
Abdullah Hafiz
Verified Expert in Engineering
Mechanical Engineer and Developer
Ottawa, Canada
Toptal member since June 17, 2026
With over 15 years of experience, cost-effective, high-quality solutions are delivered from concept through production, on time, on budget, and to standard, while emerging technologies are leveraged to drive efficiency. Complex, multidisciplinary programs are led across the full lifecycle, spanning FEA/CFD, thermal and reactor systems, NPI, and electronics enclosures. Junior engineers are mentored.
Portfolio
Experience
- Mechanical Design - 15 years
- CAD - 15 years
- Thermal Analysis - 15 years
- SOLIDWORKS - 15 years
- Finite Element Analysis (FEA) - 12 years
- Design of Experiments (DOE) - 12 years
- Static and dynamic analysis - 10 years
- ANSYS - 10 years
Work Experience
Principal Systems Engineer / Project Manager
Invicton
- Led mechanical design of a ruggedized, temperature-controlled transport system for a Canadian defence program; owned enclosure architecture from concept through verification and production-ready deliverables.
- Designed electronics enclosures and packaging: defined EMI/EMC grounding and shielding strategy, IP-rated sealing interfaces (gaskets, O-rings, cable glands), connector alignment, tolerance stack-ups, and harness routing.
- Developed MIL-STD-810 aligned verification plans covering shock, vibration, humidity, and ingress protection.
- Performed FEA-based structural analysis of enclosure assemblies; conducted trade studies on materials and joining methods; integrated micro-refrigeration and thermoelectric cooling hardware with supporting thermal analysis.
- Maintained project documentation baseline, including requirements specifications, verification and validation plans, configuration-controlled engineering release packages, and BOMs.
- Analyzed thermal test data from active heating and cooling experiments across various heating and cooling configurations.
- Led design of a customized, proprietary heatsink for thermoelectric coolers integrating heat pipes; performed thermal analysis and hand calculations to validate hot-side cooling performance.
Senior Engineer - R&D Systems
Equispheres
- Managed concurrent programs with budgets of up to $1 million and teams of 12 to 25, applying stage-gate governance, EVM, risk registers, and project development plans.
- Designed a dual-purpose Inconel stem flange serving as both the shaker's structural mounting interface and a passive heatsink; sized fin geometry via thermal calculations to dissipate process heat through natural convection, protecting the shaker.
- Performed thermal cycling tests on ceramic nozzle plates/plungers at 750–1200°C to characterize heating cycles and thermal performance; conducted shaker vibration testing, correlating instrumented measurements with analytical models via DOE.
- Performed FEA-driven design validation — structural, thermal, random vibration, explicit dynamics, and coupled multiphysics; served as in-house FEA SME, analyzing designs for colleagues and translating results into modifications.
- Led RCCA investigations across reactor assemblies and components operating under extreme thermal and mechanical loading, documenting root causes, implementing corrective actions, and verifying fixes through follow-on testing and analysis.
- Developed assembly methods, instructions, and assembly documentation for reactor systems, subsystems, and components; produced SOPs and commissioning procedures for plant-wide system deployments.
- Designed vacuum-sealed, high-temperature pressure vessels and piping in accordance with ASME BPVC, CSA B51, ASME B31.1/B31.3, and TSSA; obtained CRN registration for a plant-wide gas purification system.
- Applied DFM across CNC machining, casting, welding, additive manufacturing, and superalloy processing (Inconel 718, Inconel 625, Ti-6Al-4V).
- Managed concurrent programs with teams of 12 to 25; mentored junior engineers and technologists.
- Developed SVM and genetic algorithm models for process parameter optimization and a CNN for automated dimensional measurement of SLM-printed parts, using Python (NumPy, Pandas, TensorFlow).
Lead Product Development Engineer
H2O Innovation
- Designed high-performance stainless steel flexible couplings and FRP pressure vessels, achieving 20% weight reduction, 40% higher pressure rating, and 3x load capacity through FEA-based optimization.
- Ensured compliance with CSA B51, ASME BPVC, ASME B31.1/B31.3, TSSA, and AWWA.
- Acted as the technical interface with customers on requirements, specifications, and program status.
- Designed test rigs for hydrostatic, pneumatic, cyclic fatigue, bending moment, and pressure-surge testing.
- Performed an FMEA and root-cause analysis to resolve field and manufacturing issues.
- Applied DFM for casting, injection molding, and machining.
- Launched 3 new product lines for water desalination and oil and gas markets.
