Automotive Design Engineer

Ranjith
Thangapandi

Brake & hydraulic systems · Vehicle R&D · 4+ years turning ideas into production-ready solutions

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About

I'm an automotive design engineer with 4+ years of experience, including 2 years in full R&D.

I've worked on hydraulics, pneumatics, HVAC, diesel & AdBlue systems, chassis, suspension, steering, engines, transmissions, cabins, and firefighting vehicle systems.

One of my favorite achievements? Brake system integration—I designed a brake that meets NFPA standards. In the real world, it works flawlessly: you can release the handbrake within 5 seconds of starting the engine and just drive off.

I use SolidWorks, Creo, and AutoCAD to turn concepts into real, functioning vehicles. Vehicles aren't just machines—they're puzzles I get to solve every day.

Vehicle Systems R&D Engineer Mechanical Design Product Development HVAC (Automotive) Hydraulics & Pneumatics Functional Safety

Core competencies

CAD & Drafting

AutoCAD 2D · 3D CAD (SolidWorks, Creo)

Simulation & Analysis

Mathcad · Ansys · Automation Studio · LS-DYNA

PLM / Collaboration

Teamcenter · Windchill · Wrench

ERP / Engineering

SAP · Oracle ECO · ECR · ECN · BOM

Standards & Materials

ISO · ASME · EN · NFPA

The lowdown

  • Team player — Fosters collaboration and drives collective success
  • Problem solver — Quickly identifies challenges and implements solutions
  • Project manager — Plans, executes, and delivers successful outcomes
  • Critical thinker — Applies strategic and logical analysis

Languages

English · Tamil · Malayalam · Hindi · Japanese (Introductory)

Professional experience

Jan 2024 – Present

Mechanical Design Engineer

NAFFCO · Chassis Manufacturing, JAFZA Dubai

  • Complete design, integration, and implementation of vehicle brake and hydraulic systems (power packs, steering, diesel/AdBlue tank lines, cabin heater lines)
  • Full air brake system using WABCO components; brake force calculations; hydraulic/pneumatic fittings, pump/valve specs, compressor selection
  • 3D hydraulic routing for ARFF-IAF vehicles; brake system schematics; engine trestle & SCR DEF tank mountings
  • DEFA-based cabin heating; EV system design (AC-DC converters, motors, liquid-cooled battery mountings); cabin HVAC; CAN bus steer-by-wire rear steering prototype
  • Hand brake release optimized from 14s to 5s; 87°C thermostatic valve for torque converter/transmission cooling; flow control valve for hydraulic steering
June 2023 – Jan 2024

Assistant Design Engineer

AXISCADES (Caterpillar) · Chennai

  • 3D modeling & 2D drafting in Creo for engine castings, fasteners, tires, rim assemblies, air filtration
  • NPDI, prototype support, ECR/ECO, DFMEA; conversion of drawings to Caterpillar-compliant specs
  • Chassis modification CAT 950GC; ALUW 06 DTI engine support for 320D3; Perkins to CAT conversion; heat shield upgrade; cabin safety guard CAT 246D3
  • 200+ tire/rim models; 1000+ fastener conversions; 150+ coupling conversions
Aug 2022 – June 2023

Design Engineer

Larsen & Toubro · Product Development Center, Coimbatore

  • Heavy engineering: rail feeder cars, track slab laying cars, straddle carriers; L&T construction equipment (compactors, wheel loaders, excavators, skid steer loaders)
  • Tyre processing: tyre building machines, hydraulic tyre curing presses, variable-size tube splicers
  • 15+ projects; hydraulic routing on 7+ tyre processing machines; full brake system for Rail Feeder Car (Indian Railways); chassis layouts, exhaust routing; 25-inch & 17.5-inch tyre curing press piping

Featured projects

Brake system (NFPA)

Brake system integration meeting NFPA standards; handbrake release within 5 seconds from engine start.

HVAC & cabin systems

Evaporator, condenser, duct routing; DEFA-based cabin heating with custom circuits and in-vehicle validation.

Hydraulics & pneumatics routing

3D hydraulic routing for ARFF vehicles; power packs, steering, cooler connections, AdBlue and cabin heater lines.

Tyre curing press

Hydraulic routing for tyre curing presses; heat and pressure molding; 25-inch and 17.5-inch piping design.

Straddle carrier

Heavy-duty port/container terminal machinery; lifting and moving shipping containers.

CAT fasteners & conversions

Conversion of 1975-era drawings to CAD; 1000+ fastener and 150+ coupling conversions to CAT standards.

Education

2023

Digital Manufacturing and Design

University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

Industry 4.0, intelligent machining, productivity

2019–2022

Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (12+3)

Government Polytechnic College, Directorate of Technical Education, Coimbatore, India

Achievements

  • Intersec Award 2025 — ARFF-NAFFCO
  • Best Employee of the Month (2×) — Thermostat bypass valve; brake release in 5 sec
  • Patented air dryer connection for hand brake release optimization

Contact

✉

Email

ranjith.thangapandi2002@gmail.com ranjithdesignengineer@gmail.com
📞

Phone / WhatsApp

+971 565 744 784 +971 583 068 436
📍

Location

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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CV (PDF) Portfolio (PDF)