WELCOME
I am a proactive problem solver and
first-principle based thinker.
My mission is to enable new product development by asking the right questions early on,
and to empower the creation of defect free, user-friendly functionality that can easily scale.
I am a proactive problem solver and first-principle based thinker.
My mission is to enable new product development by asking the right questions early on,
and to empower the creation of defect free, user-friendly functionality that can easily scale.
A.S. (Engineering)
2003 - 2006
Completed all lower division coursework
at a commnunity college while working full time.
Frequently held best grades in engineering courses.
B.S. Applied Physics
2006 - 2009*
Frequently ranked among the top ten public universities in the nation.
Concentrations: Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering
Senior Thesis: Closed Loop Control Systems
* Qualified to walk in 2009 UCI commencement ceremony
Entered workforce during recession | Prioritized gaining experience
Completed remaining two courses in subsequent years
“The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know.” - Albert Einstein
EDUCATION
College is where I learned how to learn.
Passing courses like quantum physics and statistical thermodynamics gave me the confidence that I can learn anything.
Choosing applied physics showed me the balance required between theoretical and real-world application.
Related Coursework
Single-Variable Calculus | Multi-Variable Calculus | Linear Algebra | Differential Equations | Statistics
Newtonian Physics | Quantum Mechanics | Relativity | Statistical Thermodynamics | Electromagnetic Theory
Materials Science | Fluid Dynamics | Programming | Electronics | Circuit Analysis | Machine Theory | Control Systems | Robotics
Statics | Dynamics | Machine Shop | Welding | Computer Aided Drafting | Chemistry
* Qualified to walk in 2009 UCI commencement ceremony | Entered workforce during recession | Prioritized gaining experience
Completed remaining two courses in subsequent years
EXPERIENCE
14 Years Experience | Deployments to 6 Continents | Billions of $ of Equipment Controlled | Decades of Incident Free Runtime
2009 - 2023
TechnipFMC | UCOS Controls & Automation
TechnipFMC is a global leader in the energy industry with over 20,000 employees. UCOS (User Configurable Open System) is TechnipFMC's software based controls platform.
After hiring on at Control Systems International in 2009, I played a vital role in our acquisition by FMC Technologies in 2012, which then merged with Technip in 2017 to form TechnipFMC.
During my tenure at TechnipFMC, I have been the proud creator/originator of many high stakes automation & control applications. Lately, I find that I add the most value by enabling others.
Controls
Engineer
2009 - 2012
Applications
Manager
2012 - 2016
Product
Responsible Engineer
2016 - 2021
Senior
Systems Engineer
2021 - 2023
Role | Scope | Job Description
Enabling latest generation of engineers by sharing hard-learned best practices.
Standardized applications enable engineer based configure to order projects.
One-off control system projects based solely on customer specific requirements.
Integrated systems configured during runtime by unspecialized technicians.
Hover over a role above to see more about it's related scope and job description.
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Lead in the creation of algorithm based user-friendly, real-time, fault-tolerant, embedded control systems for the energy industry.
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Collaborate with a team of programmers to advance the functionality within a proprietary software based controls platform.
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Define and execute fomal test procedures at all levels including software, hardware, unit, system, and integration.
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Globally standardize and package funcitonality into applications that enable configure-to-order project deployments.
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Lead a team and create an environment of collaboration, professionalism, and excellence (mission statement).
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Take solutions from concept to commissioning using self created milestone based execution plans.
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Assist in the definition of software architectures and development tools that positively impact engineer productivity.
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Lead innovation strategy to ensure systems can easily scale and be configured during runtime by unspecialized technicians.
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Mentor engineers in best practices on various topics including customer experience, reliability, safety, and per-deployment cost reduction.
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Be globally responsible for complex products comprised of hardware, software and configurations.
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Collaborate with a team of engineers to develop and seamlessly integrate various applications.
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Collaborate with product managers and field service technicians to enable successful deployments.
TechnipFMC is a global leader in the energy industry with over 20,000 employees.
UCOS (User Configurable Open System) is TechnipFMC's software based controls platform.
After hiring on at Control Systems International in 2009, I played a vital role in our acquisition
by FMC Technologies in 2012, which then merged with Technip in 2017 to form TechnipFMC.
During my tenure at TechnipFMC, I have been the proud creator/originator of many high stakes automation & control applications. Lately, I find that I add the most value by enabling others.
