David Vehslage PMP
Electrical Engineer

Architecting
User-Centric Solutions

My experience as a Engineering Manager and Product Designer has taught me that relationships and understanding people is the key to delivering a cohesive and maintainable product. Utilizing the many tools learned through leading projects, developing new products, and obtaining various certifications provides me the opportunity to see what techniques will work best and provide reliable results. I am committed to delivering the right solution to my customers by understanding their story first and delivering products and services that complete that story.

Specialties:
– Leadership and Ownership
– Project Management
– 0-1 New Product Development
– Product Ownership
– Customer Driven Solution Creation
– Electromechanical Architecture Engineering
– Design for Installation / Manufacturing / Maintenance
– Product Life Cycle Management

David Vehslage’s Resume / CV

Whirlpool Advanced Development

My tenure at Whirlpool was defined by applying customer-centric technical leadership across the entire product lifecycle, from strategic concept to global deployment. As Advanced Engineering Manager, I directed global new product initiatives, most notably pioneering the deployment of both Generative AI in agentic pipelines for highly-contextual user features and Edge AI (TFLite) models on microcontrollers, resulting in a documented $1.3M reduction in service call costs through predictive maintenance and optimizing operational processes. This technological focus was underpinned by strategic foresight; I previously leveraged Human-Centered Design and open innovation principles to scout external technologies, creating a project pipeline exceeding $3M in new revenue opportunities and building resilient foundations by mitigating over $4M in potential supply chain losses as Lead Electrical Engineer, all while mentoring a high-performing team of 10 and shaping the 4-year product roadmap to over $14M in business cases.

Defining the problem

KONE Service R&D

My time at KONE was centered on driving innovation and efficiency in vertical transportation systems, transitioning from foundational engineering to strategic smart building initiatives. As Senior Smart Building Engineer, I architected and managed a major project to enhance elevator emergency communication, successfully integrating technologies like IoT, LTE, and UI development to provide accessible features that secured over $17.4M in margin contribution through new recurring service models and false call reduction strategies. This strategic focus was built upon my earlier successes as Chief Design Engineer, where I championed Six Sigma process improvements that yielded significant operational savings, including a 20% reduction in installation time and a 15% reduction in manufacturing time. Furthermore, I led the development of critical code-compliant solutions like the KSS570 Keypad, delivering $1.3M in measurable value while fostering continuous design improvement using Agile methodologies across diverse engineering teams.

Career

A career of customer-centric technical leadership, defined by transforming product roadmaps through the integration of pioneering AI and IoT technologies to deliver multi-million dollar revenue, margin contribution, and operational efficiency.

Roles and Responsibilities

’24

’25

Advanced Engineering Manager

’21

’24

Lead Open Innovation Engineer

’20

’21

Lead Electrical Engineer

’18

’20

Senior Smart Building Engineer

’15

’18

Chief Design Engineer

’13

’15

Electrical Engineer

David Vehslage’s Resume / CV

About Me

David Vehslage

Learning | Family | Ownership

There are three simple yet non-negotiable pillars that guide my life, starting with a deep, almost instinctual passion for learning. This isn’t just about professional development; it’s about a daily curiosity to pull apart the world, understand how complex systems truly work, and seek out the “why” behind every design and decision.

Secondly, everything I achieve is grounded in my unwavering commitment to my family. Frankly, any success I’ve had is built on the foundation of my relationship with my wife and partner, Abigail; her support is what grounds me. I find my greatest pride in raising our children, guiding them into a life rich with curiosity and adventure.

Finally, my word is my bond, defined by an absolute adherence to ownership and accountability. If I say I’ll do it, I will. I know that issues and setbacks are inevitable, especially in innovation, but my commitment is to always figure it out, see the project through, and make the committed result right—no matter what it takes. That dedication to the outcome is everything to me.

Colleague Recommendations

★★★★★

Jackie Li – Senior Software Engineer Whirlpool

“David is a supportive, forward-thinking, and highly effective leader who bridges the critical gap between engineering excellence and business objectives. As a technical person, I also found it extremely pleasant to work with him, as he is a true tech enthusiast at heart. This genuine passion for technology is motivating and makes him an exceptional manager for an engineering team.”

★★★★★

Leann Vaive – Master Black Belt | System Integration Manager Whirlpool

“David provided invaluable mentorship. He helped me to refine my communication skills, specifically in communicating technical topics to cross-functional stakeholders. He did this through coaching me to think of the audience and level of technical depth needed, reviewing presentation content to help me refine my message, and providing timely feedback.”

★★★★★

Joel Sells – Director of Advanced Development Whirlpool

“As an Advanced Engineering Manager, David demonstrated remarkable skills in leading, mentoring, and developing a high-performing team of engineers. He excelled at fostering talent, ensuring project milestones were met through actionable feedback and breaking down significant problems into smaller, more attainable steps for others to follow.”

Technology Blog