Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
Generic

NIKOLA PEJCIC

Toronto,ON

Summary

Results-driven, highly accomplished and productive Professional Engineer with 30+ years of progressive achievements in engineering, operations, project management, planning, hardware/software design & development and information technology architecture. Detail oriented with strong skills in multi-tasking and broad technical expertise combined with business acumen. Demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, operational leadership, and process optimization. Committed to driving operational excellence, fostering innovation, and delivering exceptional results.

Overview

35
35
years of professional experience

Work History

Senior Design Release Engineer

GM – General Motors Inc
08.2019 - Current
  • Create and evaluate technology and designs used for commercial autonomous vehicles (Cruise)
  • Provide technical solutions and manage relationships with Tier 1 suppliers
  • Hold all responsibility for all aspects of project coordination and management
  • Support GM business operations and customer activities
  • Lead a large team of professionals and oversaw all aspects of operations, including manufacturing, supply chain, logistics, and quality assurance
  • Select qualified production Tier 1 suppliers
  • Negotiate vendor contracts
  • Develop Statement of Requirements (SOR) & Component Technical Specifications (CTS)
  • Develop detailed Component Timing Plan to control product from initial creation through final vehicle validation and start of production
  • Ensure compliance to GM company requirements, certifications, design & processes
  • Prepare Design Failure Modes Effects Analysis (DFMEA)
  • Manage design release cost including piece, ED&D and tooling cost (SAS tools)
  • Evaluate prototype designs to verify and validate functional requirements and conduct design revisions (JIRA, Confluence, PRTS, ECR, TWO)
  • Optimize delivery of parts to meet set deadlines while managing materials management, purchasing, and supplier quality
  • Manage cross-functional teams to enhance operational efficiency and increase productivity
  • Report project status, prioritize tasks, and lead issue resolution to completion
  • Escalate and manage program risks to CEO and senior leadership
  • Develop and implement necessary contingency and mitigation plans
  • Use Slack for collaboration and to share files, assign roles and responsibilities to make effective decisions.

Owner / Director of Engineering

Belvin Electronics
08.2010 - Current
  • Provided comprehensive consultations and engineering services to customers who needed to outsource their customized embedded electronics design and product/system development
  • Developed and implemented operational strategies that led to maximal increase in productivity and significant reduction in costs
  • Ensured compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards
  • Prepared technical documentation and reports, including specifications, drawings, and test plans
  • Provided consulting services including support to design, development, and production teams
  • Assessed and communicated prompt and precise solution proposals in areas of design and development methodologies, proper architecture selection, application, performance tuning
  • Enhanced technical knowledge of existing and emerging IoT and Cloud Technologies
  • Provided prescriptive guidance across network, storage, operating systems, virtualization, and databases, mid-tier technologies that include application integration, and security
  • Effectively communicated project expectations and significant changes to senior management and key stakeholders (Project Sponsor, Business Owner) in a timely manner
  • Connected technology with measurable business value
  • Reduced overall cost for customers’ production by connecting them with appropriate Electronics Component Distributors, PCB shops and Contract Manufacturing Suppliers
  • Superior analysis of deep competitors including product strategy research, customer research, and technical research.

Senior Consultant

NBS Payment Solutions/ Equinox
08.2011 - 07.2019
  • System Architecture and Design)
  • Led engineering team for POS (Point-of-Sale) PinPad and Handover terminal designs for major Canadian banks and top US retail stores
  • Identified, recommended, and implemented new technologies, industry trends and systems to improve organizational efficiency and resource management
  • Proficiently managed Supply Chain Management teams, providing technical support as needed
  • Presented performance reports to the CEO and senior executives
  • Effectively ensured strict compliance with standards, laws, and regulations
  • Engaged, negotiated and managed external partners and vendors involved on a project
  • Focused on cost management and opportunity for efficiency improvements
  • Designed Wireless connectivity Modules (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth / BLE, 3G GPRS & HSDPA radio)
  • Proposed continuous improvement strategies for NFC/RFID Contactless Credit Card Reader and antenna design (Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay support)
  • Implemented Capacitive Touch Pin-entry Keyboard design
  • Excelled in security: Secured and encrypted PIN entry and data transfer
  • In-depth knowledge of EMV (Europay-MasterCard-Visa) level1 specification and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) certification process and security requirements
  • Prepared and released documentation (BOM, Schematic and PCB CAD drawings) for production
  • Optimized best practices to ensure projects were released using consistent and repeatable methodologies while implementing strategies learned from previous projects.

Field Application Engineer

Arrow Electronics
04.2001 - 08.2010
  • Mentored and provided engineering and design support for customer’s circuit evaluation, system design and competitive system architecture analysis
  • Effectively implemented on-going technical support, new technology presentations, technical training, hardware, and software development tools demonstration as well as technical seminar’s material preparation
  • Participated and presented in leading-edge technology seminars with different electronics component suppliers
  • Developed hands-on training materials
  • Collaborated with Arrow sales management to execute strategies and create business plans for successful demand creation and increased market share
  • Enabled sales teams with ons to grow & sell Arrow’s suppliers’ products
  • Enable sales teams with superior training
  • Supported multiple projects with various customers while maintaining strong organizational and time management skills (priority setting, meeting targets/goals)
  • Managed customer projects through an entire design activity cycle
  • Supported customers with technical applications related to all engineering design requirements
  • Helped customers by defining their project requirements and identifying appropriate solutions
  • Combined business with technical aspects of a product design
  • Problem-solving proficiency, root cause analysis, lessons learned implementation
  • Supported semiconductor manufacturers: NXP, Intel, Cypress, Broadcom, Sierra Wireless, Telit

Senior Design Engineer

Psion / Teklogix
09.2000 - 04.2001
  • Designed 8-port Access Point with PoE (Power over Ethernet) support for End devices
  • Provided design ideas for wireless data collection handheld terminal design for real-time access to warehouse inventory management database
  • Excelled at wired/wireless networks, communications, mobility protocols as well as switching, routing, server, video, and mobility equipment
  • FCC certifications and industry standard approval procedures
  • Worked closely with certification labs worldwide.

