# Minesh Chaudhari > Engineering @Tesla Location: San Francisco Bay Area, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/minesh Experienced Research & Development Engineer with a demonstrated history of working in the automotive industry. Skilled in technical project management, innovation and new product development. ## Work Experience ### Sr. Mechanical Design Engineer @ Tesla Jan 2024 – Present | Berlin, Germany ### Mechanical Design Engineer @ Tesla Jan 2023 – Jan 2024 | Fremont, California, United States Vehicle exterior lighting and sensor integration design and development. ### Resident Engineer @ Valeo Jan 2022 – Jan 2023 | Troy, Michigan, United States ### Sr. Mechanical Design Engineer @ Rivian Jan 2022 – Jan 2022 | Irvine, California, United States ### R&D Engineer - Research & Innovation @ Valeo Jan 2019 – Jan 2022 | Seymour, Indiana Industry --- Automotive (Multidisciplinary Innovation) Responsibilities: - Investigating and exploring new technologies for potential application within automotive lighting and sensor lighting space, driving market leadership and product portfolio expansion - Assist in defining the technology development plan (TDP) for the company by presenting key information, discovery analysis recommendations and business plans by researching new technologies and applications in regulatory LED lighting, enhanced automated lighting for safety and autonomous driving, integration of infrared (IR) and laser technologies, and sensor cleaning - Work with customers, internal and external stakeholders and team members to organize new product ideation and development plans; experience working with major automotive OEMs i.e., GM, FCA, FORD, Toyota - Lead R&D contributors to define product concept & BOMs, develop prototypes, create FMEAs, oversee validation testing (ADVP&R), and transition into serial production with standardization - Create and protect intellectual property (IP) during entire new product development (NPD) lifecycle Notable Projects & Achievements: - Led 3 new technology development projects in sensor lighting and advanced automotive lighting - 3 patent applications in lighting and sensor cleaning technologies - Presented 2 key new technology concepts to customers resulting in new business awards ### R&D PTM (P1/P0) @ Valeo Jan 2017 – Jan 2019 | Seymour, Indiana Industry --- Automotive (Lighting) Responsibilities: - Led interdisciplinary engineering metier team to deliver full technical scope, high quality, and cost-efficient product on a timed schedule for Toyota Avalon Primary technical project management point of contact with customer supporting weekly meetings and reviews to guide and achieve project milestones - Managed complete product design and development with internal and external suppliers; managed budget by tracking project hours and cost - Responsible for creating project technical documents such as Conformity Matrix, DFMEA, SPPC chart, risk analysis (DRBFM), design review, Bill of Materials (BOM), testing & validation plan (ADVP&R) and overseeing electronics hardware and systems development - Integrated 3 new Valeo technologies/applications for the first time in the North American market Managed multiple continuous improvement activities for cost savings, issues resolution and product improvements on serial production projects for major OEMs - GM, Toyota, Navistar, FCA and Subaru - Contributed to projects amounting to savings in excess of $9,000,000 via change of materials, improving electronics and hardware, process modification and alternative technology solutions ### Research - Human Product Design @ Purdue University Jan 2016 – Jan 2017 | West Lafayette, Indiana Mentor: Prof. Karthik Ramani Design of 3-D printed connectors, mechanical linkages and specific use case models for hand gesture controlled robotics kit ideating embodied cognition and constructivism using everyday objects for multitudes of robotic modules - Integrating educational and learning experience for kids via spatial recognition, hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, reinforcing motor skills and developing creativity through variety of different model making possibilities - Technical & educational value for higher aged population by practical learning in physics and mechanical engineering concepts - Manipulating existing materials such as paper, cardboard, 3-D printed plastics and polymers to create new model-making patterns, catering to general public as well as Maker Faire space - Developing simple tools and design hacks for rapid prototyping for educational as well as industrial usage greatly changing the scope of initial design and providing near-perfect replica of actual design without investing significant time and money on it - Working as design support for Ziro – A hand gesture controlled robotics kit being launched into market by C Design lab alumni with over 200 products sold in the pre-launch campaign raising in excess of $70,000 ### Coach - Gifted Education Resource Institute @ Purdue University Jan 2016 – Jan 2016 | West Lafayette, Indiana Coaching team member for ‘Toy Design’ workshop for 7th & 8th Graders under collaboration with Purdue’s GERI - Educated the students in design process and practical design philosophy by implementing a combination of new and old design techniques through exciting, innovative and age appropriate mechanical robotic toy design - Conducted user study to understand the various approaches students take while learning by evaluating various activities such as sketching, drawing, construction, software modeling, iterative designing, peer facilitation, physics concepts and mechanics - Understanding the importance of individualistic and group design process as well as group dynamics in design thinking - Teaching students complex mechanical linkages and mechanisms using interesting 'Automata' models and helping them understand and use 2-D and 3-D modelling software such as AutoCAD and SolidWorks to make their own robots ### Manufacturing Engineer @ GKN Driveline (India) Ltd Jan 2014 – Jan 2015 | Chennai, India; Pune, India Industry --- Automotive (Driveline technologies / Power Transmission) - Projects – Process parameters' optimization, New Product development, Machine Commissioning - Leading vendor development, automation setup for production, layout change pertaining to LEAN manufacturing standards Contributions & Achievements: - Successful launch and production transition of 2 OE programs - Machine refurbishment and remodeling to modernize the equipment - Reduction in tool consumption by 30% - Overall cost reduction of 15% - Developed technical know-how in ferrous alloys and metal grinding, cutting, tempering & assembly operations for automotive transmission CV joints ### Project Intern @ Force Motors Ltd Jan 2013 – Jan 2014 | Pune Area, India Design and Development of Low cost Special Purpose Machine for Hypoid Bevel Teeth Pinion Gear de-burring. Objectives Achieved: -Low cost mechanical design - < 400000 INR -Cycle time reduction - 25% -Automatic operation -Consistency in Quality and Machining ## Education ### Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering & Management Purdue University ### Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering D.Y.Patil College of Engineering, Akurdi (Pune University) ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/mineshchaudhari --- Source: https://flows.cv/minesh JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/minesh/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-13