Bruce Branstad
San Fernando Valley, Sun Valley, California, 91352
I am recognized as a seasoned Senior Engineering Technologist with a distinguished 28-year career encompassing expertise in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, CAD, CAM, and Machining. An unwavering work ethic, self-motivation, and meticulous attention to detail underscore my commitment to excellence. Renowned for problem-solving proficiency, I excel in delivering analytical accuracy and innovative solutions.
​
My collaborative approach, critical thought, and strategic planning position me as an invaluable asset to any team. I am characterized by a commitment to continuous growth and adaptation, consistently striving to remain relevant in dynamic professional landscapes. I am dedicated to achieving excellence in every endeavor and contributing to my team's success and the broader organizational objectives.
Do not hire a man who does your work for money, but him who does it for love of it. - Henry David Thoreau
AEROVIRONMENT, Simi Valley, CA 2015 – 2023
Titles and Positions:
Engineering Development Technician III | 2019 – 2023
Engineering Development Technician II | 2015 – 2019
Strategic Leadership in Test Fixture Development:
Led the development of in-house test fixture hardware, utilizing SolidWorks for 3D CAD designs, contributing to enhanced testing capabilities and efficiency.
Innovating Design-to-Documentation Approaches:
Implemented a Design-to-Documentation approach, resulting in a substantial 20% improvement in documentation times, showcasing a commitment to process optimization and streamlined workflows.
Strategic Engineering Drawings:
Orchestrated the generation of Engineering Drawings with SolidWorks or Visio, ensuring clear and precise documentation for all projects.
Efficient Collaboration with External Vendors:
Coordinated seamlessly with external vendors to ensure precise PCB configuration and contour requirements, enhancing the quality and reliability of the manufactured products.
Successfully Reverse Engineering Initiatives:
Organized and led successful reverse engineering efforts for legacy test equipment, vendor-procured Test Systems, and Test Fixtures.
Achieved updated drawings and fabrication documentation meeting the stringent industry drawing standards, demonstrating a dedication to quality and compliance.
Continuous Improvement and ECO Compliance:
Sustained designed improvements and facilitated drawing updates for in-house Test Systems and Test Fixtures, aligning with Engineering Change Orders (ECO) to ensure the latest standards and specifications are met.
Equipment Evaluation and Troubleshooting:
Evaluated, troubleshooted, and repaired In-house testing equipment promptly, minimizing production downtimes and contributing to uninterrupted manufacturing processes.
MEDTRONIC DIABETES, Northridge, CA 1999 – 2015
Title and Position:
Senior Engineering Technician
Strategic Cost Saving and Fixture Development:
Proposed and implemented in-house test fixture hardware development, achieving substantial cost savings of over $250,000. Worked as a team member to develop in-house Test Equipment/Fixtures, diverting funds that would have been spent on outside vendors.
Automated Systems Engineering:
Engineered various automated systems to efficiently extract product electronic assemblies from non-compliant and customer-returned products, leading to a significant productivity increase of up to 25%.
Safety and Efficiency Enhancements:
Created over 100 manufacturing aids to improve efficiency and reduce industrial injury risks, showcasing a commitment to productivity and workplace safety.
Advanced Integration of PLC:
Integrated Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) into built equipment, boosting efficiency by an impressive 10%.
Comprehensive Modernization Efforts:
Modernized manufacturing processes by implementing In-House Test Systems, Test Fixtures, Mechanical Tooling, Drill Jigs, and other Manufacturing Aids.
Prototyping and System Development:
Directed the fabrication of proof-of-concept prototypes for team evaluation, demonstrating a hands-on approach to innovation and development.
Strategic Proposal of PCBAs:
Proposed the development of test circuitry PCBAs driven by system requirements, aligning testing processes with specific project needs.
Comprehensive Documentation and System Management:
Sustained comprehensive documentation, including System Diagrams, Top-End Assemblies, Sub-assemblies, cable assemblies, wiring/hookup diagrams, schematics, PCBA Fabrication Packages, and Bills of Materials (BOM), ensuring accurate and organized records.
Asset Refocusing for Efficiency:
Refocused the department's asset, a HAAS Milling Center, to fabricate necessary mechanical parts made from aluminum or Delrin for in-house equipment construction. This initiative significantly reduced wait times by an impressive 60%.
Strategic Engineering Drawings:
Orchestrated the generation of Engineering Drawings with AutoCAD or SolidWorks, ensuring clear and precise documentation for all projects.
ABBOTT TECHNOLOGIES, Sun Valley, CA 1995 – 1999
Title and Position:
Magnetic Test Technician
At Abbott Technologies Inc., a renowned producer of high-quality aerospace and electronics industry power conversion products since 1961, I have played a pivotal role in manufacturing and testing a diverse range of magnetic products for commercial and military applications. Abbott became a leading supplier of Military-Off-The-Shelf (MOTS) magnetic devices, particularly transformers and inductors, to Aerospace and Defense Companies as the company evolved.
In adherence to the MIL-PRF-27G specification (which supersedes MIL-T-27G), I conducted comprehensive inspections and tests for transformers and inductors. These assessments included visual and mechanical examinations, dielectric withstand voltage testing, insulation resistance testing, induced voltage testing, DC resistance testing, and functional testing of electrical characteristics. The specification’s sections selected test samples.
Visual inspections covered the entire product lot, while mechanical inspections employed calipers, height gauges, and plug gauges. Electrical testing, performed on a randomly chosen defined sample size, involved bench testing using individual instruments or Automated Test Equipment (ATE).
​
Bench testing utilized a diverse array of instruments, including but not limited to:
-
Programmable AC Power Source – Single or 3-Phase Output: 0-300V, Output Frequency: 15Hz to 12kHz
-
House AC Power 120-480 VAC @ 60Hz or Permanent Magnet Alternator 120-208 VAC @ 400Hz
-
Step-up and Isolation Transformers
-
Current Shunts
-
Power Meters
-
Multimeters or Digital Multimeters (DMM)
-
Signal Generators
-
Oscilloscope
-
Phase Meters
-
Dielectric Withstand Tester or Hipot Tester
-
Insulation Resistance Tester
-
LCR Bridge
-
Milliohm Meter
-
Harmonic Distortion Analyzer
-
Thermal Chambers
-
Thermocouples
-
Hand Tools
This experience underscores my expertise in adhering to stringent specifications and procedures, ensuring the quality and reliability of magnetic products for aerospace and defense applications.
EDUCATION
The great aim of education is not knowledge but action. - Herbert Spencer
There is no greater education than one that is self-driven. - ​Neil deGrasse Tyson
ITT TECHNICAL INSTITUTE - Electronics Engineering Technology, Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
Electronics engineering technology studies include (a) standard electronics assembly techniques, (b) DC and AC electronics, (c) Linear and Digital Circuit simulation, analysis, and design, (d) microprocessors, (e) communication systems, (f) measurement techniques, (g) Electronics troubleshooting.
​
Additional course studies included but were not limited to, the following:
• Technical Reporting
• Writing
• Communication Skills
• Trigonometry
• Linear Systems
• Calculus
Acquired Skills from the Course Curriculum:
• Design
• Analysis
• Application and Troubleshooting of Electrical Circuits
• Electronic Instrumentation
• Test Equipment/Devices