Leadership Background

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Hi, I am Shrenik Shah, and I am the founder of S4 Consultancy Group.

I am a strategic engineering leader with 25 years of experience scaling high-performing global teams, delivering complex hardware and software solutions, and driving business growth for companies across various industries.

I am an expert at growing organizations from the ground up, leading innovation, and aligning engineering execution with company strategy.

I hold engineering degrees from esteemed institutions including M.S. (Mechanical Eng.) from The Ohio State University in the US, and B.S. (Aerospace Eng.) from IIT Bombay in India. I also hold 15+ US and International patents, bringing a strong foundation in technical excellence and partaking in problem-solving to every client engagement.

Why I started S4 Consultancy

After years of leading innovation in engineering, manufacturing, and business development, I founded S4 Consultancy to partner more directly with companies ready to grow. I wanted to build something personal, agile, and impactful - combining deep industry know-how with strong relationships to drive real results.

The name S4 comes from the first initials of my family - Shrenik, Shilpi, Siyona, and Syan - a daily reminder that this venture is built on purpose, integrity, and lasting connections.

Together, let's make your business thrive.

What I do

  • My Fractional Leadership (VP Engineering, CTO, Head of Engineering, Board Member, etc.) services are designed to help organizations accelerate growth and navigate complex engineering challenges.

    This is especially attractive to tech start-ups and scaling companies looking for strategic direction and operational oversight without the overhead of a a full-time leader.

    Whether you need hands-on leadership in hardware development, manufacturing scale-up, or business development strategy, I bring 25+ years of cross-industry experience to help you achieve your goals efficiently.

    Additionally, I offer expertise in product design, process optimization, market entry, and building high-performing teams - tailoring each engagement to fit your unique needs and deliver measurable impact.

    Clients typically engage on a monthly retainer basis, paying for a set number of hours or days per week, agreed in advance. This ensures predictable costs while giving you flexible access to high-impact leadership.

  • Through retainer-based advisory services, clients engage me on a monthly or quarterly basis for ongoing strategic counsel and expert insights tailored to their evolving needs. This arrangement provides consistent access to senior-level guidance in areas like product development, manufacturing, and market strategy - ensuring timely support for critical decisions and challenges.

    Clients pay a fixed fee upfront for a set number of advisory hours or deliverables each period, creating a predictable cost structure while maintaining flexibility to adapt as priorities evolve.

  • Under the Time and Material (T&M) engagement model, clients are billed based on the actual days worked and materials used throughout the project. This flexible approach allows for adaptability as project scopes evolve or new requirements emerge, making it ideal for exploratory work, iterative development, or ongoing support.

    Clients receive transparent, detailed invoices on a regular basis - typically monthly - ensuring full visibility into resource allocation and costs while maintaining control over budget and timelines.

  • I offer customized personal workshops and training sessions supported by seasoned subject matter experts (SMEs) to equip your team with the latest industry best practices, technical skills, and strategic insights. These interactive programs are tailored to your company’s specific challenges - whether it’s accelerating product development, improving manufacturing processes, or enhancing business development capabilities.

    By leveraging real-world experience and hands-on learning, we help build internal expertise and empower your workforce to deliver sustained results.

    For a list of areas of expertise I can offer for you or your team, feel free to fill our contact form.

Services I offer

(Startup-friendly)

My Skills

  • Hardware

    Expert in end-to-end hardware development—from concept to production—for aerospace, automotive, industrial, and consumer products.

    Research and Development (R&D)

    Driving innovation through hands-on R&D that transforms cutting-edge ideas into commercially viable, high-performance solutions.

  • Experienced in developing hardware that meets rigorous environmental and performance standards including DO-160 (Aerospace), MIL-STD-810 (Defense), ISO 16750 (Automotive), IP/NEMA ratings for ingress protection in harsh off-highway conditions, and others.

  • Architecting scalable, high-performance hardware systems with optimized integration across mechanical, electrical, and embedded domains.

  • Expert in managing the complete product development lifecycle - from voice of customer, PRD, concept and prototyping to validation, production, and post-launch support.

  • Experienced in developing innovative technologies and securing intellectual property through patents that drive competitive advantage and long-term value.

    See my personal list of patents here.

  • Skilled in leading NPI programs with robust validation strategies, ensuring smooth transition from prototype to production through rigorous testing and quality control.

  • Experienced in managing end-to-end EMS - from PCB assembly to box builds - ensuring cost-effective, high-quality production at scale.

  • Delivering expert mechanical design and material selection for performance-critical applications, balancing strength, durability, weight, and cost across metals, plastics, and composites.

  • Blending form and function to create visually compelling, user-friendly hardware products that are manufacturable, market-ready, and aligned with your brand identity.

