Work experience

• Lead Engineer, Water Heating

  Rinnai America Corporation

  2024.09-Current

  (2 years)

  Self Summary As a Lead Engineer at Rinnai America Corporation, I leverage my engineering expertise and project management skills to lead product development for gas-fired space and water heating products. With over 19 years of experience in the industry, I have a proven track record of delivering new products and applications that support growth in both commercial and residential markets. I am passionate about fostering a collaborative environment and knowledge sharing within the engineering group. I have achieved an industry-leading improvement in the Uniform Energy Factor (UEF), reaching a peak of 0.98 - the highest in the gas tankless water heater industry. I also hold a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a focus on Project Management, and I am a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). My goal is to continue to innovate and improve the performance and efficiency of Rinnai's products. Experience 4 years 11 months (1 year 3 months)
• Senior Project Engineer

  //

  2021.01-2024.09

  (4 years)

  (3 years 9 months) • Led product development for Rinnai’s gas-fired heating products, enhancing collaboration within the engineering team. • Achieved the best Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) of 0.98, setting a new industry standard for gas tankless water heaters. • Developed comprehensive technical documents by integrating feedback from multiple stakeholders, ensuring clarity and compliance with industry standards.
• Senior Tankless Engineering

  Rheem Manufacturing

  2010.12-2020.12

  (10 years)

  15 years 2 months (10 years 1 month) • Directed a cross-functional product development team, overseeing the design, manufacturing, and testing of tankless water heaters. • Managed over 10 major projects and 100+ small projects, ensuring adherence to budget and timelines. • Acted as a subject matter expert, training engineering team members and coordinating with certification agencies for compliance.
• Design Engineer

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  2005.11-2010.12

  (5 years)

  (5 years 2 months) • Designed innovative tankless water heaters and components using Pro/E and Creo, ensuring adherence to specifications and budget. • Collaborated with certification agencies to secure safety certifications, enhancing product reliability and marketability. • Leveraged Japanese language skills to facilitate communication with teams in Japan, resolving engineering challenges efficiently.
• Guest Engineer

  Jefferson Industries Corporation

  2004.07-2005.11

  (a year)

  (1 year 5 months) • Collaborated with Honda engineers to resolve complex engineering issues, ensuring project alignment with specifications. • Assigned tasks among team members to maintain project timelines, resulting in on-schedule completions. • Designed automobile body parts that met Honda's stringent cost and quality requirements, enhancing product efficiency.
• Patent Engineer

  Aoyama & Partners

  1998.06-2000.11

  (2 years)

  (2 years 6 months) • Composed over 20 patent specifications from inventor memos, ensuring timely submissions. • Translated more than 100 patent documents between English and Japanese, maintaining accuracy and clarity. • Facilitated communication between inventors and the Japanese Patent Office, enhancing collaboration. • Evaluated technical ideas for patent infringement, contributing to the protection of intellectual property.

Educational experience

• Capella University

  Project management

  2012.01-2015.01

  (3 years)
• Utah State University

  Mechanical Engineering (Aerospace Engineeringemphasis)

  2001.01-2003.01

  (2 years)
• Osaka University

  Physics - Particle Physics

  1992.01-1996.01

  (4 years)

Certificates