Art Sandoval

Mature climate startup delivering best of class smart breaker panels to help electrify homes .

MY ROLE WAS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION PRODUCT, NOT YET RELEASED.

▷ ROLE:  MANAGER, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Discipline Leader Responsible for managing mechanical engineering team. Establishing best practices, due diligence and continual learning. Responsible for teams output, growth and careers. 

Product Improvements Worked closely with product team to capture and implement over 90% of EVT product requests, including major access improvements and latching redesign

Thermal Improvements Conceived and developed thermal design improvements saving 5C-10C in very geometrically restrictive areas

Production Release Led team from EVT to successful DVT release of over 70+ custom parts compromising 4 complex modular assemblies.  This included several prototyping rounds, tolerance analysis and production drawing creation.  Worked closely with world class contract manufacturing in Asia and Mexico

Managed multiple outside engineering resources, hired team members, reported progress to C-Suit

Lunar Energy produces a Smart Home Electrification system, consisting of a smart battery and inverter combination that optimizes a homes power production, storage and usage.

part of their offering includes the Lunar Switch, a smart load shedding device.

NOTE: The device has been announced but is not yet released.

Category Consumer Power Electronics

My role Engineering Proposal Lead, Account Manager, Project Manager, Team Lead, Principal Engineer

The challenge Extremely tight packaging of multiple PCBs, large components and large gauge wiring into single breaker slot. Need to separate AC and DC. Complex thermal challenges requiring analysis, thermal prototyping and thermal design. Designed to meet UL916 Certification

Learnings Thermal paths are critical, FEA is often directional in nature. Tightly packaged devices demand tight coordination with full stack team.

Team Size 3 MEs, 3 EEs, 2 FW, External ID team + Client team

Budget ~$1M

Schedule 6 months

Released Soon

Note: Device is not yet released.

▷ ROLE:  STRATEGIC ADVISOR, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DIRECTOR

Leading Design Driving mechanical development to ensure best architecture, minimizing risk and optimizing performance.  In both high level and down to the most minute details.

Scaling Production  Leading the design thru overseas contract manufacturer for high volume production.  Hands on problem solving, assembly and part quality management, process implementation thru tricky non-english speaking CM.  Development and implementation of reliability testing.

StartUp Management Advising first time entrepreneurs on what to expect, schedule and costs involved, when to bring in expertise and how to manage risk on a gen1 product.

Led the mechanical and electrical team to develop an enhanced Lyft signaling device providing higher tracking accuracy, ability to signal in daylight, and unmatched color control.

Managed cross functional team of ME/EE/ID/FW/Product/Client.

Packaged sensitive antenna electronics, explored unique mounting schemes and developed ambient light testing prototypes, solving for critical daylight visibility. Developed architecture for logo branding and masking. Brought development thru EVT2 and handed off to internal client engineering team.

Uncovered thermal challenges and assisted with solutioning.

Led the mechanical development of a beverage dispensing desktop device, yet to be released.

Team of 5 Mechanical Engineers, and 2 Electrical Engineers and client Industrial Design team. Established milestones and schedule, formed requirements, led system architecture development. Worked closely with clients experts to ensure fit, function, cost and servicing were of high quality. Engaged with top tier CM to establish scale path and all production considerations.

Category Medical

What is it Prescription migraine treatment and prevention device thru targeted transcranial magnetic stimulation.

My role Engineering Proposal Lead, Account Manager, Project Manager, Team Lead, Principal Engineer

The challenge Tight packaging of many pcbs, large components, magnetic constraints, complex surfacing, non-metallic metal-like finish, white molded deadfront.

Learnings Trusted vendors can drop the ball. Swoopy surfaces take in order of magnitude longer. Tight integration with EE is critical for tight packaging. Product sizing aftermore detailed engineering.

Team Size 2 ID, 3 ENG

Budget ~$1M

Schedule 1.5 years

Released 2018

Category Consumer Electronics

What is it 3D haptics PC game controller. Tremendous range of feel, force and workspace.

My role Project Manager, Team Lead, Principal Engineer

Scope Full engineering, from concept to detailing to CM Laision

The challenge Transform $20K precision device to a $200 consumer device. Complex motion, friction and backlash minimization, patent circumvention,

Learnings Prototype as much as possible. Test the cost. Analogous devices can inspire. Academia can help.

Team Size 1 ID, 3 Eng, 1 Professor, 1 Grad Student, 1 EE

Budget ~1.5M

Schedule 2 years

Released 2008

As the product had such an aggressive cost goal, I began by estimating a design, targeting likely high cost parts/assemblies, and using these sketches to obtain budgetary tooling and part cost.

Category Consumer Electronics

What is it 2nd generation smart thermostat aimed at cost reduction

My role Engineering Proposal Lead, Account Manager, Technical Oversight Scope Full engineering, from concept to detailing to CM Handoff

The challenge Achieve a high end consumer device look and feel at a lower cost.

Learnings Challenging to achieve audio feedback for snapping. Glass has a great high end feel.

Team Size 1 ID, 1 Eng, 1 intern

Budget ~100K

Schedule ~4 months

Released 2016

Category Medical

What is it Radiation Therapy Robot with precision dosing to minimize damage to healthy tissue and maximize damage to tumors

My role Engineering Proposal Lead, Account Manager, Technical Oversight. Mechanical Engineer

Scope Full engineering of skins, from concept to detailing to CM Handoff

The challenge Large skins needed in record time-- must fit on robotic enclosures that could not change. Needed to avoid collision during complex motions.

Learnings Large urethane castings can work but tolerances are challenging. Leave more room than you think to manage cabling.

Team Size 4 Engs, 1 ID

Budget ~300K

Schedule ~4 months

Released 2012

Category Medical

What is it Daily Disposable minimally invasive treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

My role Engineering Proposal Lead, Account Manager, Technical Oversight, Project Manager, Mechanical Engineer

Scope Full R&D, Concept Development, User Testing, Ergonomic Testing, Adhesive Research/Testing/Selection, Full Detailing, Handoff to CM

The challenge Aggressively scheduled development, challenging the preferred path, creating an airtight seal with the enormous variety of human nostril geometry

Learnings Test every day and every night. Include concepts that challenge the conventional thinking. It's very challenging to do a one size fits all.

Team Size 2 Engs, 1 ID, 1 Intern

Budget ~400K