  • Leading engineering teams designing robust embedded solutions using ARM, RTOS, and embedded Linux platforms - built to meet rigorous safety and compliance standards like ISO 26262 and DO-178C for automotive, aerospace, and industrial applications.

  • Accelerating development with advanced FEA, CFD, and electronics simulations (SI/PI/EMC) to optimize performance, durability, and thermal management - reducing physical prototyping cycles and ensuring real-world readiness.

  • Delivering seamless integration of mechanical, electrical, and software systems - validated through rigorous testing protocols (bench/factory/field/HIL) to ensure performance, compliance, and field reliability across demanding applications.

  • Optimizing cost, lead time, and supply chain resilience through strategic sourcing of electronic components and deep supplier partnerships across global markets.

Technical

Executive

  • Skilled at identifying, recruiting, and nurturing top engineering talent while fostering continuous learning and career growth to build resilient teams.

  • Proven ability to build and lead high-performing, cross-functional teams that deliver complex engineering projects on time and within budget.

  • Experienced in managing full profit and loss responsibility, optimizing budgets, and driving financial performance to align engineering projects with business goals.

  • Expert in aligning human, technical, and financial resources to maximize productivity and deliver projects efficiently within scope and schedule.

  • Driving continuous improvement through streamlined project management processes, including gated development stages, to enhance quality, reduce cycle times, and ensure on-time delivery.

  • Facilitating seamless communication and teamwork across engineering, manufacturing, marketing, supply chain, and leadership teams to accelerate innovation and project success.

  • Building and nurturing strong relationships with OEMs and customers to align product development with market needs and ensure successful delivery and support.

  • Item descriptionExperienced in leading diverse, cross-cultural engineering teams across multiple time zones to drive collaboration, productivity, and consistent project delivery worldwide.

    Some of the regions I have had teams in are North America, South America, Europe, Asia (India, Japan, Taiwan, UAE).

  • Leveraging deep market knowledge and customer feedback across regions to shape product strategies that meet evolving global demands and drive competitive advantage.

  • Crafting and executing strategic roadmaps that align product innovation with market opportunities to drive growth, profitability, and long-term success.

  • Leading mergers, acquisitions, and seamless team integrations to unify cultures, streamline operations, and accelerate post-merger value creation.

Who I Work With

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    Startups

    I bring seasoned executive leadership to help early-stage companies define strategy, build scalable teams, and bring new products to market with confidence. Services like fractional leadership, product development guidance, and talent strategy provide startups with the clarity and traction needed to grow quickly and wisely, without the overhead of a full-time executive.

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    Small Businesses

    I help small businesses optimize operations, identify growth opportunities, and streamline product-market fit. With expertise in process improvement, manufacturing strategy, and team development, I bring structure and focus to help small teams scale efficiently.

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    Mid-Sized Companies

    As operations grow, so do the challenges. I support mid-sized organizations with cross-functional alignment, executive coaching, P&L accountability, and resource strategy. I help bridge silos and accelerate execution as your business moves to the next level.

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    Large Enterprises

    Large companies tap into my expertise for specialized initiatives, including global team integration, M&A transitions, technology acceleration, and innovation consulting. I bring an external perspective grounded in decades of engineering and leadership experience - ideal for high-impact programs.

My Work Experience

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I've worked with different companies and corporations over the years.

  • CNH Industrial

  • Panasonic Avionics

  • Collins Aerospace

  • Woodward MPC

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CNH Industrial

2022-2025

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Global Director of Hardware Engineering

  • Accelerated electronics development by 40% by building and scaling an in-house global hardware team (mechanical, electrical, software) while leading ODM partnerships for precision agriculture and autonomous vehicle platforms. Electronics developed include telematics, displays, connectivity units, guidance systems, and vehicle controller ECUs.

  • Functional leader for a total of 8 direct (Sr Managers, Managers and Leads) and approximately 60 indirect reports. Global cross-functional teams I led include System Architecture, Mechanical, Electrical, Simulation, Embedded Software, Test, Manufacturing, Process, and Project Management.

  • Drove $1B+ in annual electronics delivery to all CNH vehicle platforms, standardizing platform architectures, streamlining supplier engagement, and improving sourcing resilience.

  • Delivered 6+ new electronics products with a 95% on-time launch rate, improving system integration efficiency by 15% across CNH vehicle platforms.

  • Increased team productivity by 25% and reduced engineering costs by 30% through cross-continental integration of teams across North America, Europe, and India.

  • Established global electronics steering committee, driving $20M in savings through strategic make/buy decisions on in-house, joint, and outsourced developments.

  • Led semiconductor strategy and sourcing, increasing supply chain resilience and cutting component costs by 10% through strategic partnerships and commonality initiatives.

  • Drove post-acquisition integration of Raven Industries, consolidating engineering teams, harmonizing processes, and boosting development efficiency by 30%.

