Resume Makeover

with Jenny Foss

Samuel Sample
Senior Controls Engineer | Sustainability Engineer
Normal, IL 543.234.5678 samuelsample@gmail.com linkedin.com/in/samuelsample

Innovative, proactive, and high-performing engineer with deep knowledge of controls engineering
and year-over-year success in managing the electrical, mechanical, and controls aspects of complex
projects and continuous improvements initiatives.
Enterprise-focused problem solver and subject matter expert with a passion for simplifying the
complex and ongoing commitment to optimizing processes and systems to improve safety, quality,
and production.
Collaborative and personable communicator who builds trust and gains buy-in with ease and excels
in building productive relationships with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to ensure successful
outcomes.
Inspirational leader, coach, and mentor who finds creative ways to educate others and brings levity
and encouragement to the workplace to keep people motivated and engaged in stressful, deadline-
driven environments.

Key Skills
• Controls Engineering
• Electromechanical Systems
• Design for Reliability
• Project Management
• Continuous Improvement • PLC & Robot Programming
• Process Sequence Optimization • Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Electrical & Safety Design • Leadership
• Troubleshooting • Training & Mentoring

Professional Experience
RIVIAN, Normal, IL Aug 2018 – Present
Senior Controls Engineer Jan 2021 – Present
Promoted to senior engineer based on diverse technical strengths and successes in leading crucial
controls projects. As an integral part of the Rivian R1S General Assembly team, play a key role in
ensuring safe and smooth operation of the lines. Working collaboratively with Equipment, Maintenance,
and Quality teams, implement automation projects that eliminate downtime, decrease process cycle
time, and create a safer work environment.

• Stepped in to troubleshoot and deliver electrical and mechanical solutions (in addition to
core controls deliverables) to ensure efficient, complete delivery of new products and functions.

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 • Decreased cycle time of the line’s glass automation station by 35 seconds to bring cycle time
to 65 seconds. This improvement was so notable that a planned, $500K project for a windshield
buffer assembly station was put on hold then eliminated as the issue had been resolved.
• Eliminated downtime caused by lack of appropriate spare parts by proactively creating a
spare parts wall containing every possible variation of network cable and connector type. This
move made crucial parts available at arm’s reach and represented a huge win for the department.

Controls Engineer Dec 2019 – Jan 2021

Persistent commitment to challenging the status quo led to promotion to controls engineer, a role with
primary focus on robot vision and fixtures. Tasked with minimizing variation and developing fixtures
capable of tolerating misalignment and self-correction to aid maintenance personnel. Also, served as
team lead over major line projects.

• Led a production line conversion to accommodate an upcoming, compact SUV model, an

intricate project that required development of sequencing queues for multiple automation
cells to enable seamless transition between the varying models.
• Oversaw a transformational project that reduced downtime by 3 hours per week while
improving operational efficiencies. Assumed role as project lead for the demolition of a large
conveyor highway system, replacing it with smaller and more efficient lifter automation cells.

Associate Controls Engineer Aug 2018 – Dec 2019

Recruited into a lead support engineer role with primary focus on enhancing uptime of partially completed
automation cells. Took full ownership of assigned cells, implementing numerous controls and equipment
modifications to ensure reliable operation. Also, built systems that enabled maintenance personnel with
little machine-specific knowledge to troubleshoot intricate automation cells.

• Reduced production line faults and built new indications into the user interface, equipping
maintenance personnel with alarms and meaningful indications that allowed them to efficiently
troubleshoot and resolve complex automated machine issues.
• Worked with an ongoing commitment to first reducing the variation that caused the fault.
If that is not possible, then the issue should be self-correcting and, only when that is not possible,
to display the exact manual intervention required to resolve the issue.

KBR GROUP, Portland, OR Nov 2016 – Apr 2018

HVAC Controls Engineer
Designed and commissioned large-scale HVAC controls systems for commercial buildings, often working
on mission-critical plant installations that required delivery on live processes, with zero downtime.

Provided technical guidance to a team of electricians for the installation of wiring, sensors, and actuators
to maintain optimal temperature and air quality in hospitals, universities, and stadiums.

• Reduced commissioning time of a massive hotel refurbishment project by 2 weeks. Ideated

and deployed a self-test program for the project—an upgrade of 300+ room controls—that gave
real-time feedback to electricians and eliminated the need for onsite controls engineers or
software tools.

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 • Created machine learning code that periodically adjusted calculate condenser water,
enabling automatic and continual setpoint testing to then calculated coefficient of performance
and continue adjustment in that direction if a higher performance level was achieved.

TILLAMOOK CHEESE, Tillamook, OR May 2015 – Aug 2015

Mechatronics Engineer (Intern)
Partnered with the site’s engineering manager and 2 controls engineers to find ways to help the factory
save on energy costs and increase process efficiencies.

• Created an energy model that could accurately predict the next month’s energy consumption
within a 5% tolerance.

Education
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY, Corvallis, OR
Bachelor of Science, Robotics & Controls Engineering
Honors graduate / Recipient of the Allan Bradley Spirit of Excellence Award

Programming Skills
Siemens PLC, Allan Bradley PLC, Kuka Robot, SEW VFD, Ignition HMI, Sick Safety Devices,
ISRA Robot Vision

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