Nikhil Bakal

Automotive Engineer with 10+ years of experience in vehicle validation, vehicle dynamics, RLDA, durability engineering, fatigue analysis, EV validation, tire characterization and competitive benchmarking. Experienced in translating customer requirements into Design Verification Plans (DVP), executing proving-ground and laboratory validation, correlating physical test data with CAE/MBD simulations and supporting global OEM product development through data-driven engineering recommendations.

Automotive Engineer - ARAI

(2016-01)

• Planned and executed end-to-end vehicle validation programs covering vehicle dynamics, durability, vehicle performance and chassis systems for OEM development projects.
• Developed Design Verification Plans (DVP), validation matrices, instrumentation strategies, acceptance criteria and technical reports aligned with customer requirements.
• Executed competitive benchmarking and expert subjective vehicle attribute evaluations covering ride comfort, handling balance, steering feel, braking behaviour, drivability and vehicle refinement.
• Voice of customer & Media drive evaluation and benchmarking for product against competitors
• Executed objective vehicle dynamics test and meaningful correlation of objective results with subjective expert comments
• Planned and executed Road Load Data Acquisition (RLDA) campaigns using Wheel Force Transducers, strain gauges, accelerometers, thermocouples and CAN instrumentation.
• Performed signal conditioning, synchronization, event editing, FFT, PSD, rainflow counting, fatigue damage assessment and accelerated durability schedule generation for MTS 329 multiaxis, 2/4 poster, single axis, Electrodynamic shaker tests using nCode GlyphWorks.
• Correlated proving-ground measurements with laboratory durability profiles and CAE/MBD simulations to improve structural durability prediction.
• Supported tire characterization and tire model generation for Multi-Body Dynamics simulations used in durability and vehicle dynamics studies.
• Executed EV validation including India specific drive-cycle formation using measured data, energy consumption and range evaluation, chassis dynamometer testing and powertrain performance analysis.
• Supported in chassis control validation for ESP and Brakes through vehicle preparation, instrumentation and test execution support.
• Conducted subjective ADAS benchmarking for 11+ vehicles, evaluating ACC, AEB, LKA, Lane Centering, Parking Assist and RCTA; documented synchronized video evidence and engineering recommendations.
• Collaborated with cross-functional OEM teams to support design reviews, root-cause investigations and validation sign-off.

M.Tech. - Automotive Engineering - VIT University

B.E. - Mechanical Engineering - Savitribai Phule Pune University