With the launch of Fleet Alchemy, I am excited to share a glimpse into my journey in the automotive engineering sector with you. It’s been a path filled with achievements and opportunities that have seen me transition from car repairs to providing solutions for autonomous electric vehicles such as implementing advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and managing fleets.
My career began as an Automotive Technician. I started by performing repairs and maintenance, honing my skills on a wide variety of vehicles. As I became proficient, I attained my ASE master certifications for both car and truck, I started training others, managing parts orders, and maintaining records. Throughout these roles, I built a firm foundation of knowledge about vehicle mechanics, systems, maintenance and operations.
While working at the Boston Water and Sewer Commission, I held 7 different positions over 16 years, reaching the position of Manager of Fleet. I had the responsibility of managing a budget of $1.5 million and a fleet of over 200 vehicles. My role included supervising a team of mechanics, handling procurement, as well as maintenance, and outfitting of vehicles. I can confidently say that this role, which allowed me to handle large-scale operations and management responsibilities, truly prepared me for the technological opportunities that awaited me.
Eventually, I moved to Optimus Ride, where I played a part in scaling a fleet of autonomous electric vehicles in Boston’s Seaport. This was a game-changing experience, allowing me to combine my technical skills with the cutting-edge technology of autonomous vehicles.
In the realm of engineering, I worked as an Assembly Technician at Optimus Ride where I helped scale a fleet of autonomous electric vehicles that exposed me to the development and engineering behind modern last-mile solutions. My duties encompassed providing technical expertise and contributing to the research and development of emerging automotive technologies. I was primarily involved in building and assembling prototypes for components involved in autonomous vehicle design. This experience solidified my interest in autonomous technology and the ways it can shape our future.
My experience at Optimus Ride included an acquisition by Magna Electronics – this was a real break into the world of ADAS and autonomous vehicles when I joined the engineering team as Engineering Technician and was promoted to Senior Engineering Technician. I took the lead in technical capabilities – building and assembling intricate prototypes for key components involved in ADAS systems.
My skillset led to being selected to travel and provide support in both Germany and Michigan, where we worked on rapid assembly of development vehicles. This experience gave me a truly international perspective on vehicle technology and design.
I am proud to have played a part in creating safe, sustainable, and equitable transportation solutions. My journey has been nothing short of remarkable, filled with opportunities to grow, learn, and contribute to the revolutionary changes happening in the automotive sector.
From Automotive Technician to Senior Engineering Technician, every step in my career has been a building block towards becoming a leader in the industry. The experiences and opportunities along the way have shaped my perspective and fueled my passion for advanced vehicle technology. I am excited about what the future holds and look forward to continuing to contribute to this rapidly evolving field through world-class automotive consulting services including automotive upfitting, vehicle prototyping, vehicle procurement and fleet management. Please reach out any time if you are looking to bring your automotive engineering ideas to life.
Until next time, stay driven and all the best,
Walter
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