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Pratik Mahamuni

Pratik Mahamuni

Professional Experience
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Manager of Simulation Software Engineer—System Test Design
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Lucid Motors

June 2025 to Present

  • Owned a software-in-the-loop and digital twin platform used for safety-critical controls validation set up as a distributed system that used TCP for interprocess communication
  • Led a global team to develop the digital twin by virtualizing ECU application software and integrating system models for an internal platform-as-a-service
  • Scaled the platform from 12 users to 55 by enabling Linux cross-compatibility and making it the engineering teams’ de-facto validation tool
  • Initiated multi-threaded execution to decouple TCP read and write for repeatable simulation throughput, and enabling real-time and faster-than-real-time execution
  • Led code reviews to instill best practices for code quality and maintainability using open tools like gcc warnings, clang, valgrind for C/C++, and ruff, mypy for Python
  • Introduced AI-assisted open-loop test generation by feeding system requirements to an internal LLM, increasing test coverage by ~30%
  • Streamlined the process of reporting platform issues to effectively triage bugs, align resources to prioritize fixes and new features, and improving code robustness

Manager of Controls Modeling and Analysis
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Nikola Corporation

July 2024 to May 2025

  • Led an engineering team for model development, testing, and analysis for controls validation using hardware-in-the-loop (HIL); owned infrastructure, project and people management
  • Developed a testing framework to automate execution and log analysis reducing regression time from 4 days to under 18 hours (overnight), freeing up resources to improve coverage
  • Built and maintained libraries to buttress the automated testing framework; introduced CI/CD pipelines to flash software, test, and analyze logs extensible over all HIL benches
  • Saved $80k+ by retrofitting existing HIL infrastructure to test two vehicle platform VCUs–a make or buy decision; studied VCU design documents, created updated bench schematics, and directed up fits
  • Championed bicycle model development for ego and target to validate adaptive cruise control (ACC) for a closed-loop scenario based regression suite
  • Validated ACC state and button presses (activation, set speeds, declined activation) for ISO 21448 compliance; led V&V efforts using JAMA for traceability for launch readiness
  • Identified root cause for a high RAM usage issue on the VCU via HIL; debugged problem with firmware team using JTag, drove corrective action and included regression tests using XCP
  • Initiated comprehensive documentation on engineering processes, design decisions, tests, and hardware, ensuring effective communication to diverse internal & external stakeholders

Lead Controls Modeling and Analysis Engineer
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Nikola Corporation

April 2023 to July 2024

  • Led model development for a model-in-the-loop (MIL) simulation platform using physics first principles and map-based systems including:
    • vehicle dynamics
    • high voltage battery pack and fuel cell
    • sensor emulation (physical to raw and vice versa)
    • communication (CAN/LIN and general purpose input/output)
  • Implemented controls validation strategies for torque monitoring, conventional cruise control, thermal systems for HV battery packs, and fuel cells
  • Pitched to leadership and implemented a new streamlined approach for test authoring using MATLAB scripts (not Simulink Test) for a 10-fold increase in test coverage and improved maintainability
  • Expanded HV battery and VCU interaction for ISO 26262 (ASIL A and B) compliance by simulating fault injection, loss of battery communication, emulating faulty sensors, etc.
  • Championed and deployed a BLF to MAT file conversion tool companywide using open source software reducing reliance on paid commercial software for simple operations
  • Trained and convinced the team to effectively use git bash (a Windows git utility) over a GUI-based solution; highlighted the robustness of the CLI version and the benefits of BASH utilities

Senior Systems Synthesis Engineer
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Canoo Technologies (website no longer active)

