety
- Energetic
- Creative and Artistic
- Adversity to various cultures
- Driven and a Go-getter
- Motivated and ready for the next level in Engineering
Accomplishments
- Launched numerous seatbelt programs with minimal issues at SOP
- Proven ability to continuously improve designs, standards, test specifications while reducing costs
- Earned the trust of director level in multiple departments to manage complicated changes and cross-customer issues
- Solved numerous SBS warranty issues to improve quality
- Immense loyalty to employers
- Created various databases and improved organization and data reporting
- Performance reviews that reflect readiness for management levels
- Eisenhower High School Valedictorian - 4.05 GPA
Timeline
Resident Engineer - GM Seatbelts
ZF Lifetec
01.2024 - 09.2024
Principal Product Engineer - Mechanical/R&D - SBS
ZF Lifetec
05.2016 - 02.2026
Principal Product Engineer - Value Management
ZF
06.2007 - 05.2016
Project Engineer - Seatbelts and Airbags
Takata Holdings Inc.
06.2003 - 03.2007
Engineering Intern
Volkswagen of America, Inc
09.2001 - 12.2002
Mechanical Engineering
Oakland University