PROJECTS
“A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open.” - Frank Zappa
Increased
Safety
Less Redzone Operations
Reduced
Operator Mistakes
$1,000,000+ per wireline cut
Reduced
Operational Costs
30+%
Increased
Customer Satisfaction
Safe | Reliable | Savings
Generated
Sales
$10,000,000+
Application Creator
Frac Pad Automation (CyberFrac)
CyberFrac is the intelligence backbone of TechnipFMC's iComplete system.
It automates the hydraulic fracturing process, reduces the transition time between
standby > wireline > frac phases, and helps to prevent cutting wireline.
The application monitors and controls hydraulic accumulators and valves.
It uses intrinsically safe balance stem monitors installed within the red zone for
valve position feedback and enforces valve interlocks based on critical data
including availble hydraulic pressure, fluid level and active tree phase.
Personally designed/assembled/wired original control panels, developed original
controls database and presented to TFMC Board of Directors/CEO.
Created and executed test procedures, generated operation manuals.
Led the original field trials with Chevron at a live site in the Permian Basin.
Developed runtime configruable one-click phase transition valve sequencer.
Increased
Professionalism
Formal Documentation
Reduced
Operational Costs
Configure to Order
Increased
Customer Satisfaction
Quality | Ease of Use
Generated
Sales
Most Profitable App.
Application Creator | Global Standardization Lead
Master Control Station (MCS)
The UCOS MCS application monitors & controls subsea fields consisting of
trees (well heads) and manifolds residing on the seabed. Each tree is rated for
pressures up to 15,000 psi, temperatures up to 400 F and depths to 10,000 ft.
A single field capable of producing $ millions in hydrocarbons per day.
Application includes monitoring/control of Hydraulic Power Units (HPU),
subsea power & communications, downhole sleeve valves, downhole
interface (DHI) cards, discrete valves, step actuated chokes, e-actuators, etc.
Includes redundancy, Graphical User Interface (GUI), user managment,
alarm management, historical data storage, reporting, trending, interlocks,
emergency shutdown sequencing and valve signatures.
Lead/only UCOS engineer for pre-salt projects ($1.5B contract | 100+ trees)
Innovative
Solution
Simplifies Complex Operations
Increased
Customer Satisfaction
Quality | Ease of Use
Generated
Sales
Most Profitable UCOS App.
Functionality Creator
Multi-Phase Pump Control (MPP)
The UCOS MPP functionality monitors & controls two
helico-axial 2 MegaWatt pump modules that reside on the seabed.
Each pump is capable of providing 7,500 psi in artificial lift.
Cascade Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) control is used to optimize performance
while also enabling minimum flow protection, torque control and load sharing.
Application includes PT/TT monitoring, VFD control, recirculation line choke control,
and discrete valve control.
Pumps are started and stopped using a carefully prescribed sequence.
The industrial fault tolerant controller works to keep each pump operating within
a dynamic 3D operational envelope whose boundaries are defined by the live
gas-to-liquid ratio and pump suction/discharge pressures.
Functionality Creator
MCS to DCS Interface Standardization
MCS to DCS Interface Standardization (MDIS) is a collaboration between all major
energy companies to standardize the interface between an MCS, which monitors &
controls subsea equipment, and the topside rig control system (referred to as the DCS).
As the lead UCOS engineer, I served on the global MDIS panel, enabled a succesful
interoperability test between all DCS vendors. I also developed the first ever
MDIS deployment database for Statoil/Equinor, which included comprehensive
design specifications, test procedures, and customer witnessed acceptance tests.
The UCOS MDIS functionality utilizes OPC UA and well designed logic
to enable full monitoring/control from the DCS while severely reducing both
the required integration time and probability of configuration errors.
Industry
Leading
First Ever Deployed System
Reduced
Integration Time
Template Based Configuration
Improved
Quality
Type Based Point Configurations
Functionality Creator
Lease Automated Custody Transfer (LACT)
A LACT enables custody transfer between an upstream producer and the
midstream oil/gas company responsible for storage and transportation.
It is essentially a sales pump with ability to reject non-merchantable product.
Personally developed controls database, test procedures, operation manuals.
Conducted first customer witnessed FAT (SKID included) with Shell.
As the first fully runtime configruable UCOS application, it monitors and controls pumps,
basic sedementation & water meters, sample pots, diverter valves and flow meters.
It will automatically switch product from a sales line to a reject line if it is deemed
unmerchantable and uses a software based flow computer to apply a meter factor and
pressure/temperature compensation to define the API gross standard volume (GSV).
It also generates a ticket which acts as a Bill Of Latency (BOL).
