EXPERTISE
I am a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) specializing in mechanical design, factory automation, and industrial control systems. For nearly two decades, I have worked at the intersection of mechatronics and automation, helping startups and established manufacturers bring complex physical systems to life.
My technical background is built to solve two distinct challenges:
While I actively take on select independent engineering and consulting projects under my corporate entity, Stracker Engineering Inc., my goal is simply to solve interesting problems with great teams. I am equally at home stepping into a dedicated, full-time W-2 senior engineering role to anchor your mechatronics and controls development, or engaging on a targeted short or long-term contract basis to rapidly unblock a high-priority product launch. If you have a complex engineering challenge on your hands, I would love to discuss how we can solve it. Get it touch via the contact page.
My technical background is built to solve two distinct challenges:
- For Startups & R&D Teams: I act as a highly versatile, multi-disciplinary force multiplier. Startups often face complex engineering hurdles but don't yet have the headcount to hire separate mechanical, electrical, and controls engineers. I bridge that gap by delivering senior-level expertise across all three disciplines.
- For Manufacturing & Industrial Plants: I design, program, and integrate custom machinery, ensuring cutting-edge technology mates seamlessly with existing factory automation systems.
While I actively take on select independent engineering and consulting projects under my corporate entity, Stracker Engineering Inc., my goal is simply to solve interesting problems with great teams. I am equally at home stepping into a dedicated, full-time W-2 senior engineering role to anchor your mechatronics and controls development, or engaging on a targeted short or long-term contract basis to rapidly unblock a high-priority product launch. If you have a complex engineering challenge on your hands, I would love to discuss how we can solve it. Get it touch via the contact page.
Mechanical Design & Analysis
Mechanical design remains the fundamental foundation of any physical system. Whether developing rotating machinery, complex fluid systems, or custom robotic end-of-arm tooling, the quality of the physical design dictates the performance, safety, and operational longevity of the machine. Modern CAD, FEA, and simulation tools have revolutionized engineering analysis, but the foundational law of computing remains absolute: “garbage in, garbage out”. Building a visually appealing CAD model or running an FEA study means very little if the component is unmanufacturable or the simulation's boundary conditions and constraints do not mirror reality. To design reliably, an engineer must possess more than just software proficiency; they need a deep, intuitive grasp of which engineering assumptions are valid under specific physical constraints, paired with the discipline to rigorously validate simulation results with classical, back-of-the-napkin hand calculations.
With nearly two decades of mechanical engineering experience, I tackle complex, high-stakes mechanical designs—from heavy industrial machinery and fluid-power systems to high-precision mechatronic packaging—ensuring every design is mathematically sound, highly performant, and optimized for the shop floor.
Mechanical design remains the fundamental foundation of any physical system. Whether developing rotating machinery, complex fluid systems, or custom robotic end-of-arm tooling, the quality of the physical design dictates the performance, safety, and operational longevity of the machine. Modern CAD, FEA, and simulation tools have revolutionized engineering analysis, but the foundational law of computing remains absolute: “garbage in, garbage out”. Building a visually appealing CAD model or running an FEA study means very little if the component is unmanufacturable or the simulation's boundary conditions and constraints do not mirror reality. To design reliably, an engineer must possess more than just software proficiency; they need a deep, intuitive grasp of which engineering assumptions are valid under specific physical constraints, paired with the discipline to rigorously validate simulation results with classical, back-of-the-napkin hand calculations.
With nearly two decades of mechanical engineering experience, I tackle complex, high-stakes mechanical designs—from heavy industrial machinery and fluid-power systems to high-precision mechatronic packaging—ensuring every design is mathematically sound, highly performant, and optimized for the shop floor.
Image courtesy of Siemens USA
PLC Programming
Despite their inception over half a century ago, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) remain the undisputed backbone of global manufacturing and industrial control systems. As modern controllers become increasingly sophisticated, they allow for highly complex software architectures while retaining the massive practical advantage of standardized IEC 61131-3 graphical languages (such as Ladder Logic and Function Block Diagrams). This standardization is crucial, as it allows on-site maintenance personnel to perform rapid, real-time machine diagnostics. Despite their ubiquity, most university engineering curricula in the U.S. neglect PLCs entirely. This has created a severe industry shortage of multidisciplinary engineers who understand both high-level control theory and practical, field-level PLC programming.
