Murat Yıldızhan, Ph.D.

Technical Project Manager – BCI (Body, Chassis & Interior Subsystems) at TOFAŞ (Stellantis Joint Venture), responsible for projects delivered to Stellantis Group. - Team management of various people working in different locations and systems. - Product design, cost, quality, prototype, budget, suppliers & sourcing activity management. - Working with cross-functional engineering teams to motivate and ensure successful project delivery. - Coordination and collaboration with other function counterparts. - Following up the project milestones, time, demand, and resource allocation planning. - Ensuring status reporting is appropriate to audience and presentation to various levels of seniority.

Technical Project Manager – MOPAR Accessories at TOFAŞ (Stellantis Joint Venture), leading accessory development and industrialization projects delivered to Stellantis Group brands. Led multi-brand accessory programs across 10+ global Stellantis brands, from concept to launch, ensuring seamless integration into vehicle platforms including electrified models. Pioneered innovative methodologies and digital systems to streamline accessory development and lifecycle management, increasing efficiency and cross-functional collaboration. Ensured strict compliance with global Vehicle Development Process (VDP) standards, while aligning stakeholders across engineering, design, sourcing, and quality functions. Enhanced organizational readiness by establishing structured KPI monitoring, risk management, and executive reporting frameworks that enabled data-driven decision-making. Positioned Mopar accessories as a strategic enabler of customer personalization and electrification readiness, supporting Stellantis’ transition toward sustainable mobility.

Program Manager – at TOFAŞ (Stellantis Joint Venture) Leading engine development, electrification, and global vehicle programs delivered to Stellantis Group brands. Spearheaded electrification and powertrain innovation, managing the first Mild-Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV) development for the C-Segment Fiat Tipo and coordinating agile teams for both ICE and EV regulatory compliance projects. Directed global SUV and MPV programs (Midsized SUV CC24, Fiat 500L, AR 966 B-SUV) from feasibility through launch, ensuring on-time delivery and alignment with QCTP (Quality, Cost, Timing, Product) targets. Acted as Technical Liaison between R&D and cross-functional departments, enabling effective collaboration across engineering, quality, design, and sourcing teams. Designed and implemented a new Quality Development Process (QDP) methodology for global program management, standardizing practices and driving execution efficiency across Stellantis platforms. Led C-Segment Fiat Tipo/Egea programs (new and derivative), executed according to Fiat Group’s Vademecum Product Development Process, ensuring competitive positioning across multiple mar

Led development and lifecycle management (LCM) of interior trim, seating systems, and HVAC modules for Fiat MPV programs, delivering innovative and customer-focused solutions. Directed Euro6D regulatory transition for MPV engine programs, ensuring compliance with evolving European standards while minimizing impact on design and production timelines. Applied a QTCP (Quality, Timing, Cost, Product) framework to drive complexity reduction and efficiency improvements across multiple platforms. Managed interior trim development for C-Segment (Fiat Linea) and LCV platforms (Fiorino, Doblo, RAM), ensuring global competitiveness and customer satisfaction. Led a cross-functional design team, achieving LCM and derivative program targets with consistent delivery against performance, cost, and timing

R&D Engineer – Ride Comfort Project Lead (Fiat Fiorino MPV Platform) As project lead, I delivered a comprehensive ride comfort optimization program for the Fiat Fiorino MPV, combining real-world testing and advanced simulation to refine suspension systems and seating dynamics. Data Acquisition & Analysis: Conducted full-scale comfort testing with Dewetron systems and 16 accelerometers across multiple vehicles and road conditions, applying ISO 2631 standards to ensure accuracy and regulatory compliance. Modeling & Simulation: Built detailed quarter, half, and full vehicle models in MATLAB/Simulink, calculating ride comfort indices and enabling predictive analysis. Correlation & Virtual Validation: Integrated experimental and CAE methods by correlating simulation outputs with physical test results, pioneering a CAE-based comfort validation approach for future developments. Benchmarking & Market Positioning: Led comparative studies against passenger and LCV competitors, providing insights that strategically positioned Fiat Fiorino in its market segment. Innovation & Value Creation: Generated significant commercial impact through improved customer comfort and product differentiation, while also producing academic contributions in vehicle dynamics and simulation methodology. This initiative showcased my ability to bridge engineering innovation with commercial value, leading the project end-to-end from concept to successful implementation.

