Profile of Stefan Pototschnik, Former Satellite Developer Serious about Ford Electrification

Background

Pototschnik once interned at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in the spacecraft engineering department as a member of the team developing systems that control the temperature of electric components on satellites.

Besides the cool factor of working on products destined for space, Pototschnik – program management supervisor, Focus Electric – said he learned many lessons.

“It really reinforced the idea that every detail going into a system not only work, but also be robust and efficient,” said Pototschnik. “I apply that idea to everything I do and oversee today. Being off by even a few millimeters is not acceptable.”

His life and passion

• Pototschnik, 35, graduated with two degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland and earned an MBA from the University of Michigan. Also, he spent a semester at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore
• His hobbies range from building radio-controlled airplanes to scuba diving and reading to traveling to places like England, France, Germany and Singapore and as many places as possible in between
• Pototschnik grew up in Mount Airy, Md., where he had five brothers and two sisters. He and his wife Natalie have two children, 10-month-old twins

What he does for Ford

• As program management supervisor, at any given moment Pototschnik could have his hands on any part of the Focus Electric – from keeping the program within budget to making sure important deadlines are met
• “I really enjoy being part of the Sustainable Mobility Technologies team because everyone is heard. Each team member has the ability to step up and contribute in a meaningful way and that’s something they might not be able to get anywhere else”
• Pototschnik joined Ford in 2001 and has worked on numerous other vehicles for the company including the Escape Hybrid, Fusion Hybrid and the redesigned 2004 F-150