Innovative
Solution
First Ever Runtime Configurable
Reduced
Lead Time
User Definable P&ID | Cause & Effect
Improved
Quality
Test Once | Deploy Many
Project Creator
PMM Test Bed Automation
A Permanent Magnetic Motor (PMM) has many advantages due to its
windings around the fixed stator instead of the moving/brushed rotor.
The FMC Technologies PMM test bed was essentially a dynomometer
used to qualify large 2MW motors slated for offshore oil/gas production.
The same motors were later used/controlled in the UCOS MPP application.
As the only automation engineer assigned to the project, I worked side by side
with the facility operators, collected and generated requirements, developed,
tested, commissioned and supported project.
Project included monitoring and control of transformers, 3 Phase Siemens VFD,
induction motors, gear boxes, torque meters, cooling systems, vibrations,
fire suppression, load banks and the bearings/end turns/stator of the PMM itself.
Cause & effect logic was used to enabled safe testing and data collection.
Project Advisor
Emissions Control (eMiss)
"E-Mission™ utilizes process automation, wireless instrumentation and
machine learning to monitor and control vapor pressure in real-time.
By re-evaluating how and where we want to apply or remove heat, and lower
pressure, we can maximize oil production and minimize greenhouse gas
emissions based on the changing conditions of the well and weather." - TechnipFMC
I served as a project advisor and worked to support the UCOS application.
I worked side by side with related project engineers to shed light on best practices
that enable quality functionality that is both runtime configurable and scalable.
Participant Engineer
Next Generation Automation (NGA)
Proud to have been selected to contribute to TechnipFMC's
global Next Generation Automation initiative.
Allthough UCOS ultimately was not selected to be used.
Many trips to Norway for collaboration workshops.
Wrote my own SPI driver to control stepper motors and
developed/presented prototype subsea valve control system.
Many More...
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Intervention & Workover Control System (IWOCS)
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Field Recorder Product Responsible Engineer (PRE)
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Flow Research and Test Center Automation (FTRC)
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United States Bureau of Reclimation (USBR) Dasalting Plant
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Multi-Phase Flow Meter (MPFM)
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Advanced Oil Stabilization (AOS)
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Modular Automated Processing System (MAPS)
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Tank Level Monitoring (TLM)
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Terminal Automation Modernization
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Alaska Pipeline
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Drinking and Waste-Water Treatment (City of Phoenix)
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Natural Gas Compression & Distribution
As a physics major practicing engineering, I believe in first principle based solutions where good design is combined with engineering.
I work best on a team where members complement each other and prioritize advancing the art over just advancing their own careers.
I thrive under pressure and have learned to use my OCD tendencies as an advantage. To me"good enough" is never good enough.
Jan 2023 - Current
CrossnoKaye | Senior Technical Product Manager
EXPERIENCE (continued)
TESTIMONIALS
2021 Driving Change Award Recipient
iComplete | Innovative Approach & Solution
TechnipFMC company wide award
I worked with Brad in a newly created team to spearhead global standardization on subsea production system app called Master Control Station (MCS) very early in my career. As I leave the company almost 8 years later, there is no doubt that Brad was and continues to be one of the best things our team had to offer.
Brad was my first manager as a full-time employee, and I regard him as an unofficial mentor in many ways. Not only did he teach me Industrial Control principles, but he also showed me how to keep a team motivated and engaged.
On the technical side, Brad has an incredible eye for detail; he went into every nook and cranny of our control system platform UCOS to uncover efficiencies and propose solutions to urgent issues. He was the first one to submit bug reports with videos edited with annotations and narration to developers, which inspired me and others to do the same. He distills a lot of technical info into animated engaging presentations to his peers and upper management. He is very resourceful, finding and learning to use third party tools to compliment in-house software when needed many times. He also had a clean record for on-time delivery.
On the leadership side, he sat down with the team and worked to get a mission statement that I still remember today. Before then, I thought mission statements were cheesy, but he showed me how to do that the right way to do it. I came to work motivated every week because Brad was able to distill our purpose and take us with him in the process. He always supported my career growth and always made sure I was doing something that I find interesting and aligned with my personal goals. A couple of times he organized all-hand meetings for me to showcase my beta projects to the rest of the team which was great! I think his combination of caring, supportive, sincere, and clear guidance attributes makes him one of a handful truly outstanding leaders I’ve met, even after so many years.
"There is no doubt that Brad was and continues to be one of the best things our team had to offer...
Brad was my first manager as a full-time employee and I regard him as an unofficial mentor in many ways.
Not only did he teach me Industrial Control principles but he also showed me
how to keep a team motivated and engaged."
