Sowmya Paturu

Seasoned Embedded Engineer with over 14.5 years of expertise, with a proven record of leading successful projects from conception to completion, now transitioning into leadership roles.

Demonstrated proficiency in managing complex projects, including budget and risk management. Skilled in leading cross-functional teams, fostering innovation, and driving continuous improvement in safety-critical environments. Expertise in implementing and optimizing safety protocols in compliance with industry standards such as IEC 60730, EN298, Class B, Class C Systems.

I am currently looking for a role where I can leverage my technical and managerial experience to guide teams toward achieving excellence in embedded systems and functional safety.

• Leadership Award as a Recognition for exceptional domain expertise, technical proficiency, program management skills, and leadership, which were pivotal to the success of key projects.
• Stallion Award for effectively leading a field issue including the global teams, driving it to closure and successful closure from PASS Council.
• Stallion Award for leading and completing the Harmonized 35-52/53 firmware including the Startup module compliant with Class-C, optimizing the Start-up time.
• Multiple TITAN and Pat on back awards for leading and driving business critical deliveries on time and issue resolutions.

• Management Essentials, ISB, Hyderabad, 03/01/24
• SAFe 6 for Teams, Saled Agile Inc, 07/01/23
• Functional Safety Certified Professional - Level - I, TUV India, 12/01/19
• SAFe 4 Scrum Practitioner, Scaled Agile Inc, 12/01/19

KFI-India Office establishment (Jan 2024 to July 2024):

• Spearheaded the setup of a new office, overseeing all aspects of project management from conception to completion.
• Coordinated with the design team for office and lab layouts, ensuring optimal space utilization and functionality.
• Monitored construction activities to ensure adherence to project specifications, timelines, and budget constraints.
• Conducted comprehensive Lab and IT asset audits, managing the relocation of assets from SEZ to non-SEZ facilities.
• Coordinated debonding payment processes, ensuring accurate and timely financial transactions.
• Facilitated the installation and configuration of CCTV systems and Access Control Systems (ACS).
• Directed the setup of server rooms and lab environments, including all associated IT and technical infrastructure.

230V AC Controls (May 2023 to Current):

• Defined Project Scope for the expansion of Ignition Control modules towards Europe Market along with competitor analysis.
• Leading the comprehensive management of 230V AC Controls Project ensuring EN298 and UL60730 compliance for European and APAC markets.
• Managing all aspects of project life cycle including Design & development, Proto boards manufacturing, Validation, ECS boards, MCS boards along with Stake holder management.
• Closely monitoring the budget management, risk assessment, timeline adherence to ensure project milestones and financial targets were met.
• Implementing effective risk management strategies to address and mitigate potential project issues.
• Directing the effective distribution of resources, including personnel and technical assets, to support the successful completion of project goals and deadlines.

PIM – Modbus (Dec 2021 to Apr 2022):

• Managed the enhancement of the Platform Ignition Module (PIM) to Modbus connectivity, which integrates Automatic Ignition Control with temperature regulation for hydronic boilers, including both staged and modulating types.
• Defined project scope to include the integration of Modbus communication between PIM and External Temperature Controller Module.
• Worked closely with the OEMs to align project requirements and ensure compatibility with existing applications.
• Led the design and development phases to incorporate Modbus communication, enhancing system control and monitoring capabilities.
• Oversaw the upgrade of the Module interface to support new functionality, ensuring user-friendly configuration and operation.
• Allocated resources effectively, managing both human and technical resources to meet project milestones and deliverables.

Connected Controls (Jan 2021 to Dec 2021):

• Led the successful development and deployment of Connected Controls, a cutting-edge connectivity module designed to enhance real-time monitoring and management of safety systems.
• Directed a diverse team of engineers including, Front end, backend developers, HW & FW Developers, QA specialists to align the module with both technical specifications and business objectives.
• Implemented Agile methodologies to streamline workflows and improve team collaboration, leading to a 30% increase in development efficiency.
• Conducted regular project status meetings, providing updates and reports to senior management, ensuring transparency and alignment with overall business objectives.

PIM Automation System (June 2019 to Dec 2019):

• Managed the entire PIM automation Project lifecycle, from defining technical and automation requirements to final system integration.
• Conducted a feasibility study to assess the technical and operational viability of the automation system.
• Developed a generic methodology for test cases, applicable across multiple ID cards, to streamline testing processes along with driving integration of test cases into HPQC from PC, ensuring comprehensive coverage and traceability.
• Oversaw the closed-loop system integration, including RS-485 communication, to ensure robust and reliable system performance.
• Coordinated with cross-functional teams to align on project goals, ensuring timely delivery and compliance with all technical specifications.

Harmonized Standards for Automatic Ignition Controls

• Led the Harmonized Standards project to ensure Kidde-Fenwal Controls products complied with both IEC 60730 and ANSI Z21.20 standards as required by CSA. The project involved certifying thirteen different control boards across a range of products.
• Played a key role in the project by performing tasks such as hardware schematic analysis, requirement gathering, design, and development.
• Created SRS and SDS by thoroughly understanding functional specifications.
• Designed and developed the driver code for various modules including GPIOs, WDT, ADC, timers, and PWM, and application code compliant with Table-H of IEC60730.
• Wrote startup code and optimized the startup time to make it suitable for a certain business case which complies with Class-C functional safety, which is used across all the Harmonized Module development.
• Developed a software build method that ensured compliance with IEC60730 Table-H, leading to flawless agency certification tests on the initial attempt.

