Daniel O.-Deep automotive expertise in product development, project management, and functional safety
Check rate
Experience
FMEA Moderator and Expert
Tier 1 Automotive
Creating structured item definitions as the basis for conducting FMEAs
Restructuring/optimizing existing FMEAs according to the VDA/AIAG handbook in PeakAvenue/Plato. Focus on the quality of function and failure-mode definitions
Adding functions and failure modes
Revising the risk analysis. Adding and rating prevention and detection measures
Developing a framework for improved tracking of measures
Team training
Improving FMEA, with a focus on early failure prevention / Early Failure Mode Avoidance
Successfully conducting customer reviews
Senior Program Manager
Tier 1 Automotive
Program management activities for two parallel development projects for a premium OEM
Establishing and leading various task forces to resolve technical problems
Escalation and development of corrective actions together with senior management
Customer management and strengthening the basis of trust
Streamlining internal processes and responsibilities
Consolidating the roadmap and detailed project plans
Successfully exiting the escalation path
Making team structures and communication more efficient
Consolidating the schedule and coordinating it with the customer
Functional Safety Manager
Tier 1 Automotive
Functional Safety Manager for a critical development project (ASIL D)
Sub-project manager for functional safety and cybersecurity
Integrating functional safety and cybersecurity into the existing systems, mechanical, hydraulic, and electronics development processes
Establishing efficient planning and reporting structures in functional safety and cybersecurity
Embedding the area into the process landscape and optimizing processes
Coaching and developing team members (Functional Safety Managers / Functional Safety Engineers)
Representing the Head of the Functional Safety / Cyber Security Competence Center
Significantly improving acceptance of functional safety within the project team
Including functional safety work packages in the project workflow and integrating them into the project plan
Adapting engineering processes to specific requirements from the standard
Evaluating and adapting safety concepts and revising the associated requirements
Team Leader
Tier 1 Automotive
Leading the mechanical team in the area of electronics / wireless chargers and USB hubs after the previous position holder left the company
Ensuring support for ongoing projects
Establishing myself as a manager and building connections with HR and the works council
Ensuring operational performance by establishing binding targets and tracking them
Defining problems clearly and ensuring specific corrective actions
Individually evaluating team members regarding performance and potential
Improving performance and prioritizing outstanding work packages
Evaluating employees according to consistent, transparent criteria to show career prospects within the company
Functional Safety Manager (radar sensors, cameras, lidar)
OEM Automotive
Functional Safety Manager for ADAS sensors (radar, lidar, cameras)
Planning safety activities and managing the supplier
Monitoring project results and actively reviewing the design from a functional safety perspective
Reviewing requirements and identifying and clarifying weaknesses
Conducting safety analyses
Integrating mainstream project management with functional safety activities
Standardizing functional safety activities, advance planning, and tracking
Significantly improving acceptance of functional safety within the project team
Including functional safety work packages in the project workflow and integrating them into the project plan
Identifying weaknesses in the safety argument, from the logical functional level through to the supplier, and driving corrective actions in this area
Successfully creating the safety case in coordination with the system supplier
Program Manager
Tier 1 Automotive
Project management, bottleneck management, and component replacement due to component shortages
Main contact for the OEM and leadership of the project teams
Designing changes and building samples
Verification, validation, and re-approval in the respective markets
Coordinating measures with the customer regarding tests, costs, and time requirements, while ensuring the supply chain
Preventing delivery failures despite critical component availability
Avoiding high costs for retesting through proactive agreement with the customer
No field issues at the customer with the components changed at short notice
Program Manager
Tier 1 Automotive
Project management and leadership of the development team for an innovative telematics control unit
Leading RFI/RFQ processes for premium OEMs and serving as the main contact for OEM customers
System development and resolving target conflicts in the areas of housing, thermal management, hardware, software, and antennas
Developing a convincing, innovative product concept
Production and successful testing as part of a B-sample
Very positive customer feedback during the RFI and approval to participate in the RFQ (BMW)
Program Manager / SW System Engineer
Global Supplier / Automotive
Managing the software sub-project for a rear-view camera for a French OEM
Leading the external software supplier (St. Petersburg)
Coordinating schedules and delivery scopes
Ensuring software quality and compliance with processes
Communicating with the OEM customer
Restoring a trusting working relationship with the software supplier
Agreeing on and ensuring the work packages for each sprint and milestone
Requirements Specialist, Program Manager
Electric Vehicle OEM / Automotive
Advising on requirements management and requirements-based testing
Assessing the current situation and identifying critical friction points
Defining the target state based on state-of-the-art practices while considering the tool and organizational landscape
Creating a customized implementation concept in Polarion
Implementing a proof of concept, including the preparation of specifications and test cases at the complete vehicle level
Implementing reports and traces operationally in Polarion
