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Careers in Vehicle Engineering

"We apply our technical expertise in the areas of accident reconstruction, automotive and mechanical system design, machine component performance and failure, vehicle design and performance, and full-scale vehicle testing. Many of the problems we encounter and address are new to the industry, and there is a significant opportunity to conduct research and publish ground-breaking findings. The work we do every day creates an incredibly satisfying workplace for those who are looking for a challenge."

-- James W. Smith, P.E., Principal Engineer

Exponent's Vehicle engineers are educated and experienced in a broad range of technical disciplines. The majority of our consultants possess advanced engineering degrees in mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, applied mechanics, and aerospace engineering. We often work on multidisciplinary projects with professionals in other practices, including Biomechanics, Technology Development, Mechanics and Materials, Human Factors, and Statistical and Data Sciences.

Our consulting expertise includes accident analysis of existing products and design analysis of future products. The work is challenging, extremely hands-on, dynamic, and detail-oriented. This practice offers an opportunity to learn in-depth analysis of all kinds of vehicles from bicycles to heavy trucks, and become a leading consultant in design analysis and test engineering.

Vehicle Engineering Team

John M. Baldwin, Ph.D.

Principal Scientist

Ph.D.	University of Akron	Polymer Science
B.S.	University of Detroit	Chemistry

Jeffrey J. Croteau

Principal

M.S.	University of New Hampshire	Mechanical Engineering
B.S.	University of New Hampshire	Mechanical Engineering

Daniel Davee

Principal Engineer

M.S.	University of Arizona	Mechanical and Reliability Engineering
B.S.	University of Arizona	Mechanical Engineering
A.S.	State University of New York, Farmingdale	Engineering Science

Graeme F. Fowler, Ph.D., P.E.

Corporate Vice President & Principal Engineer

Ph.D.	California Institute of Technology (Caltech)	Applied Mechanics
M.E.	University of Auckland	Engineering Science
B.E.	University of Auckland	Engineering Science

Richard E. Keefer, P.E.

Principal Engineer & Office Director

M.S.	Purdue University	Industrial Administration
B.S.	Case Institute of Technology	Mechanical Engineering

Robert C. Lange

Principal and Group Vice President

M.S.	University of Michigan, Ann Arbor	Mechanical Engineering
B.S.	University of Michigan, Dearborn	Mechanical Engineering

Donald D. Parker

Principal

M.S.	Oakland University	Mechanical Engineering
B.S.	General Motors Institute	Mechanical Engineering, Automotive

James W. Smith, P.E.

Principal Engineer

M.S.	Arizona State University	Mechanical Engineering
B.S.	Arizona State University	Aerospace Engineering

Stephen M. Werner, Ph.D., P.E.

Principal Engineer & Practice Director

Ph.D.	University of California, Berkeley	Mechanical Engineering
M.S.	University of California, Berkeley	Mechanical Engineering
B.S.	University of California, Berkeley	Mechanical Engineering

Karen M. Balavich

Manager

M.S.	Walsh College	Finance
B.S.	Michigan Technological University	Mechanical Engineering

Cleve Bare, P.E.

Senior Managing Engineer

M.S.	University of Missouri, Columbia	Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
B.S.	University of Missouri, Columbia	Mechanical Engineering

David R. Bauer, Ph.D.

Managing Scientist

Ph.D.	Stanford University	Chemistry
B.S.	California Institute of Technology (Caltech)	Chemistry

Daniel A. Fittanto, P.E.

Managing Engineer

M.S.	Arizona State University	Mechanical Engineering
B.S.	University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign	General Engineering

Charles O. Funk, Ph.D., CFEI, CVFI

Manager

Ph.D.	University of Michigan, Ann Arbor	Mechanical Engineering
M.S.	University of Michigan, Ann Arbor	Mechanical Engineering
B.S.	Drexel University	Mechanical Engineering

Gerald W. Jackson, P.E.

Senior Managing Engineer

M.S.	University of Iowa	Mechanical Engineering
B.S.	University of Iowa	Mechanical Engineering

Anita Kerezman, C.D.S.

Manager

Bruce E. Ketcham

Senior Manager

J.D.	University of Detroit
M.B.A.	Xavier University	Management
B.S.E.E.	Union College	Electrical Engineering
B.S.	Union College	Industrical Economics

Robert M. Kuhn, Jr., P.E.

Managing Engineer

M.S.	University of Michigan, Dearborn	Automotive Systems Engineering
B.S.	Carnegie Mellon University	Mechanical Engineering

Michael J. Kuzel, P.E., CHFP

Senior Managing Engineer

M.S.E.	Arizona State University	Industrial Engineering
B.S.E.	Arizona State University	Bioengineering

Robert E. Larson, P.E.

Senior Managing Engineer

M.S.	University of Michigan, Ann Arbor	Mechanical Engineering
B.S.	University of Michigan, Ann Arbor	Mechanical Engineering

Seymour W. "Sye" Linovitz, P.E.

Managing Engineer

B.S.

Wayne State University

Mechanical Engineering

Dolph K. Lohwasser, P.E.