Carlos Cordova Alvarez, CA
""
Thiago Machado | Lead Pressure Pumping Engineer | TechnipFMC
Nathaniel Ramsey | Field Operations Manager | TechnipFMC
"I have witnessed Brad put in tremendous effort and commitment
to making the Chevron Automated Frac Pad field trial successful.
He has been a great partner for the Surface business...
and without his dedication the field trial would not be possible."
TechnipFMC Elevating Excellence Award
Sobitha Gunatilleke | UCOS Surface Operations Manager | TechnipFMC
"Excellent job at the Board of Directors presentations in San Antonio.
It was a short timeline given the setup that had to be completed
with multiple Surface applications. Appreciate the extra effort for the demo
while advancing the automation programming within the applications."
TechnipFMC Elevating Excellence Award
"I have had the pleasure of working with Brad in various contexts.
His commitment, technical skills and positive attitude were my first impression about him.
Brad was always open for new ideas and to discuss technical solution
and also for providing feedback after evaluation and tests...
I learned a lot with him and I`m extremely grateful for that experience."
Bruna Santos | UCOS Subsea Manager | TechnipFMC
I have had the pleasure of working with Brad in various contexts. First time I met Brad was in 2012 when our companies merged and I was his internal client. Our first project together was huge - full package comprised of $1.5 billion in labor and equipment - and there was a great level of complexity, volume and development ongoing. His commitment, technical skills and positive attitude were my first impression about him. Brad was always open for new ideas and to discuss technical solution and also for providing feedback after evaluation and tests. I learned a lot with him and I`m extremely grateful for that experience. We were able to deliver the project on time and on budget and we together achieved a great milestone to install all Subsea automation on Petrobras Pre Salt Fields and define an important standard for the main and biggest Oil and Gas operator in Latin America. That was only possible because we established an efficient communication flow, great level of trust and sense of belonging to ONE single team. I`ll never forget this experience and Brad was a key person responsible for this huge achievement.
Jeff Whitmore | Director of UCOS Controls & Automation | TechnipFMC
"As a constant high performer, its challenging to single out activities that set you apart from your peers.
However, your recent '11th-Hour' heroics where you diligentlyworked through the weekend
to apply the input configuration to avoid liquidated damages is a shinning example!"
TechnipFMC Elevating Excellence Award
I had the fortune of working with Brad shortly after joining the Surface Digital Product Management team and faced the daunting task of learning a new control system as well as the Upstream Production Industry. Brad is one of those individuals with the rare trait of being able to seamlessly shift from discussing big picture strategic vision, road map, end goal to the level of minute detail required for code and logic development. Working with someone with his knowledge of Physics, control logic methodology, and intimate knowledge of advising the Core Product teams development through multiple generations of a control system was a singular experience for me, in over 15 years working in automation.
I cannot sufficiently stress the strategic advantage of someone who can operate simultaneously in blue-sky ideation and the nuanced detail of code development (where were going and how to get there). It was impressive to work with Brad, weaving the art of the possible while keeping us grounded through his understanding of time and resource demands each decision point placed on the projects. Brad is the quintessential renaissance man: ingenious, thorough, a selfless teammate and teacher.
"I had the fortune of working with Brad shortly after joining the Surface Digital Product Management...
Brad is one of those individuals with the rare trait of being able to seamlessly shift from discussing big picture
strategic vision, road map, end goal to the level of minute detail required for code and logic development.
Working with someone with his knowledge of Physics, control logic methodology...
was a singular experience for me, in over 15 years working in automation."
Collin Gallagher | Surface Digital & Controls Product Manager | TechnipFMC
"Brad proactively reached out and offered his knowledge and experience as a mentor.
Brad actively engaged with young engineers and helped them
expand their knowledge of controls and software engineering.
This included detailed training and hands-on support."
Arthur Weiner, CA
I worked with Brad when I joined the UCOS Surface Operations team at TechnipFMC. Brad proactively reached out and offered his knowledge and experience as a mentor. Brad actively engaged with young engineers and helped them expand their knowledge of controls and software engineering. This included detailed training and hands-on support in PID control theory and tuning strategies, quantitative analysis of complex valve and actuator operations and strategy, and implementation for protective responses to potential process hazards.
"In 26 years of my career with TechnipFMC I have met many smart engineers.
Brad Deemer was the special one --- the brightest engineer I have worked with..."
Emir Kapic | Senior Software Engineer | UCOS Product Development
In 26 years of my career with TechnipFMC I have met many smart engineers.
Brad Deemer was the special one... the brightest engineer I have worked with.
