Lior Michal

About Lior Michal

A result-driven HW director with 15 years of technical and leadership experience.Experienced in leading cross functional teams in complex multidisciplinary projects and operations. Possessing a strong track record in optimizing Time-to-Market, Design-to-Cost, and DFX through innovative technology implementation and process refinement from concept to manufacturing.A passionate leader with strong accountability, exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively drive teams towards achieving strategic objectives.

Experience

1. Department Head, Electro-mechanical Systems

   Rafael Advanced Defense Systems

   Sep 2020 — Present · Northern, IL

   Directed 4 mechanical design teams through complex, cross-disciplinary projects in a dynamic startup environment, delivering end-to-end solutions from concept to production under tight deadlines.* Led detailed design reviews and provided hands-on leadership, incorporating customer feedback while ensuring the technical feasibility and quality of product designs.* Budget management of salaries, bonuses, R&D and Operations * Defining & overseeing the department’s KPI\'s * Responsibility for recruitment, department intensification and Individual Development Plans* Formulated, prioritized, and oversaw the department’s KPIs, leading to a 15% reduction in project rework and an increase in on-time deliveries within 6 months.* Leading the department\'s future vision, strategy and long-term Roadmaps* Established a Production section (High-Mix Low Volume), PP & C, QA, Procurement, R&D Engineering and knowledge experts.* Proposed and led a development initiative focusing on lightweight mechanical structures, cooling solutions, and durability enhancements.* Achieved a 30% cost and a 20% weight reduction by implementing optimization, generative design and reuse, generating an additional $2M in profit.* Reduced program timelines by 15% within 3months by facilitating bi-weekly status meetings and compiling a comprehensive Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)* Directed a multi-disciplinary team (electronics, mechanics, control), responsible for the development of an innovative rotating platform.

Education

• Harvard Law School Executive Education

  Program on Negotiation - Global Executive Seminar

  2017

• Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Mechanical Engineering

  2005 — 2009

• University of Haifa

  Master of Business Administration - MBA, Management and Operations - Executive Program

  2018 — 2020