Managing Engineer

M.B.A.	University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
M.S.	Wayne State University	Mechanical Engineering
B.S.	University of Michigan, Ann Arbor	Aerospace Engineering

Daniel W. May, P.E.

Managing Engineer

M.S.M.E.	Purdue University
B.S.M.E.	Purdue University

Daniel McCarthy

Visual Communication Manager

M.F.A.	San Francisco Art Institute	Fine Arts
B.M.E.	San Francisco Art Institute	Fine Arts

Matthew L. Schwall, Ph.D., P.E.

Managing Engineer

Ph.D.	Stanford University	Mechanical Engineering
M.S.	Stanford University	Mechanical Engineering
B.S.	Stanford University	Mechanical Engineering

Henry "Hank" Sleath

Manager

B.S.M.E.

Lawrence Technological University

Mechanical Engineering

Brian J. Smyth

Manager

B.S.

Arizona State University

Aerospace Engineering

Joseph M. Wills

Senior Manager

B.S.

University of Detroit

Mechanical Engineering

Joseph F. Arruda, III

Test Specialist

Jeffrey C. Brown

Senior Associate

B.S.	University of Michigan, Ann Arbor	Electrical Engineering
B.S.	Lawrence Technological University	Mechanical Engineering

Joseph Cuadrado

Associate

M.S.	George Washington University	Civil and Environmental Engineering
B.S.	Louisiana State University	Mechanical Engineering

Benjamin A. Frank

Senior Associate

M.S.E.	University of Michigan, Ann Arbor	Aerospace Engineering
B.S.	Worcester Polytechnic Institute	Mechanical Engineering Aerospace Concentration

Todd A. Frank

Senior Associate

B.S.

Iowa State University

Mechanical Engineering

James R. Heald

Senior Associate

M.S.	Worcester Polytechnic Institute	Mechanical Engineering
B.S.	Worcester Polytechnic Institute	Mechanical Engineering

Ryan W. Hoover

Senior Engineer

James E. Kersey

Associate

M.S.	University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign	Aerospace Engineering
B.S.	University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign	Aerospace Engineering

Andrew M. Kwasniak, Ph.D.

Associate

Ph.D.	Purdue University	Civil Engineering
M.S.	Cracow University of Technology, Poland	Civil Engineering
B.S.	Cracow University of Technology, Poland	Civil Engineering

Marie L. Moralde

Senior Associate

B.S.E.

Arizona State University

Bioengineering

Mark Ordway

Visual Imaging Specialist II

M.A.	Arizona State University	Interdisciplinary Studies, Digital Filmmaking
B.A.	Arizona State University	Interdisciplinary Arts and Performance, Digital Media Art

Harry Pearce

Senior Associate

M.S.	Northwestern University	Mechanical Engineering
B.S.	Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology	Mechanical Engineering

Daniel S. Peterson, P.E.

Engineer

B.S.

University of Arizona

Mechanical Engineering

Jackie D. Rehkopf, Ph.D.

Senior Associate

Ph.D.	University of Waterloo	Civil Engineering
B.A.Sc.	University of Waterloo	Civil Engineering

Paul E. Richards

Test Specialist

David Stillman

Associate

M.S.	Kettering University	Engineering Management
B.S.	Kettering University	Mechanical Engineering

Angela B. Stubbs

Senior Associate

M.E.	University of Michigan, Ann Arbor	Automotive Engineering
B.M.E.	Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)	Mechanical Engineering

Reed Thomas

Instrumentation Technician III

Joel C. Wilson, Ph.D.

Associate

Ph.D.	University of California, Berkeley	Mechanical Engineering Design
M.S.	University of California, Berkeley	Mechanical Engineering
B.S.	University of Colorado	Mechanical Engineering

John D. Zolock, Ph.D.

Senior Associate

Ph.D.	Tufts University	Mechanical Engineering
M.S.	Pennsylvania State University	Engineering Science and Mechanics
B.S.	Grove City College	Mechanical Engineering

The Vehicle Engineering Practice performs a wide variety of testing and consulting services to the transportation industry, including automobile and truck manufacturers and other industrial entities, government agencies, bicycle/motorcycle/ATV manufacturers, and major trucking companies. Our test engineering expertise involves component testing, vehicle performance and handling testing, and full-scale vehicle crash testing. Often, testing at Exponent is not the kind that comes with instructions. These tests and demonstrations recreate the conditions of a real event in order to study occupant and vehicle performance. That means we are always building sand dunes, creating trees, and finding techniques to precisely and repeatedly recreate unusual accident conditions. These include rollovers and complex crashes between multiple moving vehicles such as bicycles, motorcycles, cars, light trucks, construction equipment, and even loaded tractor-trailers.

We have a Test and Engineering Center located on 147 acres in Phoenix that is the setting for Exponent's most exciting and complex tests. The facility includes a two-mile oval track, 10-acre skid pad, durability course, and a 1,200-foot crash rail. This array of versatile, state-of-the-art equipment enables our engineers to study vehicle performance and recreate collisions under virtually every condition. It gives us unique capabilities to help our clients better understand their products and help them quickly solve complex technical challenges. It also gives us the freedom to develop new testing procedures and methodologies, some of which have become industry standards.

For more specific information, please view our capabilities listed below.