Christophe C Garant CV
Curriculum Vitae (CV), Latin for "Course of Life"
Updated Jan 2022
Highlights
- Rotorcraft Flight Controls Software Engineer on Sikorsky Blackhawk Platforms, including autonomy projects. Mainly integration, test verification and validation support.
- Eight Years experience Mechanical Flight Controls & Hydraulics Engineer for the V-22 Osprey, a fly-by-wire tiltrotor.
- Python data analysis and scripting to handle big data, repetitive tasks, and visualization.
- Integration testing, verification and validation of flight controls. Lab support.
- Mechanism kinematic and dynamic design & modeling.
- Electromechanical actuation and sensor feedback.
- Aerospace defense system engineering.
Bio
Christophe currently works at Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin Company, supporting Blackhawk platform Flight Controls and Autonomous Systems testing support. He supports autonomous programs lab integration testing, verification, and validation, as well as supporting legacy production obsolescence efforts.
Christophe's prior bulk experience was working at Boeing Vertical Lift, Philadelphia, as a Mechanical System Design & Analysis Engineer on the V-22 Osprey, a unique fly-by-wire tiltrotor used by the Marines and Air Force. Christophe was a cognizant engineer of the Mechanical Flight Controls, a mix of electromechanical actuators and sensors to the flight controls, as well as build-to-print machined parts. Christophe also supported the V-22 Hydraulics, namely teardown investigations and testing on the variable displacement pump, and a pressure reducing pallet design for refueling.
Prior to Boeing, Christophe worked just under 2 years at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton CT, on Nuclear Submarines used by the Navy. Christophe supported trade studies for the Ohio (Columbia) Replacement program of hydraulic versus electromechanical actuation.
Christophe earned his Master of Engineering at Villanova University with a focus in electromechanical and controls in 2017, and earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering at Temple University, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2010.
Christophe is originally from Philadelphia and enjoys playing hockey, learning to code in Python and Haskell, and sampling good beer. Christophe is also passionate about learning hard money principles of Austrian Economics, Bitcoin, Cardano, and how it can change the world.
Work Experience
Flight Controls and Autonomy Engineer Senior, Sikorsky, A Lockheed Martin Company
Sikorsky Innovations, Stratford, CT
Sept 2020 - Present
General
- Flight Controls and Autonomous Systems (FACS) engineer providing Lab Integration, Verification, and Validation testing support.
- Supports testing designs for new Blackhawk varient autonomy programs, such as the S-70 Optionally Piloted Vehicle (OPV)
- Create test cases for subsystem flight controls design verification, in worst case flight scenarios.
- Support Flight Control Computer obsolescence testing for production support.
- Daily work in MATLAB and Simulink, deciphering complex flight controls, Stateflow, and running the System Integration Lab (SIL).
Mechanical System Design & Analysis Engineer, Boeing Defense, Military Rotorcraft Division
Ridley Park, PA (Philadelphia Site)
Mechanical System Design & Analysis Engineer, V-22 Osprey, Hydraulics & Mechanical Controls IPT
May 2012 - Sept 2020 (~8 yrs)
General
- Member of the V-22 Hydraulics & Mechanical Controls Engineering group for ~8 years, a group of about ~8 people with a high workload demanding constant priority evaluation, triaging tasks, and working effectively.
- Experience working on defense aerospace and helicopter (tiltrotor) triple redundant hydraulic and cockpit mechanical flight control systems.
- Cognizant engineer for the fly-by-wire cockpit mechanical flight (pilot) controls system.
- Responsible for source controlled feel and drive electromechanical actuators, sensors, and build-to-print parts such as bellcranks, linkages, and dampers.
- Lead and resolve design issues by collaborating and coordinating with cross-functional IPTs, managing up to the Customer and down to the Suppliers.
- Support, resolve, and disposition production line troubleshooting integration issues and system functional test failures.
- Support Fleet component failures with multi-tier team to perform failure investigation teardowns to find and incorporate root cause corrective actions.