Project Leader/System developer

Mark IV Inc
08.1998 - 09.2000
  • Managed leading edge LED traffic sign development project, based on Echelon LON network, complied with US Department of Transportation project requirements
  • Designed various display controllers based on patented magnetic flip-dot technology (airport info displays, stock exchange displays, bus destination signs) using Motorola MCU and Altera CPLD
  • Oversaw project requirement outlines and technical specifications, appropriate technology selection, performance and cost analysis, tasks planning and timing schedules, contacts with subcontractors and distributors.

Senior Hardware Design Engineer

WaveNet International
05.1995 - 08.1998
  • Designed line of products for Real-time, multi-tasking RF Voice/Data Communication Systems
  • Designed Wireless Hand-held and Mobile Vehicle RF Terminal designs with support for Narrow Band and Spread Spectrum Radio (900MHz and 2.4GHz)
  • Designed Intelligent Battery Charger/Conditioner for NiCd and NiMH batteries
  • Proposed continuous improvement for test and reliability procedures specification, design verification, prototype production and CSA/UL/CE testing/approvals.

Senior Hardware Design Engineer

T S Technologies Inc
01.1994 - 05.1995

Engineering Manager

ProTel
10.1988 - 02.1993

Education

Master of Engineering - Electrical Engineering, Telecommunication

University of Belgrade
Belgrade, Serbia
1987

Comparative Education Diploma - Electrical Engineering

Reputable Canadian University
Toronto, Ontario

Skills

  • Experience with complex systems from concept to production phase: Product development, Design Release, Project Management, HW and SW integration, System Architecture, Certifications, Industry Standards & Regulatory Compliance
  • Strategic Planning and Execution
  • Operational Leadership & process optimization
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Quality Assurance and Control
  • Team Leadership and Development
  • Comprehensive knowledge of both business and engineering principles and practices
  • Technical knowledge and experience with Cloud, Security, Mobile, and the Internet of Things
  • Provide technical and administrative supervision to a multi-disciplinary team of professional and technical staff
  • Preparation of Project Technical Requirements & Specification (Share Point), Project timing schedule (Microsoft Project) & reports and technical training courses
  • Planned, executed, controlled and closed out project/work packages against defined scope, budget and timelines (Agile, Waterfall)
  • Experience working in a matrix environment with co-located and virtual teams and various original
  • Equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in different regions (China, Taiwan, US, Canada)
  • Managing simultaneously multimillion-dollar projects with different customers on tight timelines and within budget
  • Prepared technical documentation and reports, including specifications, drawings, and test plans
  • Superior in managing team relationships, stakeholder expectations, report project progress and contribute to the development of the business case
  • Over 12 years in Telecommunication Systems, LAN, WAN and Wireless Voice/Data communication
  • Over 10 years of broad experience within Payment Card industry (Point-of-Sale System Architecture, NFC/RFID, Mobile Payment Design, PCI DSS, Security, Encryption and Key loading)
  • Excellent knowledge of PTCRB/PCI/EMV, CSA/UL, CE, FCC certifications and industry standard approval procedures Working closely with different certification labs worldwide
  • Effective interpersonal, team building, oral and written communication, negotiation, and mediation skills Excellent analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills
  • Proven track record of leading successful change initiatives, including process reengineering, technology implementations, and organizational restructuring

Accomplishments

SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) workshop 2021

DFSS (Design for Six Sigma) - Black Belt certification 2021

DFSS (Design for Six Sigma) - Green Belt certification 2020

Intel - Incentive Award Winner for Q1/2010 results in North America East Region 2010

Masters Certification, Programmable System on Chip Array Design– Cypress Semiconductor 2009

Bachelor of Application Certificate, Programmable System on Chip – Cypress Semiconductor 2008

Freescale Award Winner – FAE with the most customer’s projects in Eastern Canada 2008

Award of Excellence - Arrow Electronics and Freescale Semiconductor 2007

Timeline

Senior Design Release Engineer

GM – General Motors Inc
08.2019 - Current

Senior Consultant

NBS Payment Solutions/ Equinox
08.2011 - 07.2019

Owner / Director of Engineering

Belvin Electronics
08.2010 - Current

Field Application Engineer

Arrow Electronics
04.2001 - 08.2010

Senior Design Engineer

Psion / Teklogix
09.2000 - 04.2001

Project Leader/System developer

Mark IV Inc
08.1998 - 09.2000

Senior Hardware Design Engineer

WaveNet International
05.1995 - 08.1998

Senior Hardware Design Engineer

T S Technologies Inc
01.1994 - 05.1995

Engineering Manager

ProTel
10.1988 - 02.1993

Master of Engineering - Electrical Engineering, Telecommunication

University of Belgrade

Comparative Education Diploma - Electrical Engineering

Reputable Canadian University

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NIKOLA PEJCIC