Samuel Shartzer
GE Renewable Energy
Greenville, SC
In My Own Words
Experienced new technology product design engineer and manager skilled in simulation, powertrain development, data science, sensing, controls and system integration and design. Primarily focused on developing complex mechatronic products where systems integration and optimized performance is critical. Have experience with diesel, gas and electric vehicle drivetrains as well as most vehicle systems. Additional experience in energy, specifically wind and gas turbines.
Leadership experience in large organized companies as well as agile start-up like environments. Thrive in hands-on, fast paced cultures and familiar with both lab based and field testing/validation environments.
Work Experience
Senior Engineer, Measurement and Validation Technologies - Onshore Wind
GE Renewable Energy2023 – Present
Senior Engineer, Loads & Controls Technologies - Onshore Wind
GE Renewable Energy2016 – 2023
• Senior engineer responsible for accessing risk and viability while developing new technologies to transition from earliest concept to final product development team • Focused on turbine performance optimization and validation using controls and machine learning directly improving power production • Work closely with corporate research center scientist to objectively improve designs using modern technologies in controls, data science and sensing • Manage and execute large scale field validation campaigns on hundreds of wind turbines to access performance gains • Provide sensing system expertise to various product teams for testing and new technology introduction • Plan intellectual property strategy around machine learning based optimization techniques including multiple patents submitted and filed
Logistics Innovation Specialist (Contract via Redi-Group)
BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC2016 – 2016
Project coordinator and technical consultant for project implementing more than 100 autonomously guided vehicles (AGV) for material handling. Vehicles are standard tugger style trucks fitted with automation equipment allowing both manual and autonomous driving while also being powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
Project Engineer - Innovation & New Concepts (Contract via HTI)
BorgWarner Inc.2016 – 2016
Temporary contract project engineer researching new products to utilize automotive turbocharger technology and electrification to improve fuel economy and performance.
Engineer and Manager – Controls Engineering
Proterra Inc2011 – 2016
• Controls engineering manager responsible for hardware and software of body/vehicle controller, powertrain controller, vehicle subsystem controllers, vehicle simulation, vehicle telematics and data acquisition in a rapidly growing environment developing an all-electric, fast charging transit bus • Managed controls team during the launch of the company's 2nd generation vehicle platform including responsibility for vehicle performance, functionality and final vehicle commissioning • New vehicle achieved best in class fuel economy, acceleration and gradeabilty performance during controlled federal testing • Developed and managed full vehicle diagnostic system with multiple user interfaces to assist technicians and engineers in diagnosing vehicle failures • Supported customers and sales team with technical training and sales presentations both onsite and offsite • Worked closely with suppliers of all vehicle and drivetrain controlled components to insure design and quality requirements are meet • Gave significant support to the service team in troubleshooting and root cause analysis of field failures allowing company to achieve two million miles of transit revenue service • Developed simulation tools to assist sales team with vehicle's on route feasibility and performance estimations • Incorporated single and multiple camera based collision avoidance safety systems • Designed new configuration management techniques to handle quickly growing customer base, each customer needing unique controls requirements and hardware specifications • Created and managed Hardware-in-the-Loop, HIL, simulator platform to enhance product development and validation • Validate all controls products and provide service support for vehicles at internal facilities and at transit agencies
Gas Turbine Lead Controls Engineer
GE2008 – 2011
• Worked as a controls engineer in the Applied Controls Technology group developing and validating advanced control algorithms to increase performance, availability and function of power generating gas turbines • Completed design of two products which enhanced gas turbine availability to produce power from a standby state from approximately 30 minutes to 10 minutes • Utilized and improved multiple simulation platforms (real-time hardware-in-the-loop and high-fidelity off-line) for control design, operability analysis and validation testing • Contributed to conceptual design phase developing core controls system, failure detection and protection methods • Regularly supported validation of products at internal facilities and customer’s power plant • Awarded two design patents for control methods developed to increase unit availability
Diesel Controls/Calibration Engineer
General Motors2006 – 2008
• Worked as a controls/calibration engineer for heavy and light duty diesel engines specializing in cold start performance • Reestablished environmental chamber to perform lab based controls development duties and worked heavily with instrumentation group to update measurement capabilities • Developed initial cold start calibration for completely new engine platform allowing unassisted starts to -30C where before engine would not start at 0C • Participated in companywide initiative to develop new techniques and tools to minimize costly in-vehicle testing and maximize lab capabilities and utilization • Developed MATLAB tool to analyze high speed cylinder pressure recordings to perform combustion analysis and improve cold start and other highly transient cycles’ performance • Assisted with testing of diesel particulate filters and regeneration cycle calibration for exhaust after-treatment • Participated in vehicle test trips for engine calibration and product validation • Awarded patent on model based method of temperature compensation for cold starting engines
Gasoline Controls/Calibration Engineer Intern
Bosch2005 – 2005
o Worked in the controls/calibration specialist group assisting in both in-vehicle and dynamometer test cell engine development o Optimize PID parameters for dual cam phasing control, verified calibration with vehicle chassis dynamometer testing and wrote procedure for future cam control calibration o Developed calibration tools for turbocharger diagnostics using on road data and statistical analysis o Supported high altitude emissions testing with lead emissions calibrator in Denver Colorado
Education
Bachelor's degree
Clemson University1999 – 2004
- Installed engine dynomometer for undergrad research - Installed and calibrated Motec engine management systems for Formula SAE - Designed, fabricated and tested intake manifolds for Formula SAE engine - Attended Claude Rouelle’s OptimumG vehicle dynamics seminar - Attended the Three Day Panoz Road Racing School at Road Atlanta
Master's degree
University of Michigan2004 – 2006
- Concentration in Controls, Powertrains, Internal Combustion Engines, and Vehicle Dynamics - Worked part-time for Autosport Engineering fabricating, wiring and assembling race cars for SCCA Pro-Rally
Master's degree
University of Michigan2004 – 2008
- Concentration in Controls, Powertrains, Internal Combustion Engines, and Vehicle Dynamics