Pothala D.

Experience

• PROJECT ENGINEER Renault India · Full-time Sep 2022 – May 2026 3 yrs 8 mos Chennai, TN, India Lead Engineer – Exterior Lighting 01/2024 – 05/2025
  Renault Nissan Technology & Business Centre India – Chennai, India
  Project Leadership: End-to-end ownership of exterior lighting scope (headlamps + rear lamps) across vehicle programs from Concept Freeze to TGA
  Supplier Management: Managed Tier-1 suppliers end-to-end specifications, feasibility reviews, prototype delivery, quality convergence
  Cost Optimization: BOP targets of 5.9 MINR achieved, Rev VD commitment of €0.30M delivered teamwork.
  Process Improvement: ROPP implementations + department-level automation/simplification targets met.
  Team Leadership: Contributed to the team activities achieving +20% improvement across 4 axes (Safety, Skills, Business, Innovation); progressed to Li L3 skill level
  Performance Rating: “Strong Contribution”– FY24
  Senior Engineer – Platform Components 09/2022 – 12/2023
  Renault Nissan Technology & Business Centre India – Chennai, India
  Role Transition: Successfully transitioned from Interior Components (GFE 41 - Front Bumper) to GFE 42 - Lighting Lead role with rapid upskilling
  Performance: 99% OTD, 99.4% FTR, CSSR 4.2/5; RL0 milestone delivered on time
  Competitiveness: Contributed to 5% competitiveness target, 25% T&M → Work Package conversion, 2 automations + 2 simplifications (recognized at department level)
  Performance Rating: “Strong Contribution” – FY23 and FY22
• CAD ENGINEER valeo · Full-time Jun 2022 – Sep 2022 3 mos Chennai, TN, India Design: Created headlamp and rear lamp CAD models in CATIA V5/V6 for Ferrari, Stellantis (PSA/Citroën), and Volvo
  Feasibility: Conducted DFM/DFA studies on 10+ lighting programs; validated injection moulding parameters with tooling suppliers
  Cost Reduction: Proposed design alternatives optimizing part geometry and tooling approach, improving manufacturing cycle times
  PLM: Managed data in Enovia PLM; created 2D production drawings and technical documentation for series release
• Design Engineer Vengala Engineering Design services · Full-time Aug 2015 – Jun 2018 2 yrs 10 mos Bengaluru, KA, India VW Project: Designed instrument panel assemblies for Volkswagen (Inditeq, Mexico) in CATIA V5
  Cost Savings: Applied re-mastering techniques reducing new tooling costs by approximately 20%
  Quality: 3D models, 2D production drawings, GD&T compliance, cross-functional design reviews