Craig Derian Email & Phone Number

Torrance, CA, US

Long Beach, California, United States

Torrance, California, United States

Gardena, California, United States

Custom manufactured homes in record time.Developing and manufacturing custom homes that are well integrated, modern, automated, efficient and developed as a product rather than a piecemeal assembly of badly executed sub-contracted work.

Palo Alto, CA

Responsible for chassis attribute development and quantification for all Tesla products. Change our operation to integrate fully with design, modeling and firmware to make amazing cars.

Palo Alto, CA

Vehicle modeling through multi-body dynamics and focused testing. Supporting complete tire and vehicle planning and development programs. Building cooperative teams and leading efficient progress is key.

Initially responsible for production launch of the 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year Model S chassis systems. Now implementing testing and analysis techniques along with infrastructure for more efficient vehicle performance development.

Charlotte, North Carolina Area

• Established correlations between simulations and race experience to improve Carl Edwards’s NASCAR Cup team race finishes, set record for highest average finish for a season in NASCAR.
• Implemented vehicle improvements and developed race strategy.
• Achieved the highest finishing position ever for Carl: tied for first place in championship points.

Charlotte, North Carolina Area

• Established SES’ second office and expanded our customer base within the motorsport, military and OEM industries while expanding SES’ services.
• Managed a team of engineers to provide on-site testing, data analysis, damper development, component design and vehicle modeling and correlation work to our expanding client list.
• Initiated and directed new software development to employ statistical analysis for predictive modeling.
• Created custom analysis software to reduce correlation time between test data and model results.
• Led and performed white light scanning services and surfacing for CFD analysis.
• Supported race track design and development work to increase passing and side-by-side racing.

Charlotte, North Carolina Area

• Responsible for vehicle and tire modeling as well as design-of-experiment (DOE) development and support for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates’ NASCAR teams. Worked on-site.
• Worked closely with crew chiefs, race engineers and drivers to customize simulations and software tools based on at-track experience, data, bench tests and vehicle dynamics theory.
• In charge of ADAMS dynamic model development and customization.
• Initiated and led chassis, suspension and steering design project to improve vehicle predictability and tire use.
• Responsible for a variety of vehicle tests including at-track, bench, 7-post, SPMM and wind tunnel.
• Developed models as well as sensors and analysis packages for improved vehicle/tire understanding and model correlation.

Columbus, Ohio Area

• Performed data analysis and assistant race engineering duties for IRL’s Team Rahal for driver Kenny Brack.
• Tested and developed the Road Friction Testing (RFT) device which measures winter road surface friction to optimize the application of road salt.
• Began design of tire lateral force measurement device built into a suspension upright for race teams.
• Hoped the RFT work would develop into graduate-level research, but never materialized.o Left to complete graduate research on schedule.

Columbus, Ohio Area

• Lead a team of over 60 students and initiated parallel development programs to complete the vehicle early thereby increasing on-track testing 50% over previous years.
• Responsible for suspension design and simulation in ADAMS as well as vehicle testing.
• Applied CFD and wind tunnel experience to help develop the shape of the previous electric-powered land speed vehicle record holder, the Buckeye Bullet (271.737 mph).
• Spearheaded, directed and participated in the design and build of the first one-piece, oven-cured, composite carbon fiber/aluminum honeycomb tub used in Formula SAE.o A new and improved chassis was created each year.
• Developed first Formula SAE one-piece carbon fiber engine intake manifold through flow bench testing and CFD analysis. Improved mass airflow cylinder distribution while reducing weight 45%.
• Co-wrote a Matlab program to analyze data from a strain gage test of suspension A-arms and pushrods to determine tire loads to optimize suspension, steering design and tire choice.

Aachen, Germany

• First American intern at Ford Forschungszentrum Aachen.
• Established database of steer-by-wire (SBW) development worldwide for use by Ford Europe.
• Created SBW control algorithm to compliment electric power steering (EPS) systems.
• Performed on-track testing and evaluation of prototype EPS/SBW systems.

Columbus, Ohio Area

• Dynamic Performance GroupJune 2000 – Sept 2000, Dec 2000 – March 2001
• Initiated and created an engine bay CFD model and performed under-hood cooling thermodynamic analysis.
• Performed aerodynamic coast-down testing and data analysis to improve chassis dynamometer correlation.
• First Honda R&D Americas, Inc. intern to become a certified Honda test driver.Simulation GroupJune 1999 – Sept 1999, Dec 1999 – March 2000
• One of the first three interns and Honda R&D Americas, Inc.
• Led development and analysis of structural FEA models for trailer hitch and chassis strength investigations.