Nishith Unnikrishnan

Background

About Nishith Unnikrishnan

I am a Senior Verification and Validation Specialist at British Columbia Rapid Transit Company (Skytrain) with 10 years of experience in automotive and transportation product development, specializing in systems engineering and verification & validation. Currently, I lead V&V efforts on large-scale rail systems projects, ensuring compliance with international standards, safety authorities, and systems assurance requirements. Previously, I led testing efforts for innovation projects in the clean energy sector, focusing on PEM fuel cell systems, high-voltage systems, and supplier qualification. Before that, I successfully delivered powertrain systems for three major SUVs and eight refresh projects, overseeing the entire lifecycle from concept to production. My expertise spans requirements management, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, shop floor operations, product inspection, machining, prototyping, instrumentation, data acquisition, and testing. I am a consistent member of internal shadow teams, driving quick resolutions for complex problems. Core competencies include failure root cause analysis, technical design analysis, design verification planning (DVP), concern reporting, verification and validation, CAD, DFMEA, 8D analysis, and engineering documentation. I’ve led over 300 system and vehicle-level tests with a quality index of 86%, and facilitated the validation of 400+ corrective actions across various powertrain system components. I hold a Master of Engineering (M.Eng) from McGill University and a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng) from Mumbai University, where I graduated as the University Rank 1. My approach combines strong technical acumen with a commitment to continuous improvement, driving innovative solutions and delivering results at every stage of product development.