Separating requirements and test documents in line with the V-model
Adapting test strategies and test cases for each level
Program Manager
Global Supplier / Automotive
Managing camera quotation projects for Surround View and autonomous driving as part of an RFQ from Volvo
Developing concepts for various cameras in the field of driver assistance systems (housing, hardware, optics, software)
Coordinating with development, purchasing, and production
Supporting the quotation phase and organizing customer presentations in the demo vehicle
Requirements management and coordination with the customer
Creating an advanced concept design including the bill of materials (BOM)
Preparing the quotation calculation and negotiating the offer
Program Manager
Global Supplier / Automotive
Series development of a front camera for BMW in the field of driver assistance systems
Technical responsibility for the housing, hardware development, optics, and software
Coordination with purchasing and production, as well as support during the quotation phase at BMW
Requirements management and coordination with the customer
Preparation of the project structure plan and work breakdown structure
Task and schedule planning, as well as tracking open issues
Managing the project team and acting as the customer contact
Coordinated technical concepts with the customer
Senior Program Manager
Global Supplier / Automotive
Pre-development and transition to series development of a central control unit for fully autonomous driving (Level 4/5)
Leading a team of more than 30 employees
Requirements management and preparation of the project structure plan
Guiding and coaching the technical project managers
Reporting up to Global Director level
Hardware design (circuit design and PCB layout) taking HF requirements (3–4 GHz) into account
Adapting and developing the software framework for central computing
Considering functional safety and redundancy at chipset level
Production and successful commissioning of the prototypes
Senior Program Manager
Automotive Supplier / Automotive
Strategic measures to reduce and stabilize scrap rates to below 3% in the area of valve seat rings
Defining project tasks, scheduling, and coordinating the specialist departments
Comprehensive analysis of the current production process using Ishikawa diagrams, parameter diagrams, and fault tree analyses
Developing improvement opportunities and turning them into work packages
Validating the effectiveness of the measures and controlling the project budget
Qualifying measurement equipment and improving camera-based measurement systems for component geometries
Determining measurement system capability (Cgk and R&R) and implementing a pilot conversion
Identifying critical process steps and creating a detailed work plan
Senior Program Manager
BRITA / Consumer Goods Industry
Leading post-merger projects to integrate smaller companies into the corporate group
Controlling project budgets and reporting at CoX level
Integrating the supply chain, including defining logistics routes and spare parts concepts
Optimizing purchasing prices and developing suppliers
Integrating international subsidiaries from a process perspective and setting up quality reporting
Introducing robust development processes and establishing a central Product Change Council
Leading a task force to resolve business-critical product issues with water dispensers
Identifying the root cause of product issues and implementing short-term corrective actions
Owner, Freelance Project Manager and Interim Manager
Dr. Opitz IMPS
Freelance interim (project) manager and consultant for automotive product development and functional safety management
Consulting in the areas of system development and development processes across the entire development lifecycle
Focus on electrical/electronic systems and the complete vehicle
Branch Manager Düsseldorf
M Plan GmbH
Consolidation and expansion of the branch in the field of development services
Disciplinary management of more than 20 direct reports and 60 employees overall
Responsibility for profit and loss as well as revenue of approximately €5 million
Head of Electrical/Electronics (Wolfsburg)
M Plan GmbH
Established the Electrical/Electronics division at the Wolfsburg location
Responsible for sales, employee recruitment, and the development of training programs
Created team leader structures and introduced quality management
Disciplinary management of 45 employees and profit/loss responsibility for €3.5 million in revenue
Head of Electrical/Electronics
RLE International
Established the project business in the field of Electrical/Electronics
Responsible for the temporary staffing business and strengthening employee retention
Managed 35 employees, including 6 direct reports
Overall Project Manager E/E for Turnkey Complete Vehicle
Bertrandt
Overall responsibility for Electrical/Electronics for a turnkey project with a scope of more than €10 million
Design & Release (D&R) responsible and E/E program manager for Ford
Established the PMO and project structures and managed the sub-project managers
Risk management, problem solving, and escalation management
Development of vehicle systems, wiring harness development, and network architecture (CAN/LIN)
Software planning, change management, and issue management
Supported the start of production and achieved a flawless launch for E/E
Project Manager
Bertrandt
Successfully implemented a turnkey project (facelift) for FORD from project start through launch at the plant
Provided technical leadership for 35 employees
Project Manager, Systems Engineer
Askon Consulting (Altran)
Project management and consulting in the field of Systems Engineering
Responsibility for requirements management in technical consulting projects
Project Manager, Systems Engineer
Vidair
Systems Engineer and Project Manager for the development of aviation systems
Development of video-based fire detection and cabin cameras
Refueling projects for the German Air Force (MRTT)
Research Associate
University of Duisburg
PhD research on the investigation of combustion processes using digital image processing
Research and teaching in the field of natural sciences
Industry experience
See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.
