Daniel (Dr.) Opitz
Self-employed, Freelancing Interim (Project) Manager
Experience
Feb 2025 - Present
6 monthsFMEA Moderator and Expert
Tier1 Automotive
- Creating structured item definitions as the basis for FMEAs
- Revamping and optimizing existing FMEAs according to VDA/AIAG in PeakAvenue/Plato
- Adding and revising functions, failure modes, and risk analyses
- Developing a framework for improved tracking of actions
- Team training
Jun 2024 - Feb 2025
9 monthsSenior Program Manager
Tier1 Automotive
- Program management for two parallel development projects (premium OEM)
- Establishing and leading task forces for technical problem solving
- Escalating issues and defining corrective actions with senior management
- Customer management and building a trust-based relationship
- Streamlining internal processes and responsibilities
- Consolidating roadmaps and detailed project plans
Feb 2023 - Nov 2023
10 monthsFunctional Safety Manager
Tier1 Automotive
- Leading an ASIL D development project in active steering for trucks & buses
- Sub-project leadership for functional safety and cybersecurity
- Integrating processes in systems, mechanics, hydraulics, and electronics
- Establishing planning and reporting structures and optimizing processes
- Coaching functional safety managers and engineers
Dec 2021 - Jul 2022
8 monthsTeam Leader (interim) – Mechanics Team
Tier1 Automotive
- Establishing role as a leader and connecting with HR and works council
- Ensuring operational performance through binding targets and tracking
- Clarifying issues and implementing corrective actions
- Individual evaluation of team members based on performance and potential
Mar 2021 - Dec 2023
2 years 10 monthsFunctional Safety Manager
OEM Automotive
- Planning and executing safety activities for ADAS sensors (radar, lidar, cameras)
- Leading suppliers and conducting active design reviews for functional safety
- Reviewing requirements and performing safety analyses
- Standardizing, preplanning, and tracking FuSi activities
- Creating and aligning the safety case with system suppliers
Mar 2021 - Oct 2021
8 monthsProgram Manager
Tier1 Automotive
- Project management to address component bottlenecks in the wireless charger area
- Point of contact for OEM and leading project teams
- Managing design changes, building samples, and conducting verification and validation
- Requalifying products in markets and ensuring the supply chain
Mar 2020 - Feb 2021
1 yearProgram Manager
Tier1 Automotive
- Leading project and managing RFI/RFQ processes for premium OEMs in the telematics control unit area
- Leading the development team and acting as the point of contact for OEM customers
- System development and resolving conflicts between enclosure, thermal, hardware, software, and antennas
- Overseeing production and successful testing during the B-sample phase
Nov 2019 - Sep 2020
11 monthsProgram Manager / SW System Engineer
global automotive supplier
- Leading the software sub-project for a rear-view camera at a French OEM
- Managing external software suppliers and coordinating schedules and delivery scopes
- Ensuring software quality and process compliance
- Communicating with the OEM customer
Jul 2019 - Mar 2020
9 monthsRequirements Specialist, Program Manager
OEM electric vehicles
- Consulting in requirements management and requirements-driven testing
- Capturing the current state and developing a state-of-the-art target model while considering existing tools
- Creating and managing a proof-of-concept in Polarion with requirements specifications and test cases
- Separating requirements and test documents according to the V-model
May 2019 - Nov 2019
7 monthsProgram Manager
global automotive supplier
- Leading RFQ projects for surround view and autonomous driving cameras (Volvo)
- Developing concepts including enclosure, hardware, optics, software, and BOM creation
- Coordinating with development, procurement, production, and the customer
- Calculating and negotiating offers
Jul 2018 - Dec 2018
6 monthsProgram Manager
global automotive supplier
- Series development of an interior camera for BMW including enclosure, hardware, optics, and software
- Setting up the project structure plan, tasks, and scheduling
- Leading the project team and acting as the point of contact for the customer
- Supporting the offer phase and negotiating RFQs
Oct 2017 - May 2018
8 monthsSenior Program Manager
global automotive supplier
- Pre-development and transition to series production of a central control unit for level 4/5 driving
- Leading a team of over 30 employees and coaching technical project managers
- Hardware design from scratch (circuit design, PCB layout) with RF requirements
- Developing the software framework, prototype production, and commissioning
Mar 2017 - Sep 2017
7 monthsSenior Program Manager
automotive supplier
- Analyzing and reducing high scrap rates in valve seat rings to below 3%
