SHONIN FERNANDEZ
Chennai
Summary
Experienced passive safety CAE leader with 19 years in crashworthiness simulation and global program leadership for top OEMs including Stellantis and Chrysler. Successfully led cross-functional teams to achieve safety compliance in vehicle programs, emphasizing engineering excellence throughout the development process. Strong expertise in FMVSS, IIHS, and NCAP regulations, along with CAE correlation and vehicle safety optimization. Notable achievements include overseeing global CAE teams for vehicle launches and two pending patents for 2025.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
CAE Project Coordinator – Passive Safety
Stellantis India Pvt Ltd
Chennai
08.2011 - Current
- Leading crash and safety simulation programme execution for multiple global vehicle platforms, including the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Compass, Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger, and Chrysler 300.
- Coordinating global engineering teams across India and the USA.
- Managing project planning, execution, and delivery.
- Assigning tasks, monitoring progress, and ensuring quality.
- Driving engineering decisions to achieve safety targets.
- Led crash simulation and safety validation supporting FMVSS 208 – Frontal crash, FMVSS 214 – Side impact, FMVSS 301 – Fuel system integrity, IIHS 40 ODB, and FMVSS 207 / 210 – Seat strength.
- Built and integrated full vehicle crash CAE models.
- Led CAE correlation with physical crash tests.
- Witnessed crash tests at Chrysler Proving Grounds, USA.
- Improved CAE prediction accuracy and safety performance.
- Identified safety risks and led corrective design actions.
- Delivered optimised engineering solutions, improving safety performance.
- Conducted material and cost optimisation studies.
- Mentored and trained engineers in crash simulation and product development.
- Managed team performance and capability development.
- Played a key role in organisational technical learning programmes.
Team Lead – Passive Safety
Wipro Technologies
Bangalore
10.2010 - 07.2011
- Led the vehicle homologation programme for the Nissan Micra in the US market.
- Managed crash simulation activities.
- Mentored the engineering team.
Project manager for a start up
Aktis Engineering Solutions
Bangalore
01.2007 - 09.2010
- Led a seating team, including the CAE, CAD domain for seat foam designs.
- Managed team deliverables and project timelines.
- As a working partner, I generated £20k per month in revenue and maintained a positive operating margin.
- Conceptualised and executed various EPP part designs across the automotive and consumer sectors.
- Developed innovative EPP design concepts for automotive seating and bumpers, focusing on weight reduction, and cost savings.
Engineer
Techno Solutions and Designs
Chennai
01.2006 - 01.2007
- CAD engineer.
- Supported manufacturing processes and validation efforts.
Education
Bachelor of Technology - Mechanical Engineering
Sree Chitra Tirunal College of Engineering
Skills
- Team leadership and mentoring
- Project planning and execution
- Cross-functional team management
- Global stakeholder coordination
- Resource planning
- Compliance with crash regulations
- Physical test correlation
- Crash simulation with LS-DYNA, Metapost, Hyperview
- CAE model development and integration
- Vehicle safety design optimization
Certification
- Project Management Professional (PMP)®
Issuer: Project Management Institute - MCAD – CIPET
- Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Training from Ethos
Languages
English
Upper Intermediate
B2
Hindi
Intermediate
B1
Malayalam
Advanced
C1
Tamil
Elementary
A2
Websites, Portfolios and Profiles
linkedin.com/in/shonin-55b19125
Accomplishments
- Spot award in Stellantis for leading IAP training programs·
- Two times quarterly best performance award from Stellantis for the contribution of Jeep compass and Jeep grand Cherokee programs.
- · PLM award for Osiris project in Wipro Technologies.
- · Seven times best performer in Aktis Engineering Solutions.
- Exceptional performer in Aktis Engineering Solutions (2009/2010).
Hobbies and interests
- Reading, gardening and aquascaping
Timeline
CAE Project Coordinator – Passive Safety
Stellantis India Pvt Ltd
08.2011 - Current
Team Lead – Passive Safety
Wipro Technologies
10.2010 - 07.2011
Project manager for a start up
Aktis Engineering Solutions
01.2007 - 09.2010
Engineer
Techno Solutions and Designs
01.2006 - 01.2007
Bachelor of Technology - Mechanical Engineering
Sree Chitra Tirunal College of Engineering