Throughout my career, I have designed and programmed robust control systems using any and all of the IEC languages. I work comfortably across major hardware ecosystems—including Allen-Bradley (Rockwell Automation), Siemens (TIA Portal), and ABB—to build modular, reusable code blocks for complex peripheral systems. My integration experience spans standard digital/analog I/O to high-performance motion control (VFDs, stepper drives, and servos) communicating over industrial fieldbuses like PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, and Modbus. Beyond discrete machine automation, my expertise extends to heavy process control and Distributed Control Systems (DCS), with extensive hands-on experience in ABB 800xA and familiarity with Siemens PCS 7. I can help you program complex continuous control loops, optimize system architectures, manage plant-wide visualization, and deliver the precise process repeatability your operations demand.
Despite their inception over half a century ago, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) remain the undisputed backbone of global manufacturing and industrial control systems. As modern controllers become increasingly sophisticated, they allow for highly complex software architectures while retaining the massive practical advantage of standardized IEC 61131-3 graphical languages (such as Ladder Logic and Function Block Diagrams). This standardization is crucial, as it allows on-site maintenance personnel to perform rapid, real-time machine diagnostics. Despite their ubiquity, most university engineering curricula in the U.S. neglect PLCs entirely. This has created a severe industry shortage of multidisciplinary engineers who understand both high-level control theory and practical, field-level PLC programming.
Throughout my career, I have designed and programmed robust control systems using any and all of the IEC languages. I work comfortably across major hardware ecosystems—including Allen-Bradley (Rockwell Automation), Siemens (TIA Portal), and ABB—to build modular, reusable code blocks for complex peripheral systems. My integration experience spans standard digital/analog I/O to high-performance motion control (VFDs, stepper drives, and servos) communicating over industrial fieldbuses like PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, and Modbus. Beyond discrete machine automation, my expertise extends to heavy process control and Distributed Control Systems (DCS), with extensive hands-on experience in ABB 800xA and familiarity with Siemens PCS 7. I can help you program complex continuous control loops, optimize system architectures, manage plant-wide visualization, and deliver the precise process repeatability your operations demand.
Image courtesy of Novity Inc.
Electrical Control Panel Design & Compliance
A robust PLC program is only as reliable as the electrical hardware supporting it. For an automation system to function safely and predictably, sensor signals must be properly conditioned, field wiring must be sized to prevent voltage drop, and switching components like relays, contactors, and variable frequency drives (VFDs) must be meticulously rated for their active loads. Safely protecting these assets requires the careful coordination of overcurrent protection devices—including fuses, thermal overloads, and circuit breakers—to prevent component damage or electrical hazards. Furthermore, active thermal management is vital; calculating enclosure heat dissipation and cooling loads is a step often overlooked, but it is absolutely critical to preventing premature component failure on the factory floor.
I design all industrial control panels in strict accordance with North American electrical and safety codes. I have deep, hands-on familiarity with:
From thermal load calculations to precise wiring schematics, I ensure every electrical panel I design is safe, compliant, cleanly organized for easy field troubleshooting, and engineered for long-term operational reliability.
A robust PLC program is only as reliable as the electrical hardware supporting it. For an automation system to function safely and predictably, sensor signals must be properly conditioned, field wiring must be sized to prevent voltage drop, and switching components like relays, contactors, and variable frequency drives (VFDs) must be meticulously rated for their active loads. Safely protecting these assets requires the careful coordination of overcurrent protection devices—including fuses, thermal overloads, and circuit breakers—to prevent component damage or electrical hazards. Furthermore, active thermal management is vital; calculating enclosure heat dissipation and cooling loads is a step often overlooked, but it is absolutely critical to preventing premature component failure on the factory floor.
I design all industrial control panels in strict accordance with North American electrical and safety codes. I have deep, hands-on familiarity with:
- NFPA 79 (Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery)
- NEC Article 430 (Motors, Motor Circuits, and Controllers)
- UL 508A (Standard for Industrial Control Panels)
- UL 698A (Standard for Industrial Control Panels Relating to Hazardous/Classified Locations)
From thermal load calculations to precise wiring schematics, I ensure every electrical panel I design is safe, compliant, cleanly organized for easy field troubleshooting, and engineered for long-term operational reliability.
SCADA & HMI Development
An HMI panel or SCADA screen is an operator’s window into the machine or plant. A properly designed interface should never distract the user; instead, it must present critical data—such as process temperatures, flows, or robotic cell statuses—in a way that allows operators to instantly identify anomalies and focus on what truly matters. To achieve this, I design screens and control schemes according to High-Performance HMI (HPHMI) design principles. This means utilizing uncluttered layouts, intuitive navigation, and purposeful color palettes that draw the eye only to active faults or critical status changes, rather than distracting the operator with superfluous 3D graphics. Alarm systems are carefully configured to prevent "alarm fatigue," ensuring every alert is both meaningful and actionable.
