Keith Harral
Fort Collins
Summary
Technical professional with 10+ years of experience leading cross-functional product development, R&D, manufacturing, and new product introduction programs. Experienced in directing suppliers, working with cross-functional technical and leadership teams, schedules, and executive communication. Currently leading mechanical and thermal development for an advanced HP edge-computing platform while completing graduate degrees in business and engineering.
Overview
1
1
Certification
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Mechanical Thermal Engineer, FCE / ACS R&D (Contract)
HP Inc
Fort Collins, CO
12.2021 - Current
- Join a highly capable team designing a disruptive and innovative edge-compute vision product utilizing carbon composite structural components.
- Evaluate effectiveness of design and direct ODM on implementing improvements where needed, including design critiques and analyses of plastic, metal, and composite parts against internal acceptability metrics.
- Direct the design and testing of passive and active thermal management systems and components.
- Evaluate optical design and model suggested improvements, including prototyping lenses and LEDs.
- Own engineering development BOM throughout prototype lifecycle, coordinating design updates across multiple corporate groups.
- Direct ODM on mechanical design aspects including thermal testing/modeling, shock/vibe testing, and material selection.
- Define testing protocols of new concepts for product design, direct ODM on implementation.
- Lead re-design efforts of calibration fixture with 50% material cost and 75% manufacturing labor reduction.
Business Owner/Head of Engineering
Odigos Technologies
Fort Collins, CO
12.2017 - 04.2026
- Lead a team of 4 engineers in the design, development and testing of cutting-edge UAV propulsion systems delivering 20% reduction in energy consumption and 40% increase in power output.
- Approach external investors for seed funding, securing $150k.
- Direct design and development of electronic brushless motor controllers for propulsion system, saving $5k per unit.
- Oversee setting up and analysis of CFD modeling of propulsion systems, leading resulting design reviews.
- Develop and calibrate automated propulsion test equipment and compare against internal acceptability criteria.
- Direct the design and fabrication of prototype composite airframe for flight testing.
Manufacturing Engineer (Contract)
Noffsinger Manufacturing
Greeley, CO
02.2021 - 12.2021
- Lead design efforts for custom automated equipment, work with marketing/production/executive leadership to specify requirements and facilitate fabrication with suppliers.
- Design, test, and implement particulate extraction system for forge process fluid cooling system, saving $20k per year.
- Document continuous production processes using P&ID schematics, use these to update processes for quality improvements and design new/improved production equipment with the goal of reducing cooling costs by 60%.
Senior Process Engineer
Vergent Products
Loveland, CO
10.2019 - 02.2021
- Assess existing production capabilities and develop a plan for moving into new market sector.
- Own production area improvement initiatives for capability improvements to support aggressive corporate strategy.
- Define process and equipment IQ/OQ/PQ protocols, consistent with ISO 13485 and AS9100.
- Develop assembly-specific pFMEAs.
- Develop templates for ISO 13485 medical product control plans.
- Own the process and capability improvements for introducing new optical assembly customers into the business.
- Write custom SQL scripts for factory data analysis.
- Led cross-functional teams to optimize manufacturing processes and increase operational efficiency.
- Design and implement process improvements resulting in reduced production costs.
Manufacturing Process Engineer
NEO Technology Solutions
Longmont, CO
05.2015 - 10.2019
- New Product Introduction (NPI) process engineer in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing facility.
- Process owner and equipment programmer, including calibration, for Zeiss CMM, employing GD&T and metrology principles.
- Design and qualify new processes and equipment for thermal operations.
- Direct and implement quality strategy which resulted in 3X increase in revenue over 3.5 years to $35M+.
- Align production and leadership on DMAIC, PDCA, Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen principles.
- Design production fixtures and automated tooling using SolidWorks and facilitate fabrication with multiple suppliers.
- Developed and implemented manufacturing process improvements to enhance productivity and reduce waste.
- Led cross-functional teams in troubleshooting production issues, resulting in streamlined operations.
Engineering Intern
Prometheus Applied Technologies
Fort Collins, CO
05.2010 - 05.2015
- Mechanical design and fabrication of parts and fixtures to meet project-specific requirements.
- Develop methods for modeling complex geometry of engine internal fluid pathways into 3D models using SolidWorks for CFD & thermal FEA analyses.
- Assist with patent process, including minor research and generating drawings.
- Assisted engineering team in developing and testing prototypes, enhancing product functionality.
- Collaborated on project documentation, ensuring accuracy and compliance with industry standards.
