Steven Foster

Experience

• 

  University of Windsor

  Mar 2007 - Mar 2008

  Formula SAE Suspension Lead

  Created innovative simulation models to optimize suspension kinematics and vehicle handling, resulting in a 25% improvement in vehicle performance metrics. Developed and implemented standard manufacturing drawings for fabricated components, culminating in a 35% reduction in drawing turnaround time.Highlights of accomplishments in this role include:• Participated in business-related activities, including cost and schedule management, proposal development, and customer meetings.• Devised suspension components with an emphasis on manufacturability, reducing manufacturing costs by 15%.• Oversaw the effective fabrication and integration of suspension components, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to quality standards. Show less

• 

  General Dynamics Land Systems

  Mar 2009 - Jan 2017

  Addressed the weight limitation challenge by collaborating with a supplier to develop a customized solution that maintained ride quality and handling. Steered outstanding development and implementation of an advanced suspension system, delivering a competitive product offering and generating significant revenue growth.Highlights of accomplishments in this role include:• Collaborated closely with suppliers, oversaw vendor specifications and deliverables, and fostered strong working relationships to guarantee seamless project execution.• Presented monthly project roadmaps and status updates to senior leadership, demonstrating a clear understanding of complex technical requirements and business objectives.• Managed all aspects of budget, resource allocation, scheduling, and risk management while ensuring timely project delivery and alignment with organizational goals.• Led a cross-functional team of 10 to 15 members with a $1M budget to efficiently resolve a vehicle limitation in a military project.• Directed and mentored an interdisciplinary team of over 30 engineers throughout the project lifecycle. Show less Delivered exceptional performance in the same role for eight years with expanded responsibilities and increased scope of work. Designed and executed a comprehensive long-term CAE strategy at GDLS, resulting in a 300% increase in capabilities.Highlights of accomplishments in this role include:• Spearheaded the vehicle architecture determination process for future vehicles, leading to more competitive product offerings and excellent contract bids.• Collaborated with cross-functional partners to gather internal customer requirements, define product vision, and deliver impactful solutions.• Managed a team of six engineers, ensuring high-quality technical deliverables and driving continuous improvement. Show less Developed and implemented advanced CAE methods/tools to support requirement verification, minimizing the demand for prototype vehicles by 50%. Streamlined suspension design and evaluation, achieving a two-year reduction in design cycle time and significant improvement in vehicle performance.Highlights of accomplishments in this role include:• Researched and applied new simulation techniques and automotive technologies, improving product offerings and maintaining competitiveness in the market.• Led the validation and accuracy of analytical models across all vehicle programs, resulting in decreased prototype testing.• Authored technical reports to support bid and proposal activities, contributing to winning multiple contracts. Show less

  • LAV II Project Engineer/Manager

    May 2016 - Jan 2017

  • Systems Engineering Team Lead

    Jan 2014 - May 2016

  • System Engineer

    Mar 2009 - Jan 2014
• 

  Ford Motor Company

  Jan 2017 - now

  Transition from a systems dynamics role to an MBSE position responsible for developing simulation methods for system controls in Ford's automotive products. Lead efforts to develop and implement a novel simulation approach for testing system controls, resulting in a 75% reduction in testing time. Design and execute a streamlined process for connecting controls to plant-based models. Identify inconsistencies in plant models with regard to internal standards and initiate efforts to automate adherence to standards.Highlights of accomplishments in this role include:• Spearheaded a $200K project aimed at reducing licensing costs across the organization, slashing licensing expenses by 15% and achieving cost savings worth $250K in the first year.• Combined multiple models to create a comprehensive technical modeling framework, leading to minimization of time required to perform modeling operations.• Integrated powertrain and vehicle dynamics models into a comprehensive strategy for model engagement, decreasing model development time and improving simulation accuracy.• Facilitated cross-functional collaboration and communication to address inconsistencies and improve model output quality.• Provided technical mentorship and guidance to colleagues within the MBSE domain. Show less Recognized by the company for exceptional performance and promoted to a senior role due to consistent delivery of high-quality work. Streamlined the integration of all Vehicle Dynamic models within Ford's simulation framework, reducing the model build time by 99%, resulting in significant time and cost savings for the organization. Implemented an agile methodology to ensure timely delivery of program deliverables, enhancing project timelines and boosting client satisfaction.Highlights of accomplishments in this role include:• Resolved over 900 issues on GitHub, contributing to a more reliable simulation process, improved feature development, and saved the company significant labor costs.• Spearheaded strategic partnerships with external vendors to address critical gaps in the Vehicle Dynamic Blockset shipping product, enabling future releases to be more effective and feature-rich.• Revolutionized the simulation process by introducing new features that delivered a 40% surge in efficiency and introduced enhanced functionality, which resulted in improved performance and capabilities. • Led the integration of a high-fidelity powertrain model into Ford's simulation architecture in an agile and iterative manner to identify and address software deficiencies early in the program, decreasing the risk of delays and cost overruns. • Collaborated with end-users to iterate feature requirements, guaranteeing seamless implementation and adoption of new features. Show less Spearheaded the resolution of a critical and longstanding issue at Ford by efficiently creating a simulation process for events previously impossible to simulate, leveraging both internal testing and simulation methods. Developed a repeatable and efficient process that generated actionable data to enhance decision-making capabilities by 65%.Highlights of accomplishments in this role include:• Provided invaluable technical leadership by validating analytical models and delivering detailed reports, enabling Ford to define simulation confidence levels and make critical decisions with confidence. • Streamlined engineering processes by automating CAE methods with Python, boosting efficiency by a staggering 90%.• Spearheaded an initiative to address customer quality concerns by improving the load cascade process at Ford, resulting in significant cost savings of $200K per year.• Revolutionized CAE methods at Ford by developing and validating advanced analytical tools, reducing physical prototypes needed for each program by four, and introducing simulation capabilities previously unavailable to the company. Show less

  • Product Development Leadership Program

    Sept 2023 - now

  • Senior Engineer - MBSE Methods

    Nov 2020 - Aug 2023

  • CAE Methods Engineer - MBSE

    Mar 2018 - Nov 2020

  • CAE Methods Engineer - System Dynamics

    Jan 2017 - Mar 2018