Ashley Brewer
Pittsburgh
Summary
Accomplished industry leader with extensive management expertise in staff training, performance evaluation, and continuous improvement. As a results-oriented Program Manager, adept at crafting innovative strategies that leverage dynamic market conditions to drive success. Known for strategic planning and effective communication skills, ensuring adaptability in rapidly changing environments. Committed to fostering team growth and enhancing operational efficiency.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Director, Technical Program Manager / Reality Labs
Meta
Pittsburgh
04.2020 - Current
- Manages cross functional engineering and program manager team consisting of 130 individuals in support of user interaction experiences on virtual, augmented and mixed reality surfaces
- Successfully led long term strategy evolution where through changing shipping targets, organizational commitment growth and budget constraint are competing priorities
- Technical expertise in data collection, system engineering, and data processing led to her selection to define and lead XRCIA Datasets
- She accelerated data collection, processing, delivery, and unblocking breakthroughs in Codec Avatar models, Gaze, and Pinch datasets
Manager, Technical Program Manager / Reality Labs Research
Meta
Pittsburgh
04.2020 - Current
- Responsible for working with cross-functional engineering teams to design, build and scale start-of-the-art mobile data collection systems in support of Photorealistic social presence research and product development
- Transformed 9000 sq ft into first data collection site dedicated to reality labs interactions; built within record time under 14 months from inception to scaled data collection
- Established strategy, lead development planning, and execution of data collection in support of social presence products and research
- Introduced systems engineering practices including integration, release management, configuration management, verification and validation, to research organization in service of establishing better practices for bringing new systems online and scaling data collection to support multiple product timelines
Manager, Sr. Software Engineering Program Manager / Special Projects Group
Apple, Inc.
Santa Clara
12.2017 - Current
- Responsible for working with cross-functional engineering teams to develop proof of concept prototypes and drive the execution through the development lifecycle; defining the scope of work, schedule and budget
- Lead deployment of software onto system platform and integration tests for verification and validation
- Established strategy, lead development planning, and drive execution of embedded controls and user interface software products
- Defined SW and integration processes; release processes, configuration management strategies, verification and validation progression
- Utilized Jira & Scrum practices to manage software and test case development across all modules in a complex system
- Decomposed system requirements to SW requirements and performs architecture analysis to determine if engineering specifications are met
- Improved team productivity by identifying pain points in workflows and optimizing for delivery
- Defined corrective action and technical solutions for engineering issues with intimate cross-functional engagement
Program Manager / Chief Systems Engineer, Common Missile Compartment
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Cape Canaveral
11.2016 - 12.2017
- Lead team of 100+ members to define, implement and execute a technical baseline that ensures next generation of nuclear submarine design is compatible to the unchanging D5LE Missile through a series of model-based risk reduction activities
- Responsible for all cost, schedule, technical performance, risk management, and staffing for the program valued at $250M
- Responsible leader of engineering efforts and responsible for technical implementation
- Led team through transition from strictly following heritage processes to a model of tailoring systems engineering processes for maximum value
- Received Lockheed Martin Technical Innovation award for contribution to next generation missile development
On-site FBM Customer Liaison
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Washington
08.2015 - 10.2016
- Acted as the primary embedded Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) customer liaison representing Lockheed Martin on a daily basis, residing within the U.S
- Navy, Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) Missile Branch at the Washington Navy Yard
- Prepare material and support Director of SSP, VADM Benedict (Navy O-9), in development of SSP strategy and Congressional engagements regarding missile modernization to support the program through 2084
- Act as a customer advocate, ensuring continuity in communication and priorities among Navy customer and Lockheed Martin executives; conveyed concern areas and influenced change for improved execution and customer relations
- Daily interactions with Navy Senior Executive Service (SES), O-6 (Navy Captain), O-5 (Navy Commander) and GS-15 leaders to ensure continuity in communication with LM leadership at 5 primary, geographically separated FBM sites
Chief Systems Engineer, FBM Initiation and Destruct Subsystems Project
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Sunnyvale
06.2014 - 07.2015
- Led team of 30 members and 5 leaders in defining objectives and project plan by understanding risk areas with existing designs and manufacturing processes; managed cost and schedule baseline on path to System Requirements Review execution
- Developed program plan that incorporated key lessons learned from past development programs and changed the existing FBM systems engineering culture; included robust requirements analysis, generation of interface control documents and model-based system design within an integrated digital environment
- Developed trade study plan to define project scope to optimize design architecture solution; coordinated with local and remote Navy customers and FBM stakeholders on project vision and primary objectives
- Worked across multiple sites and business units to drive architecture change for requirements database to support model based engineering vision
- Became a leader of leaders and experienced the satisfaction of setting a vision for the team and orchestrating the implementation
- Learned how to establish an organization with clarity of roles and responsibilities and the importance of establishing key leadership roles and recruiting accordingly
Requirements and Verification Associate Manager, FBM D5 Life Extension
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Sunnyvale
02.2012 - 07.2015
