Andrew (Andy) J. Cordes
Raleigh, NC 27614 • (919) 740-1170
andycordes@gmail.com • linkedin.com/in/andy-cordes TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LEADER
Build Skilled and Enduring Engineering Teams that Efficiently Deliver Innovative FeaturesDirect software product development, research, and process improvement projects and programs. Steer, motivate, and retain high-performing, cross-cultural software development teams with calm, empowering, and inclusive leadership style. Promote innovation, out-of-the-box thinking, and risk-taking in adapting disruptive technologies to next generation products. Collaborate and communicate effectively with stakeholders.
Project & Program Management | Process Improvement | Agile & Predictive SDLCs
Change Management | Talent Management | Intellectual Property ProtectionProfessional Experience
ABB INC. US CORPORATE RESEARCH CENTER, Raleigh, NCResearch Department Manager Mar 2006-Present
Oversaw portfolios of 15-20 projects annually and supervised 17 computer scientists / researchers. Controlled $4M yearly budgets with technical focus areas in artificial intelligence / machine learning, software engineering / software usability, and software architecture / technology.
- Facilitated business value of >$60M between 2016 and 2019, directing software research team using Agile / Scrum framework in producing proof of concept prototypes and technology surveys for next-next generation products.
- Doubled department size and maintained high retention rate by applying robust people management skills, including recruiting / hiring, resource allocation / leveling, definition of roles and responsibilities, employee performance issue resolution, mentoring / coaching, performance review administration, and team building.
- Drove corporate research center expansion through SWOT analysis, technology area prioritization, customer need workshops, and high-level strategy definition, doubling center size and consistently increasing annual NPS scores.
- Achieved and exceeded key performance indicator (KPI) targets for intellectual property, Lean / Agile practice adoption, and significant technical achievements through management of publication award system, invention disclosure / patent application tracking, Lean product development evangelization, and stage-gate assessment consulting.
- Ensured project schedule, scope, and budget targets were achieved through early and regular involvement of key stakeholders and frequent replanning cycles to verify correct feature prioritization.
- Cultivated best practices by negotiating funding for attendance by department members at premier technical conferences and university-level training courses.
- Guided local research organization in culture change, embracing Agile practices through training, mentoring, and project consulting support.
- Promoted “outside-in” innovation by coordinating global university collaborations for software engineering and artificial intelligence / machine learning research topics.
Process Improvement Specialist Jun 2000-Mar 2006
Served as member of ABB Software Process Initiative (ASPI) team chartered with improving SW development maturity company-wide.
- Directed and supported global process improvement efforts at product development sites worldwide using CMMI as reference model and IDEAL as organizational improvement model, contributing to achievement of CMMI levels 2, 3, and 4 at 5 development sites.
- Launched process improvement programs at > 10 development sites by leading and participating in Class B and C CMMI appraisals to diagnose gaps in CMMI-SW maturity.
- Increased on-time delivery, product quality, and customer satisfaction by coaching site leaders and teams in change management concepts, including planning, executing, and gaining commitment to process improvement programs.
- Sharpened and maintained product roadmap focus and improved effective use of R&D funds by rolling out Stage-Gate Model globally through training, mentoring, assessor support, and serving as Gate Model point of contact for all US product development and research sites
- Increased value and quality of ABB intellectual property portfolios by guiding business units in identifying potential patents, monitoring competitor technologies / patent applications, managing division patent portfolios, and developing forward-looking patent strategies
- Established and maintained company-wide software engineering knowledge base, enhancing standardization of product development artifacts and promoting reuse across business units.
- Heightened organization’s engineering reputation by spotlighting and sharing product development practices globally as company representative to Fraunhofer Institute-sponsored Software Experience Consortium (SEC).
GENERAL DYNAMICS (formerly GTE Government Systems), Raleigh, NCProcess and Control Manager/SW Engineering Manager/Lead SW Engineer 1987-Jun 2000
- Process and Control Manager - Reporting directly to the site manager, directed the activities of a 15-person department consisting of site CMM-based software process improvement, software quality assurance, software configuration management, ISO 9001 registration maintenance, software tool development, and metrics collection/analysis.
- SW Engineering Manager - Performed project and people management of a 55-person software engineering team which successfully developed 350K SLOC for the $72M Integrated System Control (ISYSCON) network management program. Monitored and achieved cost and schedule goals for the $6M/year Integrated Network Management System (INMS) program.
- Lead SW Engineer - Designed, implemented, and tested graphical user interface components for the INMS program.
Education
- Master of Science (MS), Electrical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
- Bachelor of Science (BS), Electrical Engineering (Computer Science option), University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
Publications/Honors
2018 : “Overcoming the Challenges of Agile for Globally Distributed Industrial Research” (INSIGHT Practitioners Magazine, Volume 21, Issue 2)
2014 : “A Model to Measure Organizational Readiness for Software Process Improvement” (9th International Conference on Software Technologies (ICSOFT))
2010 : “A Ten Year Journey to Software Process Improvement” (SEI SEPG Conference)
2008 : “Experiences with a Geographically Distributed Class C+ Appraisal” (NDIA CMMI Conference)
2007 : “Comparing and Contrasting the PP and PMC Process Areas of CMMI v 1.2 and Scrum” (NDIA CMMI Conference –
best presentation award)
2007 : “Assessing Organizational Change Readiness” (SEI SEPG Conference)
2006 : “CMMI Opens the Gate: The Practical Relationship between CMMI and Stage-Gate® Decision Models” (NDIA CMMI Conference)
2005 : “A Change Agent in a Level 1 Organization; How to survive in a hostile environment” (SEI SEPG Conference)
2004 : “Coordinating Process Improvement in Multiple Geographically Dispersed Development Organizations” (NDIA CMMI Conference –
best presentation award)