- Project engineering experience with managing multiple Suppliers of source controlled parts. Responsibilities range from:
- Enforcing design spec and SOW requirements
- Ensuring and coordinating with Supplier Quality
- Auditing and approving Acceptance Test Procedures (ATPs) & Stands
- Auditing critical parts manufacturing procedures
- Evaluating design change requests, and leading design change efforts.
- Daily reading, review, or development of component and system level configuration design including bookform design requirements, assembly, installation, envelope, interface, and detail drawings.
- Knowledge of ASME drawing best practices and standards applied to releasing new monodetail part designs, CAD model reviews, and GD&T dimensioning (ASME Y14.5 GD&T, Y14.24 Drawing Types).
- Drawing release and CAD modeling experience with CATIA & SolidWorks, and Siemens Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Teamcenter software.
- Extensive experience working with hydraulic rotary variable displacement pumps and bent axis motors Supported at least 3 pump and 5 motor engineering failure investigations
- Extensive experience working with hydraulic rotary variable displacement pumps and bent axis motors
- Supported at least 3 pump and 5 motor engineering failure investigations
- Led a year long pump reliability test to duplicate aircraft conditions to support the Fleet Readiness and Reliability for the end customer (Marines, Air Force).
Mechanical Engineer, General Dynamics Electric Boat
Mechanical Engineer, Columbia-class Submarine, Ship System Components IPT
July 2010 - May 2012 (~2 yrs)
- Research and component development of electric actuators for naval nuclear submarine applications. From shipbuilding and subsafe requirements, developed new specifications for electric actuation. Focused on research and understanding of the critical areas of the technology to design specifically for unique, harsh conditions.
- Exposure to all submarine systems, government contracting & supplier management, and systems engineering.
- Further solidified electromechanical background, power systems and electronics, importance of communication and teamwork.
Research Assistant, Temple University, College of Engineering
Research Assistant, Composites Laboratory
May 2009 - May 2010 (~1 yrs)
- Researched and Designed a Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
- See website for video and pictures of our project!
- http://audihybrid.blogspot.com/
Physics and Math Tutor, Temple University, Center for Learning and Student Success
Physics and Math Tutor, Temple University, Center for Learning and Student Success
Sept 2007 - May 2009 (~2 yrs)
- Senior math and physics tutor specializing in Calculus I, II, & III, and Physics I & II, and also relied on for tutoring Differential Equations, Algebra I & II, and Geometry. Depended upon and recognized by the organization as a ‘go-to-guy’ for the most difficult questions.
- Requires an intimate knowledge of the subject and free, unconstrained thinking to answer the most obscure questions and convey the correct concepts effectively.
- Frequently tutored one-on-one and groups of up to 10. Occasionally tutored in halls of up to 60 students.
- Developed an ability to not only communicate in front of groups but also cordially interact with various personalities and resolve any situation in a professional manner.
Education
Master of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Villanova University, College of Engineering
2013-2017
- Certificate in Electromechanical Engineering
BS in Mechanical Engineering, Temple University, College of Engineering
2006-2010
- Graduated Magna Cum Laude
Projects
Learning Python
2016+
Learning:
- Completed Course
- Read Book and Completed Exercises
Projects:
Learning MATLAB & Simulink
2013+
Learning:
- Simscape Model and simulate multidomain physical systems, mainly hydraulics, driveline
- Programming and Scripting
- Data Import and Analysis
Projects:
Learning Swift
2017+
Learning:
- Completed Courses
- Watched YouTube Series Developing Apps for iOS, Standford CS193P
- Kindle Basic Training, Let's Build That App
- Start Developing iOS Apps (Swift), Jump Right In
Activities
Judge for Underwater Robotics Competition
May 2019, Hosted by Villanova University College of Engineering
- Volunteer judge for underwater robotics competition
- Poolside with the teams witnessing underwater activities being performed and recording scores real time.
- Rewarding experience to witness young engineers get excited and take pride in their working bots, and being able to give advice - but most importantly, ensure they have fun!