December 2021 to March 2023

  • Initiated development of system and component models using physics-based and map-based approaches for computing and optimizing electric range including:
    • vehicle dynamics: weight, aero and tire forces (physics)
    • high-voltage battery (physics)
    • DC-DC converters, thermal systems (combination of physics and maps)
    • powertrain components: motor, inverter and gearbox (maps)
  • Established fleet vehicle field testing specifications (dyno, coastdown, thermal testing) to support model correlation for high-fidelity, close-to-actual-hardware simulations
  • Built vehicle log processors using Python and C++ for various data sources (CAN, GPS, wind-sensors etc.) to help obtain data insights faster
  • Conducted detailed DOE studies on correlated models sweeping component maps, control strategies, and vehicle attributes to maximize electric range; voiced trade-offs for useable options with cross-functional teams
  • Standardized simulation tooling for companywide use; ensured fast simulations and a useable interface to configure and change parameters

Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Optimization and Analysis Lead
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Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles)

January 2016 to December 2021

  • Led a global team that developed simulation and statistical models for optimizing electric range and performance for BEV programs
  • Aligned simulation models and their results to changing emissions regulations (US, Europe and China); designed vehicle systems for compliance
  • Identified risks to efficiency and performance targets from prototype tests and communicated ways to overcome shortfalls via data-driven statistical analysis
  • Worked cross-functionally to obtain relevant component maps and vehicle attribute information improving model accuracy and acceptance of model results
  • Analyzed benchmark data of competitive vehicles for competitive advanced technologies to potentially implement in-house; conducted trade-off studies for cost-vs-benefit analysis
  • Created a diagnostic, data processing, and visualization dashboard to consume data and output key performance indicators; still used six years after deployment

Volunteer Experience
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Lead Developer
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Celf-IP

June 2023 to Present

  • Created analytical models to match e-commerce listings (Amazon) with their patents
  • Optimized database tables and indexes to deliver results via REST APIs in under 60 seconds with 95% accuracy
  • Established four ETL pipelines to process varied online files (XML, JSON, CSV) and store data in a PostgreSQL database, including 150+ million global patents
  • Developed services to automate reports, provide streamlined searches and deploy language models for long-text summarization

Lead Developer
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Innocelf LLC

February 2021 to Present

  • Developed and maintained a website, including client landing pages browsable for company information, and a dashboard for administrators to manage projects, revenue tracking, and report generation
  • Distilled key performance metrics and important client information into easily accessible plots and forms for administrators

Software Engineer (ML-Ops)
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Virufy

February 2022 to June 2022

  • Trained, built, and deployed machine learning models for detecting COVID-19 from audio inputs (cough sounds)
  • Wrote and automated unit tests for API functions achieving 85% coverage to launch an app for individuals who did not have access to traditional testing facilities

Skills
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  • Programming and Modeling: Python, MATLAB/Simulink, C++, BASH, Vanilla JavaScript, CSS
  • Python Libraries (non-exhaustive): NumPy, Pandas, cantools, asyncpg, Scikit-Learn, PyQT5, Tkinter, Pybind11, Django, FastAPI, TensorFlow
  • Databases: Postgres SQL, SQLite
  • Cloud: Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Linode (now Akamai)
  • Network Protocols: CAN and LIN
  • Miscellaneous: Vector CANalyzer, Vector CANape, JAMA, JIRA, Confluence
  • Concepts:
    • Experienced: hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), model-in-the-loop (MIL); software-in-the-loop (SIL)
    • Motor mechanics and modeling, battery mechanics and modeling (RC models for internal resistance, battery management systems), gearbox mechanics and modeling, map-based inverter and internal combustion engine modeling, fuel cell and DC-DC converter modeling (map-based and physics-based)
    • Vehicle dynamics through individual components, i.e., weight, aerodynamics, and tires, and with simpler F0, F1, F2 coefficients
    • Freshman physics as it relates to vehicle components: power, energy, force, speed, rotational speed, inertia, voltage, current, resistance, capacitance, inductance, free body diagrams
    • Web application development, design patterns (REST API, CRUD), Linux/UNIX administration, version control (Git), testing (unit, component, integration)

Education
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Master of Business Administration (Finance)
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Oakland University

2016 to 2019

Master of Science (Mechanical Engineering)
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Michigan Technological University

2012 to 2014

Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering)
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University of Pune

2008 to 2012