I develop both PC-based SCADA applications and machine-level HMI panels across industry-leading platforms, including:
My designs integrate robust data acquisition, real-time trending, and historical data logging, giving operators and engineers the clear, actionable insights needed to optimize processes and maintain peak uptime.
An HMI panel or SCADA screen is an operator’s window into the machine or plant. A properly designed interface should never distract the user; instead, it must present critical data—such as process temperatures, flows, or robotic cell statuses—in a way that allows operators to instantly identify anomalies and focus on what truly matters. To achieve this, I design screens and control schemes according to High-Performance HMI (HPHMI) design principles. This means utilizing uncluttered layouts, intuitive navigation, and purposeful color palettes that draw the eye only to active faults or critical status changes, rather than distracting the operator with superfluous 3D graphics. Alarm systems are carefully configured to prevent "alarm fatigue," ensuring every alert is both meaningful and actionable.
I develop both PC-based SCADA applications and machine-level HMI panels across industry-leading platforms, including:
- Siemens (WinCC / TIA Portal)
- Rockwell Automation / Allen-Bradley (FactoryTalk View)
- ABB (800xA Compact HMI)
- VTScada
My designs integrate robust data acquisition, real-time trending, and historical data logging, giving operators and engineers the clear, actionable insights needed to optimize processes and maintain peak uptime.
Functional Safety & Risk Mitigation
Modern machine safety is about far more than just compliance—it is a critical design imperative. The days of simply wiring an E-stop button in series with a motor contactor are long gone. Today, protecting operators from high-speed, high-torque hazards requires rigorous risk assessments to evaluate the severity, frequency, and probability of potential harm. Where hazards cannot be mitigated by mechanical redesign, I integrate advanced safety-rated control systems. This includes the hardware layout, wiring, and programming of protective devices such as safety light curtains, area laser scanners, safety interlocks, and guard-locking systems to allow seamless operator interaction without compromising safety.
My approach is built on the core principle of fail-safe system architecture, ensuring that any component or wiring failure automatically defaults the machine to a safe state. I design and program safety-related control systems in accordance with key functional safety standards:
Modern machine safety is about far more than just compliance—it is a critical design imperative. The days of simply wiring an E-stop button in series with a motor contactor are long gone. Today, protecting operators from high-speed, high-torque hazards requires rigorous risk assessments to evaluate the severity, frequency, and probability of potential harm. Where hazards cannot be mitigated by mechanical redesign, I integrate advanced safety-rated control systems. This includes the hardware layout, wiring, and programming of protective devices such as safety light curtains, area laser scanners, safety interlocks, and guard-locking systems to allow seamless operator interaction without compromising safety.
My approach is built on the core principle of fail-safe system architecture, ensuring that any component or wiring failure automatically defaults the machine to a safe state. I design and program safety-related control systems in accordance with key functional safety standards:
- ISO 13849-1 (Safety of Machinery – Performance Levels: PL a–e)
- IEC 62061 / IEC 61508 (Functional Safety – Safety Integrity Levels: SIL 1–3)
- Keyence (GC Series)
- Allen-Bradley / Rockwell Automation (Guardmaster)
- Siemens (Failsafe S7-1200F / S7-1500F)
Image courtesy of ABB Robotics
U.S.
Industrial Robotics & Collaborative Safety
As industrial robotic arms become increasingly central to modern manufacturing, many new adopters are misled by marketing hype surrounding "collaborative robots" (cobots). It is a common, dangerous misconception that buying a collaborative robot arm makes the entire workcell inherently safe. In reality, while a robot arm itself may limit force, the tooling, the workpiece, or the application itself can still present severe hazards. To design a truly safe robotic system, a comprehensive, application-specific risk assessment is required.
I have deep familiarity with industrial robotics safety standards, including:
As industrial robotic arms become increasingly central to modern manufacturing, many new adopters are misled by marketing hype surrounding "collaborative robots" (cobots). It is a common, dangerous misconception that buying a collaborative robot arm makes the entire workcell inherently safe. In reality, while a robot arm itself may limit force, the tooling, the workpiece, or the application itself can still present severe hazards. To design a truly safe robotic system, a comprehensive, application-specific risk assessment is required.
I have deep familiarity with industrial robotics safety standards, including:
- ANSI/RIA R15.06 (Industrial Robots and Robot Systems - Safety Requirements)
- ISO 10218-1 & 2 (Safety Requirements for Industrial Robots)
- ISO/TS 15066 (Specific Safety Requirements for Collaborative Robots)