  • Cut operational costs by 5% on a $200M budget by optimizing project execution, resource management, and supplier investment strategies, while increasing innovation outputs.

  • Strengthened cross-functional collaboration, traveling globally to factories, contract manufacturers (CMs), and suppliers, achieving a 25% improvement in cross-regional (North America, Europe, Taiwan, India) execution alignment.

  • Enhanced electronics manufacturing operations in collaboration with the Sioux Falls facility, reducing lead times and increasing production efficiency.

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Principal

  • Part of a 3 member Technology Council of Principals and Chief Engineers overseeing the Engineering new development and sustaining groups

  • Providing direction to the entire Engineering group for product roadmaps, new technology research and selection, review and managing new product requirements and specifications, understanding customer impacts and analyze field sustaining issues to provide feedback back into engineering for future developments

  • Overseeing and introducing processes and work instructions for better engineering operations

  • Take part in design reviews and be the gate for next phase of development

  • Be the engineering department's face for adjacent teams like Systems, Project and Program Management, Quality, Manufacturing, etc.

    Director, Engineering

  • Leading the Hardware R&D engineering group in creating the future of In-Flight Entertainment consumer electronics grade products, system architecture designs, materials research, environmental testing, etc.

  • Product examples: High-Def Displays with Cameras, Touch Panels, Electromechanical Actuators, Servers, WAPs, Jacks, Power and Network Distribution Boxes, Handsets, Tablets, Hardware Tester Simulators etc.

  • New Technology funneling and application for future products

  • Develop technologies as well as full blown products (20+ patents)

  • Develop testing standards for products that have no history in the field

  • Work with Product Management, Systems & Sales to identify R&D areas

  • Work with Procurement to identify and onboard new vendors

  • Analyze Voice Of Customer (VOC) results to get direction of market

    Manager, Hardware Engineering & Certification

  • Managed ~ 50 Hardware Design, Simulation, Testing/Certification Engineers & Technicians. Hired 37 engineers in a span of 3 years

  • Deeply involved in NPI, development (including prototyping), certification as well as managing sustaining field issues (troubleshooting and fixes for units returned from field)

  • Materials:Plastic Injection Molding, Sheet Metal Design, Composites, etc.

  • Collaborated with Electrical/Software Engineering & adjacent teams

  • Budget forecasting, resource planning, program schedules, project schedules, operations, managing OEM requirements capture, CAD activities, FEA and CFD Analysis, Testing and Certification

  • Worked hand in hand with manufacturing both local and overseas

  • Customer and OEM (Boeing/Airbus/Others) interaction and presentation

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Acting Manager, 787 Flight Control Systems

  • Hands on experience with design and testing of Boeing 787 Pitch/Roll, Yaw/Brake and Throttle Quadrant Fly-By-Wire systems

  • Led a team of 18 System Engineers, Designers & Test Engineers engaged in the development and certification of flight-critical hardware

  • Conducted Qualification tests, wrote Qual Test Procedures and Reports

  • Designed Custom Manual and Automated Test Equipment

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Woodward MPC

2001-2005

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Design Simulation Engineer

  • Thermal, Structural, Electromagnetic Simulations using FEA and CFD for linear, rotary actuators

  • BLDC Motor, RVDT and Resolver Sensor Designs

FAQs

  • I specialize in sectors including aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, industrial manufacturing, and agriculture technology. My diverse background allows me to tailor engineering and business strategies to suit companies at any stage of growth.

  • Startups benefit from my fractional executive leadership, product development insights, and scalable team-building strategies—without the overhead of a full-time executive. I help turn early momentum into sustainable growth.

  • work with companies of all sizes—from early-stage startups and small businesses to mid-sized companies and global enterprises. My services are scalable and adaptable to your unique stage of growth and challenges.

  • I offer both. Clients can engage me for targeted workshops and training sessions or for ongoing support through fractional leadership, retainer-based advisory, or time-and-materials projects.

  • S4 is built on 25+ years of hands-on leadership in global engineering organizations, coupled with a personal, agile approach. My blend of deep technical expertise, cross-functional leadership, and strategic insight delivers practical, high-impact solutions.

  • Yes. I have led globally distributed teams across North America, Europe, and Asia. I'm well-versed in remote collaboration and know how to align international efforts for maximum impact.

  • My expertise includes hardware and embedded software development, electronics manufacturing, product lifecycle management, system architecture, design simulation, and more.

  • If you're looking for executive-level leadership, engineering strategy, or help scaling your technical team or product roadmap, a consultation is a great way to start. Let’s talk about your goals and challenges.

  • It’s simple. Book a consultation with me or reach out directly. We’ll discuss your needs, define the scope, and decide on the best engagement model—whether it’s a short-term project or long-term partnership.

Chat with me to find out how I can help your company.