- Led D5LE program through transition to improve verification process, by establishing a strategy, understanding and optimizing the process workflow and incorporating AGILE principles into verification activities
- Reduced verification cost per requirement 25%, resulting in over $7 Million in savings, by creating automated progress tracking and metrics using Microsoft Visual Basic scripting, along with using AGILE principles for activity management
- Led team through one year acceleration of verification to support LE mission readiness reviews which culminated in a successful mission success record 1 year ahead of baseline and avoided major impact to fleet introduction; energized the team to accomplish the unthinkable; changed the perception of our customer regarding LM’s ability to be agile, flexible and think out-of-the-box while maintaining technical rigor
- Led team through System CDR action completion, Delta CDRs and production and integration reviews for the system
- Managed daily activities for a diverse team of seven engineers, responsible for budget planning, performance evaluation, risk management, and writing of proposals and customer negotiations for capture of future contracts; Responsible for 43 specifications and change management processes
- Learned about the impact of beginning a development program without well-defined and verifiable requirements and how to develop numerous methods to resolve issues and balance execution priorities across complex organization with 4 IPTs competing for resources
- Excelled at building a systems engineering talent pipeline through development and implementation of systems engineering cross-training initiative; learned how to identify and resolve challenging individual performance issues
Subcontract Manager to GDAIS, FBM D5 Life Extension
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Sunnyvale
06.2011 - 02.2012
- Managed cost and EVM performance, as certified CAM, of a $25M subcontract and engineering team responsible for delivering 22 unique hardware designs and 48 software programs designed to test circuit card assemblies
- Led a large, diverse team in a dynamic environment across 3 states and 3 major suppliers to transition completed test equipment to the circuit card assembly production factory
- Drove urgency and closure of numerous technical integration issues by leading rigorous failure analysis via formal failure review boards; led team through first-use failure isolation, design solution and implementation and integration and proofing activities
- Completed the operational 'Go Live' phase of test equipment and supported initial production run of Missile electronics hardware, supported Q-Note process to adjudicate design issues during first article tests
- Implemented cost and schedule erosion mitigation planning while maintaining scope control
- Conducted Continuous Improvement activities with Lockheed Martin engineers to determine root cause regarding excessive change requests to subcontractor requirements
- Learned about the importance of establishing a detailed, well understood Statement of Work, expectations for transition of design cognizance and how to hold a major subcontractor accountable to commitments
On-site Deputy Subcontract Manager to GDAIS, FBM D5 Life Extension
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Pittsfield
05.2009 - 05.2011
- Partnered with Subcontract Program Manager as on-site representative at subcontractor in Pittsfield, Massachusetts
- Provided integration between GD, LM and Navy Program Management and engineering teams by communicating complex technical and programmatic issues using VRICs; set daily priorities and provided direction on emerging issues
- Stretch assignment as sole Lockheed Martin representative on-site with poor performing subcontractor while learning about FBM program, subcontract program management, and manufacturing work instructions
- Learned how to manage difficult subcontractor relationships and hold crucial conversations and importance of issue escalation to avoid schedule erosion
- Demonstrated effective problem solving, communication skills and conflict resolution in a high intensity environment including through difficult subcontract performance discussions
- Led programmatic and contractual discussions and ensured that crisp closure paths are established and responsible parties are supporting the plans
- Instructed subcontractor team on root cause and corrective action process, configuration management, integration testing, and technical issue resolution techniques in an effort to develop talent and establish expectations for D5LE
- Chaired Functional and Physical Configuration Audits for STE production; supported Critical Design Reviews and Production Readiness Reviews for 22 hardware and 48 software test suites
- Participated as core member of 'Commonality Team' responsible for implementation of common products and processes shared with The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory
Systems Engineering Lead, Presidential Helicopter Displays
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Owego
08.2007 - 05.2009
- Led a team of four systems engineers responsible for cost, schedule, risk baseline associated with delivering displays for use in the cockpit of the presidential helicopter; performed integration testing for numerous software release cycles during Agile Software development; worked with the end-user pilots and customers for creation, modification and demonstration of requirements; ensured decomposition from customer requirements to component specifications was complete
- Cut systems integration testing by 50% and identified safety critical functions for point release testing to further reduce integration testing to 3 days; originally the 'back-up' display and became primary display due to successful integration efforts
- First technical leadership role and first experience as Control Account Manager; learned negotiation skills, the importance of establishing effective customer relationships and incorporating end-user feedback
Embedded Software Engineer
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Owego
05.2006 - 08.2007
- Designed, developed, and maintained embedded software responsible for initializing and testing developed single board computers; wrote and maintained system requirements, acceptance criteria, test variations, and performed code coverage analysis
- Led a major problem investigation on video output for single board computer and oversaw production qualification testing and performed adjudication of failures for mission computers using Q-Note process
- First experience with earned value and learned the importance of establish objective criteria and planning a discrete effort
Electrical Engineer I – Hardware/Software Support
FMC Energy Systems, Smith Meter Inc.
