Chris Vasquez
About
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Head of Customer Experience Engineering
Los Angeles, California, United States
Résumé
Jobs
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Head of Customer Experience EngineeringArmadaMar 2024 - Current (2 years 7 months)- Programs Director | Software Product Development & StrategyArmadaJan 2023 - Mar 2024 (1 year 3 months)As a dynamic Programs Director, I lead the charge in product development and strategic planning for our cutting-edge software management platform. My role is multifaceted, encompassing the oversight of development strategy, setting priorities that align with our corporate vision, and ensuring the seamless integration of new technologies and methodologies.
• Product Development Leadership. Spearheading new product development initiatives, I stay at the forefront of technological advancements, ensuring that our software solutions not only meet but exceed market demands.
• Strategic Planning and Execution. I play a pivotal role in defining and implementing development strategies, translating complex concepts into actionable plans tha - Product ManagerMynaricMar 2022 - Jan 2023 (11 months)
- Senior Program Director, ProductVirgin HyperloopJan 2021 - Dec 2021 (1 year)• Defined new product development strategy, roadmaps and plans in line with the strategic objectives of the organization. Managed engineering activities associated with assessing new product and project feasibility.
• Led the creation of the Continuous Improvement Process – a process for capturing, evaluating, and implementing lessons learned across all departments; handed over to Quality Assurance for long-term ownership.
• Spearheaded the Stay Initiative – an employee-led culture-building initiative to retain, empower and attract top talent amidst high exec leadership turnover; handed over to Talent Ops for long-term ownership. - Senior Program Director, Project PegasusVirgin HyperloopFeb 2019 - Dec 2020 (1 year 11 months)• Final technical and programmatic decision authority for the project to demonstrate the first passenger-worthy hyperloop; achieved independent manned certification of hyperloop in under two years.
• Headed a team of 80+ cross-functional personnel (hardware, software, infra, corporate) balancing project and corporate priorities applying waterfall and agile project management principles when needed.
• Bootstrapped the following management systems and processes to ensure project success: requirements management, configuration management, document management, engineering change, test anomaly resolution, and verification and validation.
• Negotiated agreements and resolved issues with legal entities, consultants, contractors, and - Director, Product Development & Project EngineeringVirgin HyperloopFeb 2016 - Aug 2019 (3 years 7 months)• Defined, owned, and managed business requirements for all products.
• Product interface with internal business units and external partners and customers.
• Lead multiple company-wide efforts: cross-functional Red Team, early-stage conceptual design effort and product development process definition. - Engineering ManagerSpaceXJun 2012 - Dec 2015 (3 years 7 months)• Visionary and product owner for in-house engineering materials web-application designed to increase design and manufacturing efficiency, in use at SpaceX and Tesla.
• Championed the creation of (and headed) corporate-wide materials engineering org to standardize policies and practices across all departments and sites.
• Reverse-engineered and implemented in-house contamination analysis methodology for customer satellites using MS Excel & Thermal Desktop; defended methodology and approach to government officials during F9 launch vehicle certification.
• Defined and implemented contamination control standards across all sites for F9 launch vehicle, Dragon spacecraft and customer satellites. - Lead EngineerSpaceXFeb 2007 - Jun 2012 (5 years 5 months)• Lead engineer for berthing mechanism on Dragon spacecraft; responsible for sourcing, re-design, testing, and integration hardware systems resulting in ~$2-3M cost savings annually.
• Lead engineer for spacecraft nosecone and hinge mechanism on Dragon spacecraft. Responsible for design, testing, failure analysis and product integration.
• Defined and implemented mass management standards for Falcon and Dragon vehicles; ultimately stood up a dedicated mass properties function.
• Collected and managed material data for Dragon spacecraft for use in space station contamination analysis. - Subsystem ManagerBoeingJun 2004 - Feb 2007 (2 years 9 months)• Provided real-time failure analysis and issue resolution of spacecraft mechanisms during on-orbit activities.
• Presented and defended technical recommendations to engineering directorates, flight directors, mission managers and chief engineering offices.
• Developed and implemented new departmental protocols and training to improve operational efficiency. - EngineerBoeingJun 2001 - Jun 2004 (3 years 1 month)• Design and release of test and flight hardware for International Space Station.
Education
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- ME, Engineering ManagmentUniversity of Colorado BoulderJan 2002 - Jan 2008 (6 years 1 month)
- BS, Aerospace EngineeringTexas AM UniversityJan 1996 - Jan 2001 (5 years 1 month)
Projects (professional or personal)
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- 33E Development - a boutique software development houseCo-founder, Product Owner
2018 to Present.
• Product owner and project manager of a sports-based mobile app aimed at increasing casual fan interest and excitement in sports.
• Product, UI/UX and strategy consultant company projects.