Platform Ignition Module for CAMUS:

• Contributed to the development of a Platform Ignition Module (PIM) system that integrates Automatic Ignition Control with temperature regulation, designed for various Hydronic boiler systems, including staged and modulating types. The project involved enhancing the PIM system to communicate with the BTC-II interface for setting blower-specific parameters via RPM values.
• Quickly learned the PIM domain, requirement enhancements, devising a strategy to incorporate new requirements.
• Developed an approach to integrate RPM value support into the PIM without altering existing algorithms, ensuring seamless functionality with legacy systems and enabling precise RPM adjustments.
• Maintained the integrity of the existing system while introducing new functionalities, avoiding disruption to the existing algorithms, which has gone through successful field testing at the Customer site in the first release itself.

Platform Ignition Module Integration with ONYX:

• Developed and implemented Modbus communication protocols to facilitate seamless data exchange between the PIM and External Temperature Controller Module ONYX.
• Defined and translated project requirements into technical specifications for Modbus integration, ensuring compatibility with existing system architectures.
• Developed Modbus address register map, Design methodology, SRS and SDS.
• Led the design and coding phases, focusing on enhancing system control and monitoring through reliable Modbus connectivity, without causing any disturbance for the existing functionality.
• Upgraded the PIM interface to support Modbus functionality, prioritizing user-friendly configuration and operation.
• Conducted thorough testing and debugging to ensure robust and error-free Modbus communication, optimizing system performance.

Next Gen Smoke and Heat Detectors:

• Contributed to the development of Kidde-Fenwal Fire System’s Next Gen Smoke and Heat Detectors, utilizing the Smart One Protocol for communication with the MLIC Fire panel.
• Designed and implemented the memory management module, optimizing data storage and retrieval processes.
• Conducted a comprehensive analysis of the detector calibration process, creating detailed flowcharts to guide the development process.
• Collaborated on memory design strategies, focusing on efficient read and write operations within Flash memory.
• Performed in-depth timing analysis for memory erase and write operations, accounting for worst-case scenarios to ensure reliability and performance.

Additional Contributions & Leadership in Field Issues and Customer Specific Enhancements: Led and contributed to numerous field issue resolutions and customer specific enhancement initiatives, delivering practical solutions and Proof of Concepts (POCs) in various challenging scenarios including the below but not limited to:

• Vulcan Hart Closed Loop Boiler Conversion:Spearheaded the POC for converting Ignition Module from open-loop to closed-loop systems, within a challenging timeline of 2 weeks improving efficiency and control.
• Field Issue Resolution: Successfully diagnosed and resolved critical field issues with a specific customer from Heater application, ensuring optimal performance and customer satisfaction.
• Detector Virtualization: Led the initiative to virtualize detector functionalities, enhancing testing capabilities and reducing hardware dependency.

Electric Parking Brake, Lane Cross Detection System, Active Seat Belt:

• Gathering the high level requirements of the system and modeling the system using Matlab/Simulink and Stateflows.
• Fixed point conversion, MiL and SiL testing, Generation of ‘C’ code using Embedded coder.
• Implementation of FMEA, and FTA.
• Lead the Project with 5 resources.

Design and Development of New range Modular Switch gear devices:

• Development of mathematical arcing model using Matlab for analyzing various phases of arcing considering the effects of geometry and surrounding materials.
• Technology study for the development of High Performance MCB’s.
• Study of technical papers for understanding arcing phenomenon and understood the critical areas and different factors involved.
• Concept generation using modeling in Pro-E.

• A distinguished Gold Medalist from PSG College of Technology, Anna University, underscoring a commitment to academic and professional excellence.
• 3 granted patents out of five disclosures filed at USPTO (US Patent and Trademark Office) offices.

1) Patent No US 11,670,939 B2, Dt. Jun 6, 2023 – Shutdown of Automatic Ignition Controls Upon Valve

Relay Failures

2) Patent No US 11,551,541 B2, Dt. Jan 10, 2023 – Configuring Devices in Control Systems

3) Patent No US 11,308,773 B2, Dt Apr 19, 2022 – Virtual Assistant Based Emergency evacuation System

• Gold medalist from Anna University, Coimbatore in M.E.
• Best All Rounder from ALUMNI Association in M.E.
• AIR - 965 in GATE 2007
• Stood one among Top-3 in every semester in B.Tech.
• College Topper in Intermediate.
• Best Outgoing Student in Xth.

• Thrive on tackling challenges, committed to seeing tasks through to completion, ensuring that no issue is left unresolved.
• Self motivated and Collaborative Leader ensuring everyone works together and succeeds as a unit.
• Believe in "grow and let grow," supporting both personal and team development to reach full potential.