Experienced in Automotive, Professional Services, Education, Aerospace and Defense, and Manufacturing.
Business area experience
See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.
Experienced in Product Development, Project Management, Quality Assurance, Research and Development, Human Resources, and Operations.
Summary
For my Tier 1 and OEM customers, I lead product development projects and provide practical consulting in project management, systems engineering, and functional safety.
I am a pragmatic yet precise-thinking manager who can provide and demonstrate a clear direction and framework for a team. I bring my many years of experience as a project manager and manager of engineering and business units to this role with passion, empathy, and a positive attitude. My customers benefit from projects that are set up and implemented in a structured way, with a strong focus on technical execution, including the proactive anticipation and resolution of project risks and problems.
As a sparring partner and source of ideas, I guide development teams toward innovation and new ideas.
Targeted reporting to the end customer and relevant stakeholders ensures understanding and acceptance of the chosen project path.
Skills
- Methodology: Ipma/Gpm And Agile Methods
- Extensive Experience In Functional Safety Management, Including Implementation Projects
- Fmea Moderator, Focus On Predictive Product Development
- Disciplinary Management Of Up To 60 Employees
- Functional / Matrix Management Of Up To Approximately 80 Project Participants
- Revenue Responsibility Of Up To €6 Million (Project / Program)
- Product Development Manager (Advanced Development, Rfqs/Quotations, Series Development), Interdisciplinary And International Teams (+20 Years)
- Functional Safety Manager (4.5 Years), Focus On Adas / Ad
- Consulting: Application-Oriented, Holistic Systems/Product Development, Integration With Development Processes (Requirements, Testing, Functional Safety) (10 Years)
- Technology: Electronics / Mechatronics / Adas & Haf / Ad
- Industry: Automotive (20 Years), Aerospace (3 Years), Special-Purpose Machinery (2 Years)
Languages
Education
University of Duisburg
Dr. rer. nat, Natural Sciences · Natural sciences · Duisburg, Germany
Certifications & licenses
Statistics
Experience
Global experience
Expertise
Qualifications
Profile
Frequently asked questions
Have questions? Find more information here.
Daniel is based in Erkelenz, Germany and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.
Daniel speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), French (Elementary), Dutch (Elementary).
Daniel has at least 31 years of experience. During this time, Daniel has worked in at least 16 different roles and for 13 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 4 months. Note that Daniel may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.
Based on recent experience, Daniel would be well-suited for roles such as: FMEA Moderator and Expert, Senior Program Manager, Functional Safety Manager.
Daniel's most recent position is FMEA Moderator and Expert at Tier 1 Automotive.
In recent years, Daniel has worked for Tier 1 Automotive, OEM Automotive, and Dr. Opitz IMPS.
Daniel is most experienced in industries like Automotive, Professional Services, and Education. Daniel also has some experience in Aerospace and Defense and Manufacturing.
Daniel is most experienced in business areas like Product Development, Project Management, and Quality Assurance. Daniel also has some experience in Research and Development, Human Resources, and Operations.
Daniel has recently worked in industries like Automotive.
Daniel has recently worked in business areas like Product Development, Quality Assurance, and Project Management.
Daniel holds a Doctorate in Natural sciences from University of Duisburg.
Daniel has 1 certificate: AFSE (Automotive Functional Safety Expert).
Daniel is immediately available part-time for suitable projects.
Daily rate distribution
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Average rates for similar positions
Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.
The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.
The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.
Calculated based on our freelancers’ daily rates as of 26 Sep 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
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