GOUTHAM SHANMUGA SUNDARAM
Foster City
Summary
Innovative and results-driven engineering leader with over 14 years of experience in automotive product development, leading high-performing teams across interiors, lighting, NVH, and safety restraints. Proven ability to deliver novel solutions in cutting-edge autonomous vehicle platforms. Adept at supplier management, launch readiness, and cross-functional collaboration with a deep understanding of mechanical systems and electronics integration. Excels in strategic planning, team leadership, and detailed execution, ready to bring a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to NVIDIA.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Manager
Zoox
10.2017 - Current
- Leadership in Interiors and Restraints Engineering: I headed the engineering team and was responsible for the development of interiors and restraints for a cutting-edge, fully autonomous, socially seated interior. Managed 10 key suppliers, overseeing a diverse range of processes, from injection molding to thermoforming, while providing leadership and technical guidance.
- Team Management and Leadership: Directed a team of 10 direct reports and supervised 30 indirect reports, cultivating a high-performing team that thrived under my leadership in the interiors and restraints domain.
- Strategic Budget Oversight: Exhibited financial leadership by developing, maintaining, and reporting on a budget exceeding $5 million annually. This included budget allocation for engineering, design, and development (ED&D), tooling, component testing, fixtures, validation, and resource management.
- Reveal Vehicle Project Leadership: Spearheaded the successful execution of the reveal vehicle project, managing over 500 components to ensure they met appearance standards and dimensional accuracy within a remarkably tight timeframe of just 6 months.
- Airbag Design and Safety Compliance: Pioneered the deployment and testing of patented airbag designs within the interior trim, incorporating invaluable lessons learned from the process meeting the FMVSS regulations.
- Supplier Coordination and Validation: Led the rigorous validation of 500 components sourced from 8 different suppliers, overseeing a battery of over 40 tests, including durability, critical-to-quality (CTQ), and electronics testing, exemplifying leadership in supplier relationships and quality control.
- Sub-System Requirement Authorship: Authored comprehensive sub-system level requirements for interior systems, ensuring clarity and precision in development, reinforcing leadership in setting technical standards.
- Managed large-scale projects of 6 series of vehicle builds and introduced new systems, tools, and processes in engineering, releases, budgeting to achieve challenging objectives.
Interiors Engineer, Hard trims and headliner
Faraday Future Inc
10.2016 - Current
- Lead engineer for DF91 interior project for Hard trims and Headliner.
- Class A surface development for interior production parts plastic and sheet metal.
- Design to package targets for vehicle content and sub-assemblies with concept sections.
- Focus on quality of design compatibility and pass geometric requirements for Fit & Finish, Clearances, Tolerances, Craftsmanship, Appearance, Service, Assembly and Package targets.
- Collaborate with suppliers and cross-functional engineers to progress design.
- Maintain clearances to percentile human and keep from interfering with ergonomic zones.
- Maintain and provide timing charts and 5D's for deliverables and milestones.
- Reduce number of components and part costs for program savings as well as manufacturing.
- Maintain and build bill of materials (EBOM) in using ENOVIA (PLM).
- Prepare DFMEA / DVP&Rs development, technical specifications and product documents.
- Compliance to diverse markets regulatory requirements FMVSS.
Vehicle Engineering - Interiors Engineering
Tesla Motors Inc
01.2015 - 09.2015
- Conceptualized the falcon wing door trim which includes the mechanism design, CAD and 3D mock ups.
- Solved 48 issues in Model X release candidate build, which includes new supplier development, coordination with the studio, manufacturing and product excellence team and rapid prototyping.
- Reduced quality related issues on graining with a grain mapping study.
- Completed a comprehensive weight study on the hard trims for Model S and Model X which lead to an overall weight reduction of 10%.
Deputy Manager, Vehicle Integration for N Truck
Ashok Leyland Technical Centre
09.2011 - 08.2014
- Integrated individual systems/power train for 4019, 4023 and 4923 commercial vehicles after evaluating the performance, modularity and feasibility study.
- Designed the fuel routing, electrical routing, pneumatic routing 4019, 4023 and 4923 commercial vehicles.
- Implemented modularity in electrical components and frame mountings across the platform.
- Built 10 prototype vehicles of 1616, 4019, 4023 and 4923 together, 2 pilot vehicles of 4923 at Pantnagar plant.
- Prepared DFMEA's for all the brackets and mechanical systems for 4019, 4023 and 4923 vehicles.
- Supported the test team to validate two 1616 vehicles with the 'New Generation Cabin' in proving grounds.
- Prepared DVVP of 4019, 4023 and 4923 and Maintained liaison between, CAE, testing, aggregates, manufacturing and all the stakeholders.
- Documented the CMVR certification for 4019, 4023 and 4923 and represented the team for TS16949 audits.
Graduate Engineer Trainee
Ashok Leyland Limited
09.2010 - 08.2011
- Improved the material handling system to save the lead time in production.
- Value engineered 'Front under run protection Device' from 84kg to 64kg, supported the test team to complete the static loading for the beam for 160KN.
- Worked hands on the fitment of cabins and after line fitments for the trucks built in PNR Plant.
- Underwent 'Hydraulics and Pneumatics training' at PSG College of Technology, India.
Education
Master of Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
University of Toronto
09.2016
Bachelor of Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
Panimalar Engineering College, Anna University
05.2010
Skills
- Team leadership and development
- Cross-functional team leadership
- Mechanical design and engineering
- Engineering/project management experience
- Innovation
Accomplishments
- Pioneered the development of an industry-first robotaxi, leading the full vehicle architecture from concept to completion, setting a new benchmark for autonomous vehicle design.
- Invented and patented a novel airbag system, uniquely engineered to exceed the highest global safety standards, significantly enhancing passenger protection.
- Designed a revolutionary vehicle interior system, featuring celestial lighting and face-to-face seating arrangements, redefining in-cabin experience and luxury.
- Led the engineering and integration of Tesla’s iconic Falcon Wing door trims, contributing to the vehicle’s distinctive aesthetic and functional innovation.
- Directed the interior engineering of the FF91, a flagship premium electric vehicle, delivering a seamless blend of luxury, technology, and futuristic design.
- Spearheaded the launch of a 49-unit commercial truck line, taking the product from initial concept through to mass production, demonstrating end-to-end vehicle development leadership.
- Holder of over 10 U.S. and international patents, reflecting a strong track record of innovation in automotive safety, design, and system engineering.
Awards
- Best project award, Ashok Leyland Ltd, India
- Scholarship award, TVS Sundaram Fasteners Ltd, India, for the top 2% of the students
- Second rank in Mechanical Engineering, Panimalar Engineering College, India
- Best Quality circle project, for the district of Madurai
Languages
English
Full Professional
Tamil
Native or Bilingual
Hindi
Professional Working
Legal Status
Green card. No sponsorship required.
Timeline
Senior Manager
Zoox
10.2017 - Current
Interiors Engineer, Hard trims and headliner
Faraday Future Inc
10.2016 - Current
Vehicle Engineering - Interiors Engineering
Tesla Motors Inc
01.2015 - 09.2015
Deputy Manager, Vehicle Integration for N Truck
Ashok Leyland Technical Centre
09.2011 - 08.2014
Graduate Engineer Trainee
Ashok Leyland Limited
09.2010 - 08.2011
Bachelor of Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
Panimalar Engineering College, Anna University
Master of Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
University of Toronto
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