- Conducting current state analyses (Ishikawa, fault tree analyses) and defining target states
- Implementing work packages in ongoing production and validating their effectiveness
- Qualifying measuring equipment and improving the final inspection system
Aug 2016 - Mar 2017
8 monthsSenior Program Manager
BRITA
- Controlling project budgets and reporting to CoX level during post-merger integration
- Integrating supply chain processes and spare parts provision
- Integrating processes of international subsidiaries and establishing quality reporting
- Leading a task force team to solve a business-critical product issue
Jan 2016 - Present
9 years 7 monthsErkelenz, Germany
Owner, self-employed project manager and interim manager
Dr. Opitz IMPS
- Consulting Tier 1 and OEM customers in automotive product development and functional safety management (electrical/electronics, complete vehicle)
- Consulting in system development and development processes (development lifecycle)
Jan 2014 - Dec 2016
3 yearsBranch Manager Düsseldorf
M Plan GmbH
- Consolidating and expanding the branch for development services
- Disciplinary management of 60 employees and profit and loss responsibility
- Revenue responsibility of €5 million and managing 7 indirect and 20 direct reports
Jan 2013 - Dec 2014
2 yearsHead of Electrical/Electronics Division (Wolfsburg)
M Plan GmbH
- Building the electrical/electronics business unit
- Sales and hiring of employees
- Setting up training programs and team leader structures
- Introducing quality management, disciplinary leadership, and profit and loss responsibility
Jan 2013 - Sep 2014
1 year 9 monthsHead of Development Services Division
ASKON Consulting (Altran)
- Strategically building the electrical/electronics business unit (especially wiring harness)
- Leading the PMO and providing technical leadership to project managers
- Auditing the project management office and controlling budgets
- Recruiting and developing new project staff
Jan 2012 - Dec 2012
1 yearHead of Electrical/Electronics Department
RLE International
- Establishing the project business in electrical/electronics
- Responsible for temporary work business and strengthening employee retention
Oct 2007 - Oct 2010
3 years 1 monthE/E Project Manager for turn-key complete vehicle
Bertrandt
- Overall responsibility for electrical/electronics in turn-key complete vehicle projects (including facelifts)
- Building and leading the PMO and managing sub-project managers and team members
- Design and release responsibility and risk management
- Managing cable harness development, network architecture, function integration, and series production launch
Jan 2007 - Dec 2012
6 yearsProject Manager
Bertrandt
- Executing a turn-key project (facelift) for FORD from project start to launch in the plant ("Job1+90")
Jan 2003 - Dec 2007
5 yearsProject Manager, Systems Engineer
ASKON Consulting (Altran)
- Project management and consulting in systems engineering and requirements management
Jan 2000 - Dec 2003
4 yearsProject Manager, Systems Engineer
VIDAIR
- Developing video-based fire detection systems for aviation applications
- Developing refueling systems for the German Air Force (MRTT)
- Developing cabin cameras
Jan 1996 - Dec 2000
5 yearsResearch Associate
University of Duisburg
- PhD research investigating combustion processes using digital image processing
Summary
- Focus on automotive electronics development (project management, systems engineering, functional safety)
- Project methodology: IPMA/GPM and agile methods
- DFMEA moderation + Design for Six Sigma, focus on failure prevention / failure mode avoidance
- Disciplinary leadership of up to 60 employees
- Led matrix teams of up to 80 project participants
- Revenue responsibility up to €6 million
- Technology: electronics / mechatronics / ADAS & HAF / AD
- Industries: automotive, aerospace, special machinery
- Efficient mix of broad technical knowledge, leadership attitude, analytical skills, and deep specialisation.
- Experienced in leading multi-cultural, multi-location, cross-functional teams
- Strong analytical skills, clear targets and powerful way forward
- Positive energy, eye-level and respectful communication, from shop-floor to senior management.
Languages
German
NativeEnglish
AdvancedFrench
IntermediateDutch
Elementary Education
May 1997 - Oct 2001
University of Duisburg
Dr. rer. nat., simulation of interference fringe patterns of tank flames of organic liquids · Technical Chemistry · Duisburg, Germany · 1.0
Oct 1992 - Jan 1997
University of Duisburg
Diploma chemist, criteria for scale-down of mineral oil processes in fluidized bed reactors · Chemistry, Technical Chemistry · Duisburg, Germany · 1.3
Aug 1982 - Jun 1991
Karl Ziegler High School
Abitur · Mülheim, Germany · 2.4
Certifications & licenses
Certified Automotive Functional Safety Expert
SGS-TÜV
FMEA Expert/Moderator
Systems Engineering Expert
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