Engineering Technician (Manufacturing Support)
Animal Health International Inc.
Greeley, CO
05.2011 - 08.2012
- Redesign existing application equipment resulting in 300% greater product application rate and 40% reduction in maintenance costs.
- Coordinate manufacturing of equipment with outside suppliers, including documentation and design criteria.
- Design and develop new equipment and control systems to meet demanding customer requirements using 3D parametric software.
- Generate weldment, sheet metal and assembly drawings for production area and outside suppliers using Alibre 3D CAD.
- Operated and maintained laboratory equipment for testing animal health products.
- Conducted quality assurance assessments to ensure compliance with industry standards.
Assembler II, SMT Machine Operator
Woodward
Ft Collins, CO
04.2006 - 08.2009
- Certified Training Mentor
- Operate SMT pick-and-place machines, including changeovers and preparing setups.
- Troubleshoot issues with equipment, programs, and assemblies.
- Operate AOI optical inspection equipment and work with engineering to improve program effectiveness.
E/M Assembler (Contract)
Zolo Technologies
Boulder, CO
06.2005 - 04.2006
- Assemble fiber-optic equipment for mass spectrometry of coal power plant combustion furnaces.
- Develop ISO-compliant processes and documentation for testing and assembling new products.
- Test assembled equipment before shipping to customer site.
- Assist engineering on new product development.
Education
Master of Engineering - Systems Engineering Concentration
Colorado State University
Ft Collins, CO05-2028
Master of Business Administration - Business Administration
Colorado State University
Ft Collins, CO05-2027
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering
Colorado State University
Ft Collins, CO05-2015
Certificate - Mechanical CAD
Front Range Community College
Ft Collins, CO05-2007
Skills
- Lifecycle
- Ownership
- DFx Cross-Functional
- Alignment
- Schedule
- Management
- Prototyping Design Ownership
- Execution
- Prioritization
- Accountability
- Project Management
- Needs Analysis
- Lean/6-Sigma
Certification
Associate Systems Engineering Professional (ASEP), 2024 - 2029, International Council of Systems Engineering (INCOSE)
Engineering Projects
- ESD-Safe PCB Oven Racks, NEO Technology Solutions, 05/16, Design ESD-safe high-temp PCB storage/handling racks to reduce damage to assemblies during production processes., Develop new type of high-temp ESD-safe material with lower durometer hardness and greater thermal tolerance than the plastic material commonly used.
- Flex Fuel Vehicle Engine Optimization, Colorado State University, 08/14 - 05/15, Project goal: To modify vehicle such that the fuel economy while operating on E85 fuel is equal to or greater than premium E10 gasoline., Final result: Overall 18.3% improved fuel economy with E85, roughly 4% higher than gasoline., Record and modify ECU maps to achieve optimized engine performance and efficiency., Design and perform iterative experiments for measuring fuel economy in various environments.
- Carbon Composite 3D Environment Mapping UAV, Colorado State University, Spring 2011, Join senior CSE design group to develop a small rotor-winged aircraft capable of carrying 3D environment mapping sensors and equipment while operating in restricting environment., Design and fabricate composite airframe using SolidWorks and PTC Pro/Engineer (Creo) while meeting strict design criteria for weight and size., Analyze fluid dynamics simulations (CFD) to optimize thrust and flight characteristics., Design and fabricate test fixture featuring data acquisition system to measure thrust capabilities and energy consumption.
Timeline
Mechanical Thermal Engineer, FCE / ACS R&D (Contract)
HP Inc
12.2021 - Current
Manufacturing Engineer (Contract)
Noffsinger Manufacturing
02.2021 - 12.2021
Senior Process Engineer
Vergent Products
10.2019 - 02.2021
Business Owner/Head of Engineering
Odigos Technologies
12.2017 - 04.2026
Manufacturing Process Engineer
NEO Technology Solutions
05.2015 - 10.2019
Engineering Technician (Manufacturing Support)
Animal Health International Inc.
05.2011 - 08.2012
Engineering Intern
Prometheus Applied Technologies
05.2010 - 05.2015
Assembler II, SMT Machine Operator
Woodward
04.2006 - 08.2009
E/M Assembler (Contract)
Zolo Technologies
06.2005 - 04.2006
Certificate - Mechanical CAD
Front Range Community College
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering
Colorado State University
Master of Engineering - Systems Engineering Concentration
Colorado State University
Master of Business Administration - Business Administration
Colorado State University