Kevin Chen

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT KEVIN CHEN

I’m a mechanical engineer with over 30 years of experience spanning industrial automation, precision assembly systems, and enterprise software strategy. I began my career in Guangzhou, China, where I was deeply involved in hands-on machine maintenance and automation retrofits. After earning my Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University, I joined the U.S. branch of Assembly & Test Worldwide in Fremont, where I worked on PLC controls and motion systems in complex electronics manufacturing environments. Over the years, I advanced into engineering leadership roles at ATS Automation, managing cross-state teams and standardizing automation architectures. In 2009, I co-founded FinancialForce.com in San Jose, shifting my focus to ERP platforms for professional services. After helping scale the business and leading product operations through a major growth phase, I transitioned into a strategic advisory role following the company’s rebrand to Certinia. Now semi-retired, I continue to support select projects focused on long-term product planning and cross-functional strategy alignment. I believe that good engineering is not just about control systems and throughput. It’s about people, adaptability, and always staying curious.