Provided advanced technical support and consultancy for test equipment and simulation software in dynamic, static, acoustic, and durability analysis, collaborating closely with international engineering teams. Contributed to military and aerospace development programs through multibody dynamics and fatigue simulations using LMS Virtual.Lab Motion and Fatigue modules; also performed experimental modal analysis for aircraft engine development projects. Executed acoustic and modal testing activities in commercial vehicle development programs using LMS Test.Lab and Dewetron data acquisition systems. Delivered technical support to Bosch for the integration and effective use of a custom-built software solution based on TecWare and Falancs platforms. Took part in the commissioning of an acoustic-based quality control system on Renault's transmission line. Developed and implemented a control unit capable of real-time acoustic signal analysis, allowing human-independent detection of potential transmission defects during mass production. Organized and delivered professional training sessions to promote the effective use of LMS Falancs Fatigue software among OEM clients. Led the structural optimization of heavy-duty hinge systems by designing custom test setups and validating design improvements through simulation and physical testing. Delivered AMESim module trainings and provided simulation-based consultancy in the development of hydraulic excavator systems and hydraulic valve designs, enhancing system performance and reliability.

I secured this prestigious internship opportunity by ranking in the top 5 of my class in my 4th year of university. During my internship, I actively participated in projects related to quality, production, and environmental protection. I worked in the Metrology Quality Diagnosis Department, where I gained hands-on experience in validation and control processes using 3D Zeiss measurement devices. This role provided me with in-depth knowledge of measurement methodologies for vehicle parts quality validation. Additionally, I benefited from Renault’s comprehensive training program for interns, gaining valuable insights into quality, production, and factory management. I successfully completed the internship with positive feedback, strengthening both my technical and management skills.

I had the opportunity to intern at ÇEMTAŞ Çelik Makina Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. in their project management and maintenance departments. During my time in the production systems, I was involved in analyzing risks and challenges within production processes, focusing on process optimization. I contributed to identifying potential inefficiencies and worked on improving workflows to enhance overall productivity. In my second internship phase, I worked closely with the maintenance team, where I was actively engaged in predictive maintenance practices aimed at reducing risks and addressing machine failures. I helped streamline maintenance processes to improve system reliability and decrease downtime. This experience allowed me to understand the intricacies of maintenance management and provided me with a solid foundation in both process analysis and optimization.

Thesis:Parametric optimization methods for interior trim parts-crash absorbers in automotive industry Parametric optimization methods for interior trim parts-crash absorbers in automotive industry In the study part of the kind of side crash absorbers, there has been using of some methods like TRIZ, optimization technics, patents requirements, cost optimizations and feasibility, creates a new product that is the unique component in this area. With Sedan vehicle Project time plan, new PP Absorber Project has been done with accordance of success as an unequaled product that is in serial production with patent.

Exchange Student Program

Thesis : Model-Based Methods for Vehicle Design Optimization and Verification Applications In this study the equations of motion are obtained for vehicle vibration models in literature with using Lagrange method(Quarter/Half/Full Car Model with Matlab). For specific car model, the value of ride comfort index is calculated by means of computer aided dynamic analysis method. The widely using suspension systems are examined as the directly effective parameter for ride comfort index value. The necessary real time test procedure for evaluation of vehicle ride comfort is composed with utilization of ISO 2631-1 standard.

Thesis : Investigation of Methods Used in Reducing Pollutant Gases in Gasoline and Diesel Engines