German Matchniff
San Jose
Summary
CEO & Founder | Engineer | Robotics, Software & Hardware Testing | Failure Analysis Expert | Driving Innovation & Business Growth Ambitious leader and engineer with expertise in robotics, software, hardware testing, and failure analysis. Proven track record in the automotive, robotics, and medical sectors, combining technical excellence with entrepreneurial vision. Increased revenue by 87.5%, optimized costs by 50%, and streamlined operations to foster a thriving workplace culture. Passionate about leveraging engineering innovation and strategic leadership to solve complex problems, enhance product performance, and drive sustainable growth.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Business Owner
The Barnyard Epicurean Wine Bar
Danville, United States
12.2024 - Current
- Company Overview: Sip, Savor, Repeat
- Increased nightly revenue by 87.5%, through strategic pricing, enhanced customer experience, and targeted marketing efforts
- Reduced wine inventory and costs by 50% while maintaining a diverse, high-quality selection that elevated the customer experience
- Streamlined personnel and overhead costs without compromising service quality, ensuring a positive and productive workplace environment
- Fostered a collaborative team culture emphasizing growth, accountability, and exceptional customer service
- Sip, Savor, Repeat
Failure Analysis Engineer | Lab Manager - Post Market Surveillance
Johnson & Johnson MedTech
Santa Clara, United States
04.2022 - Current
- Develop, document, and perform failure investigations of returned bronchoscopes, instruments, and accessories to determine the root cause of failure
- Conduct product verification testing
- Review product manufacturing history to identify lot-to-lot correlations for the root causes
- Investigate component-level failure analysis to determine performance and failure modes
- Develop formal failure analysis report data and findings of complaints and other groups after analysis completion
- Create and analyze comprehensive technical failure reports, and provide feedback with sustainable solutions for corrective actions to the Quality Organization
- Develop, prepare and maintain Quality Assurance records and documents
- Conduct Destructive Testing on all confirmed failures
- Responsible for maintaining and updating procedures, and for the management of medical waste per the Medical Waste Management Program, California Health & Safety Code, Sections 117600-118360
- Ensure safety in day-to-day activities by executing site safety policies including proper permitting, safety audits, housekeeping, and incident investigation/recommendation implementation
- Ensure compliance with all regulatory and accreditation requirements
- Manage the daily operations within the Failure Analysis Lab to ensure throughput
- Ensure effective communications are maintained within the lab and externally
- Where appropriate inform employees as to plans and progress
- Conduct employee discussion sessions at regular intervals
- Ownership of maintaining and overseeing the calibration of analysis equipment in the FA Lab
- Monitor and evaluate Lab equipment, systems, and supplies to ensure operational efficiency, reliability of results, and adequate inventory
- Develop and maintain updates in the lab policies and procedure manuals
- Ownership of the development of the lab budget and monitoring lab expenses to ensure lab costs are within established levels
Final Qualification Test - Customer Support Operations
Intuitive
Sunnyvale, United States
06.2021 - 04.2022
- Certified to perform all Service Operations Technician I, II, III & IV functions
- Able to perform all Mechanical and Electrical repairs as needed
- Performed Failure Analysis on all products
- Performed Final Tests on all products
- Processed, disposed of, and track related returns
- Base Instruments - Failure Analysis
- Advanced Instruments - Failure Analysis, Coding
- Vision - Failure Analysis, Heavy Coding, MPI Knowledge, Repair/Test
- Basic coding and scripting in languages such as C / C++, Python, Matlab
- Provided training and guidance to RMA Service Operations Technicians
- Proficient in SAP and Agile Product Lifecycle Management
Lead Robotics Test Engineer
Fetch Robotics
09.2018 - 06.2021
- Company Overview: Acquired by Zebra Technologies 08/10/2021!
- Lead a team of engineers (SW, EE, ME, TE) to define, develop and deliver test equipment and plans
- Basic coding and scripting in languages such as C / C++, Python
- Troubleshoot robotic systems, using knowledge of microprocessors, programmable controllers, electronics, circuit analysis, mechanics, sensor, or feedback systems
- Software coding using Linux-based systems
- Perform manual and automated testing of robots utilizing the FetchCore Cloud Management System
- Assist manufacturing manager with managing manufacturing technician resources with regards to day-to-day duties/tasks
- Architect robots on customer instances for deployment
- Support manufacturing through the establishment, implementation, and maintenance of manufacturing processes and supporting documentation
- Created and developed tools and fixtures required for robot assembly
- Supported production line performance and determine the necessary steps needed to achieve optimum line efficiency and product quality
- Assisted manufacturing and engineering by conducting root cause analysis and driving corrective action
- Collected, prepared, and analyzed test data
- Assist manufacturing engineers and manufacturing quality technicians in the analysis of quality issues, equipment selection and setup, manufacturing documentation, and the manufacturing process flow
- Managed and monitored achievement against the manufacturing build plan providing management with real-time updates surrounding any line-down situations or capacity constraints
- Acquired by Zebra Technologies 08/10/2021!
Process Engineering - Ground Truth Labeling
Cruise Automation
01.2018 - 07.2018
- Use in-house software tools to identify and label objects in 2D + 3D image QA work and provide detailed feedback to offsite teams
- Lead small projects
- Provide feedback and improvements on any current in-house tool
- Communicate with the offsite team to resolve hardware and software issues
- Contributed to documentation and training guides
Vehicle Engineering Test Group - Model 3 Launch Team
Tesla
06.2016 - 11.2017
- Conduct vehicle level tests according to Tesla test plans and procedures
- Build, construct, troubleshoot, repair, and document mechanical fixtures and electrical harnesses
- Troubleshoot and maintain existing electrical, thermal, and mechanical test equipment
- Perform setup of powertrain engineering tests with a focus on efficiency and safety
- Perform continuous monitoring of electrical, thermal, and mechanical reliability tests
- Perform characterization tests of powertrain equipment before, during, and after reliability tests
- Provide intelligent feedback regarding existing processes with a focus on improving efficiency, throughput, and safety
- Monitor ongoing tests for faults and failures
Education
Bachelor of Science - BS - Health Care Administration, Specialization in Leadership
Capella University
12.2024
Skills
- Small Business
- Business development
- Team collaboration and leadership
- Financial administration
- Trends analysis
- Business Ownership
- Customer Service
- Quality assurance
- Team building
Certification
- SQL Server 2017: Linux, Docker, and macOS
- Learning Python Generators
- Eagle Scout Award (Gold/Silver/Bronze)
- JavaScript: Functions
- Managing Your Energy
Awards
- Thank You Award
- "Our Credo & Our Purpose" Grow Award
Timeline
Business Owner
The Barnyard Epicurean Wine Bar
12.2024 - Current
Failure Analysis Engineer | Lab Manager - Post Market Surveillance
Johnson & Johnson MedTech
04.2022 - Current
Final Qualification Test - Customer Support Operations
Intuitive
06.2021 - 04.2022
Lead Robotics Test Engineer
Fetch Robotics
09.2018 - 06.2021
Process Engineering - Ground Truth Labeling
Cruise Automation
01.2018 - 07.2018
Vehicle Engineering Test Group - Model 3 Launch Team
Tesla
06.2016 - 11.2017
Bachelor of Science - BS - Health Care Administration, Specialization in Leadership
Capella University