Erie
01.2005 - 04.2006
- Rotated through Hardware and Software Design, Procurement and Field Service
- Designed and built acceptance test system for metering electronics using LabView software; transitioned acceptance test system to circuit card assembly manufacturer and trained personnel and supported continued use of test equipment during my employment at FMC
- Performed and analyzed results from environments tests on meter electronic designs; Performed installation and on-site problem investigation at customer sites; Performed obsolescence and life-of-type buying analysis for replacement parts
- Learned the importance of building customer relationships, key problem solving techniques and the importance of well documented designs
Electrical Engineer I – Engineering
FMC Energy Systems, Smith Meter Inc.
Hamburg
02.2004 - 12.2004
- Conceptualized and designed several software based metering system configuration tools and user interface modules; design and built several integration test stands to calibrate and evaluate the accuracy of a new level gauging system
- Serviced foreign accounts and performed international customer service functions
- Gained confidence in working independently and learned the gratification of taking an idea through implementation and demonstration
- Learned the importance of communicating with purpose and cultural influences on communication
Education
Bachelor of Science - Electrical Engineering
Pennsylvania State University
12.2003
Master of Engineering - Systems Engineering
Cornell University
05.2011
Lockheed Martin Engineering Leadership Development Program (ELDP) -
05.2011
Lockheed Martin Sponsored Graduate Projects
05.2011
Skills
- Project management
- Data analysis
- Risk management
- Budget management
- Cross-functional leadership
- Process optimization
- Agile methodologies
- Technical documentation
- Team collaboration
- Stakeholder engagement
- Strategic planning
- Conflict resolution
Awards
- LMSSC Teamwork Award, 2014, For my role in executing a 1-year pull ahead to complete a successful FBM Demonstration and Shakedown Operation (DASO-24).
- LMSSC’s Employee Engagement Leadership award, 2013, For FBM requirements and verification leadership.
- Special Recognition Award, 2012, For design and implementation of requirements and verification processes.
Security Clearance
Active Secret Security Clearance, 2008
Timeline
Director, Technical Program Manager / Reality Labs
Meta
04.2020 - Current
Manager, Technical Program Manager / Reality Labs Research
Meta
04.2020 - Current
Manager, Sr. Software Engineering Program Manager / Special Projects Group
Apple, Inc.
12.2017 - Current
Program Manager / Chief Systems Engineer, Common Missile Compartment
Lockheed Martin Corporation
11.2016 - 12.2017
On-site FBM Customer Liaison
Lockheed Martin Corporation
08.2015 - 10.2016
Chief Systems Engineer, FBM Initiation and Destruct Subsystems Project
Lockheed Martin Corporation
06.2014 - 07.2015
Requirements and Verification Associate Manager, FBM D5 Life Extension
Lockheed Martin Corporation
02.2012 - 07.2015
Subcontract Manager to GDAIS, FBM D5 Life Extension
Lockheed Martin Corporation
06.2011 - 02.2012
On-site Deputy Subcontract Manager to GDAIS, FBM D5 Life Extension
Lockheed Martin Corporation
05.2009 - 05.2011
Systems Engineering Lead, Presidential Helicopter Displays
Lockheed Martin Corporation
08.2007 - 05.2009
Embedded Software Engineer
Lockheed Martin Corporation
05.2006 - 08.2007
Electrical Engineer I – Hardware/Software Support
FMC Energy Systems, Smith Meter Inc.
01.2005 - 04.2006
Electrical Engineer I – Engineering
FMC Energy Systems, Smith Meter Inc.
02.2004 - 12.2004
Bachelor of Science - Electrical Engineering
Pennsylvania State University
Master of Engineering - Systems Engineering
Cornell University
Lockheed Martin Engineering Leadership Development Program (ELDP) -
Lockheed Martin Sponsored Graduate Projects
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