What separates Brad from the rest was his ability not only to create state of the art UCOS and HMI projects but help me as a developer by actively communicating his own analysis while working on UCOS; he identified and suggested numerous features in UCOS that needed improvement. Brad also created myriad of tools utilizing best practices for the rest of the team to improve efficiency and product delivery.
HOBBIES
Hover over any image to read more about it.
CONTACT
Controls & Automation
Mastery
Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition (SCADA) | Distributed Control System (DCS)
Communication Protocols | Modbus | Profibus | CANBus | ProfiNet | EtherIP | OPC
Boolean Based Logic Control Schemes | Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)
Cause & Effects | Interlocks | Permissives | Sequencing | P&IDs | IO Lists
Intuitive Graphical User Interface (GUI) Development | User Management | Privileges
Historical Data Storage | Reporting | Trending | Alarm Generation & Management
Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) Control | Tuning | Feedback Mechanisms
Safety (SIL) | Reliability | Redundancy | Voting | Fail Safe Enablement | Asset Integrity
Process Optimization | Machine Learning | Automated Testing
State Engines | Operational Modes | Retentive Setpoints | Look Up Tables
VFD Control | Duty Cycling | Valve Signatures | Hydraulics | Pneumatics
Metering (PD/DP/Ultrasonic/Coriolis/Turbine/etc) | Instrumentation | Sensors
Custody Transfer | Flow Computer Design | Ticketing | API Standards
Industrial Panel Design | Wiring | Termination | Hardware Troubleshooting
NEMA Standards | Ingress Protection (IP) | Mimic Panel Design
Emergency Shutdown (ESD) | Hierarchy | Execution Philosophies | Trip Conditions
Hazardous Area Classifications (CxDy) | Intrinsically Safe Hardware Design
Survival Training | Helicopter | Offshore | FracPad | Fire | Escape | Site Certifications
Product & Engineer Development
Expert
Product Management
Estimation | Gap Analysis | Scope Definition | Strategy | Design | Development
Testing | Field Trials | Deployment | Maintenance | Support | Defects | Features
Agile (new product development) | Waterfall (established product deployment)
Sales & Marketing
Board of Directors/CEO Level Presentations | Customer Sales Presentations
Training
Engineer Development & Training | YouTube Based Training Videos
Documentation
Design Specifications | Control Narratives | Test Procedures
Reports | Release Notes | Operation Manuals | Fast Facts
Fundamentals
Mastery of Microsoft Office tools including Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, Word, Teams
Wheelhouse
Capable of scaling an established product.
Best suited for new product development and enabling fellow engineer success.
Computer Sciences
Expert
Requirement Definition | Feature Requests & Prioritization | Defect Reports
Quality Control | Version Contol | Configuration Management | Interoperability
Backwards Capability | Installed Base Management | Software Roadmaps
Intermediate
Software Design & Development | Software Architectures
Object Oriented Programming | Relational Databases | Structured Query Language (SQL)
Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) | Computer Networking | OSI Model
Domain Controllers | DHCP Servers | Domain Name System (DNS)
Network Time Protocol (NTP) | IPs | Ports | Gateways | Subnets | UDP | TCP
Local / Wide Area Networks (LAN/WAN) | Virtual LANs | Network Troubleshooting
Network Security | Firewalls | Routers | Switches | Bridges | Repeaters
Windows | Linux | Command Line | Terminal Services | Remote Desktop Protocol
Programming (C/C#/C++) | Scripting
Security | Encryption | Zlib Data Compression | Store & Forward
Virtualization | Kubernetes | Containerization
SKILLS
“Without knowledge action is useless, and knowledge without action is futile.” - Abu Bakr
I believe that skills (the ability to do something) are earned, and that true knowledge is best demonstrated, not explained.
Therefore, I adhere to the "learn by doing" philosophy where you continually develop your own skills by making, but not repeating, mistakes.
ABOUT ME
Looking back now, I know I was always meant to be an engineer.
I was born with an innate curiosity... one that that led me to disassemble
all of my toys to see how they worked (sorry mom and dad).
Growing up, I was lucky to have a dad and grandpa who seemed to know how to do it all.
They gave me the confidence to try anything, embrace the failures, and push on.
Over the past decade I have discovered that the most innovative products are created
when open minded engineers and leaders collaborate in a people centered environment...
one where excellence is the main focus and continuous growth is always promoted.
While I am tremendously proud of the work I have done thus far in my career,
I am confident that my best work is yet to come.
More than anything, I am looking to work on a high performing team while
contributing to something bigger than myself!
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife, son and two dogs.
I also like creating personal projects, traveling, and any activity outdoors.
"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail Better."
Samuel Beckett
Customers Served
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