Visiting Researcher
National Research Council Canada
- Performed multiphysics FEA/CFD simulations for laser-material interactions.
- Developed signal processing algorithms for surface profile evaluation using interferometry and profilometry.
- Designed precision micro-molds, sensor housings, jigs, fixtures, and laser delivery system enclosures.
- Led micro-mold fabrication for a biomedical pressure sensor housing.
- Collaborated with DV Systems and Transonic Scisense on IRAP-funded projects.
- Performed vibration analysis for compressor hose design.
Senior Production Engineer
Rahimafrooz
- Managed production operations in an automotive and solar battery manufacturing plant.
- Maintained ISO 9000 QMS compliance. Coordinated with QA to maintain product quality standards.
- Improved operational and manufacturing efficiency up to 30% by reducing scrap rates and quality defects.
Industrial Engineering Intern
British American Tobacco
- Applied Taguchi design of experiments (DoE) to optimize machine parameters.
- Increased yield and productivity through a capacity planning analysis.
- Developed SOPs and technical documentation to support the transition of the process methodology into regular operations.
Project History
High-temperature Aluminum Powder Production Reactor | Full-scale Development Program
The project management plan integrated scope, schedule, cost, quality, risk, and procurement plans with established baselines. Technical risks, including material performance at extreme temperatures, thermal cycling fatigue, and sealing degradation, were documented with defined responses. I directed project work, conducted procurements via RFQs, led design reviews, applied DFM principles, and managed subsystem integration.
Performance was tracked via earned value metrics, with change control and sponsor reporting. At closing, I coordinated commissioning, obtained formal acceptance, and completed documentation handover.
The project was delivered on time and within budget, with commissioning confirming sustained reactor operation at 1,200°C and validating the proprietary architecture for aluminum powder manufacturing.
Vacuum-sealed High-temperature Reactor | Prototype Design and Commissioning
KEY CONTRIBUTIONS
• Managed a cross-functional team of 10 to 14 members across engineering, operations, and external suppliers and OEMs.
• Developed a comprehensive project management plan covering scope, schedule, cost, quality, risk, and procurement.
• Documented key technical risks, including sealing performance under thermal cycling and structural fatigue, with defined risk responses.
• Facilitated design reviews with internal specialists and external partners, applied DFM principles across machining, welding, and surface treatment processes, and managed subsystem integration interfaces.
• Monitored performance using earned value metrics throughout execution.
The prototype was delivered on time and within budget. Commissioning results validated the core reactor architecture and established the design framework for the subsequent reactor development program.
In-line Gas Purification System for Atomization Reactors Description
The system was integrated into the active gas supply infrastructure without disrupting ongoing production and required CRN certification under TSSA regulations. I managed a cross-functional team of 5 across engineering, operations, maintenance, and external vendors. I also developed a project management plan covering scope, schedule, cost, quality, risk, communications, and procurement, and established baseline schedules and budgets.
Key risks, including integration conflicts with active production lines and regulatory compliance, were documented with defined responses. I managed interfaces between the purification system and existing gas lines, P&ID configurations, and control systems.
The project was delivered on time and within budget with no unplanned production downtime. Post-commissioning verification confirmed all purity and stability targets were met, resulting in reduced contamination events, fewer off-specification batches, and improved equipment uptime.
Education
PhD in Mechanical Engineering
University of Western Ontario - London, ON, Canada
Bachelor's Degree in Industrial and Production Engineering
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology - Dhaka, Bangladesh
Certifications
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Project Management Institute (PMI)
TSSA — Ontario Boiler and Pressure Vessel Registrations 220/01 and TSSA Requirements
TSSA
Certificate on Metallurgy of Stainless Steel
ASTM International
Finite Element Analysis Using COMSOL 4.2a
COMSOL Inc.
Skills
Tools
CAD, SOLIDWORKS, Jira, CATIA, AutoCAD, Autodesk Vault, COMSOL, MATLAB, Nx
Paradigms
Mechanical Design, Testing
Industry Expertise
Project Management
Languages
Python
Other
Thermal Analysis, Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T), Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA), Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA), PDM, Process Optimization, Design of Experiments (DOE), Design for Manufacturing, Manufacturing Project Management, Data Analysis, Materials Engineering, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Static and dynamic analysis, EMI/EMC Compatibility, Capacity Planning, ANSYS, Program Management, Portfolio Analysis, ASME BPVC, Metallurgy, CFD, ISO 9000, Mil-std-810, Project Lifecycle, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Application Performance Monitoring, Risk Management, System Integration, Regulatory Compliance, Quality Management, Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Control (QC)
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