John Kraus Email & Phone Number

United States

Riverside, Ca, Us

📌 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐏𝐄: The VP of Engineering and Technology recruited me to rejoin Bourns and manage the materials and product development groups for the fixed resistors and Trimpot® potentiometer product lines. I provide strategic technical oversight across the product and process development lifecycles, initiating global collaborations with cross-functional teams of PhD-level material scientists, technicians, and analysts. ⚙️ 𝐊𝐄𝐘 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒: As the technical lead, I have steered multiple product design changes, material qualifications, and continuous improvements amidst market supply constraints to meet customer delivery expectations. 💡 𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛: After releasing a series of new resistors, I onboarded an engineering manager to focus on this fast-growing segment. Within a year, we released multiple new resistor products, matching the year's previous output and integrating an acquisition that boosted sales by +20%. ✅ 𝑀𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛: I led the materials development group through numerous end-of-life (EOL) and material shortages and ensured ZERO delays by quickly qualifying new materials and suppliers.

Following a restructuring at Vishay, I opted for a severance package that included fully paid insurance, affording me nearly a year to prioritize my family time and travel. As I began exploring new opportunities, the onset of COVID-19 reshaped the job search landscape, during which I engaged in several remote interviews. In 2020, I rejoined Bourns, initially working remotely from Nebraska amidst the pandemic's challenges.

Malvern, Pennsylvania, Us

📌 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐏𝐄: I was recruited to the global Dale Resistors Division, heading process engineering across manufacturing sites in Israel, Mexico, and multiple US states. A core component of my role involved managing a technology portfolio valued at over $250M, comprising thin and thick films, plating, wire wound potentiometers, and electron beam welded resistor and inductor products. I directed a 8-member team and indirectly oversaw up to 88 automation engineers and technicians. ⚙️ 𝐊𝐄𝐘 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒: 🏗️ 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛: I navigated a critical growth phase, leading the qualification and setup for a second manufacturing location. To reduce installation timelines and meet escalating demand, I devised a plan to relocate existing equipment, integrate new machinery, and implement a phased qualification approach to expedite product readiness and minimize operational disruptions. My leadership expanded our machine capacity by 66%. ⚓ 𝐸𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑜𝑦𝑒𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛: I tackled the issue of retaining mold, tool, and die technicians in a remote area. My recommendation? Shift away from the traditional classroom model and take the learning internal. Working with HR, our automation head, and a retired former technician, I designed and implemented a curriculum and on-the-job training program that integrated practical experience within our factory facilities. We attracted new talent while upskilling existing technicians to fill critical skills gaps. 🚀 𝑇𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐷𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡: I revamped our management structure, mentoring a supervisor in welding process development and management skills while promoting a younger engineer to their first supervisory position. This strategic move streamlined our product development workflows and strengthened collaborations between engineering and product marketing teams.

Riverside, Ca, Us

📌 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐏𝐄: I advanced to oversee the fixed resistors and custom security housings, later adding wire wound potentiometers. In 2012, I transitioned into the Specialty Engineering Manufacturing Services (EMS) Division, managing product and process development with product lifecycle management (PLM), business development, and controller teams. I guided design, test, and process engineering and production teams in product design, optimization, scale-up, and continuous improvement. Along the way, I learned several cleaning processes, including wire bonding, die attach, and surface mount technologies, to help PLM teams build and launch new, highly custom products. ⚙️ 𝐊𝐄𝐘 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒: 🚀 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐴𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑙𝑦 𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛: I orchestrated the rapid development and release of a new printed circuit board (PCB) assembly within 6 months, securing a purchase order worth nearly $2M and growing the product line into a $10M+ business. 🌎 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 𝐿𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛: I expanded a customer's product line to a dedicated manufacturing site in Mexico, transferring equipment, hiring process development and project management teams, and establishing operational, quality, and inspection procedures. This initiative attracted multiple new customers. 📈 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝐼𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡: My product design and manufacturing improvement record led to my shortlisting for a dual engineering manager/PLM role, particularly after delivering the following results: By standardizing lubricant use across multi-turn potentiometers, I reduced costs by 2% and improved yields by +25%. Introducing a faster curing process and a fixture holding 33% more parts boosted production capacity by 15-fold. Additionally, I cut material costs by 70% after developing a new conductive epoxy and process for a custom RF module.

Riverside, Ca, Us

📌𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐏𝐄:I was headhunted for my electrical and mechanical engineering background to lead new product development for the fixed resistor, security housing, and working pots product lines.⚙️𝐊𝐄𝐘 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒:🌐 𝐺𝑙𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝐸𝑛𝑔𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡In my first 3 months, I visited 3 primary factories and a closing European facility to ensure smooth product transitions to additional manufacturing sites.I engaged with 9 key customers across 8 countries, launching custom products that generated $5M+ in sales within 3 years.🔧𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 𝐷𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 & 𝐿𝑎𝑢𝑛𝑐ℎ:To reverse declining revenue, I launched a new product line featuring the first 4 power resistors.Within 18 months, these products generated $2M+ in sales.Using a unique process that eliminated soldering, these resistors set a benchmark for durability and performance at higher temperatures, outpacing the legacy business within 4 years.🚚𝐺𝑙𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟: I single-handedly transferred a product line from a closed European plant to Taiwan. To ensure a smooth transition, I traveled with sales and product marketing teams to visit and address European customers. I still receive expertise requests from customers and sales teams, even after moving to a different product line. 💡𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 𝑂𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛: Faced with challenges in a newly designed product, I conducted testing and detailed design analysis, implementing material improvements that optimized manufacturability and design. My efforts established the product as a market leader.🔁 𝑇𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑛𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑦 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟: I oversaw the technology transfer of an automotive-qualified product line to a new production site under tight deadlines, maintaining stringent quality standards and ensuring no customer disruptions. This line continues to serve OEMs over 15 years later.

Santa Ana, California, Us

📌 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐏𝐄: I joined this manufacturer and supplier of custom ceramic-to-metal seal assemblies, working directly with the owner, a materials scientist. Together, we researched, identified, and selected the right materials to develop hermetic sealing and bonding solutions for customers in diverse industries. These projects also involved learning techniques for blending glasses with binders and vehicles to create composite materials and coatings with specific properties. ⚙️ 𝐊𝐄𝐘 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒: I gained extensive experience spanning engineering design, process development, and manufacturing compliance, building a solid foundation in product development. This knowledge, combined with my hands-on experience in materials processing techniques, such as sputtering, thick film processing, glass-to-metal/ceramic-to-metal sealing, refractory moralization, and nickel and gold plating, were pivotal in planning, executing, and managing special projects and meeting customer requirements. I applied these skills by collaborating with an equipment builder to design and build an evaporation machine dedicated to anti-reflective coatings. Furthermore, I partnered with a plating line company to oversee the installation of a brand-new plating line.