What Most Can Only Imagine, We Engineer

Mark Smithers, a founding member of Boston Engineering, leads the company’s strategic development activities. He oversees the project management operation for the business and leads activities for the company’s technology/IP creations. Mark combines his experience as a systems engineer and innovator with business expertise to help guide customers towards commercialization success.

Mark’s previous experience includes serving as director of engineering for Herbst LaZar Bell, Inc., as program manager for MPM Corporation, as project design engineer for Foster-Miller, Inc., and as design engineer for Daymarc Corporation. Mark holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Northeastern University in Boston.

He is a former chairman of the New England SEMI Group, a charter member of the MassTLC Robotics Cluster, a member of AUVSI New England, a member of the New England Innovation Alliance, and a member of the MassMEP board of directors.

“Our success is directly measured by client success and the impact we have on the world, on society, and on people.”

Kristin Treiber serves as Boston Engineering’s human resources manager. She oversees the recruiting, interviewing, and hiring of new employees. Kristin also consults with senior managers on strategic planning, and serves as a link between the organization’s management and its employees.

Prior to joining Boston Engineering, Kristin served in senior finance and human resources positions for organizations including the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Works and ASEC Corporation.

Kristin holds a bachelor degree in finance from Simmons College.

“Supporting our most valuable asset – our people.”

Michael Rufo joined Boston Engineering in 2007. He is the founder of the firm’s Advanced Systems Group (ASG). Michael spearheads the company’s R&D and military robotics programs including the development of platforms, sensing and payload systems, and modular control electronics and software. As a principal engineer, he also provides technical direction to government research and development contracts related to mobility and uncrewed systems, robotics, and related enabling technologies.

Michael contributes extensive experience involving underwater, uncrewed and autonomous systems, and automation equipment. His experience includes serving as principal investigator and project manager of systems for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

Michael is a member of IEEE Robotics and Ocean Engineering societies. Michael holds bachelor and master degrees in mechanical engineering, and a certificate in project management from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Since joining Boston Engineering in 1999, Gaetano Fichera has led the successful design, development, and integration of numerous products for clients. His efforts involve developing and overseeing programs with an industrial and electronics focus. Guy’s career has been centers on custom circuit design involving analog and digital circuitry. He provides an in-depth knowledge of power supply, temperature and motor control design, and embedded systems. Guy is skilled in developing innovative, economical solutions that meet or exceed customer needs.

Guy also developed the FlexMC Motor Control Development Platform™, a rapid development system for any motor control solution. Boston Engineering is Analog Devices’ exclusive motor control design partner in North America and Europe.

His previous experience includes providing hardware design for Sanders, a Lockheed Martin Company (now BAE Systems). Guy holds an electrical engineering degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and an MBA in technology management from Babson College.

“Guy takes pride in developing innovative, economical solutions that meet and exceed client needs.”

Heather Moyer applies product development and commercialization experience that spans applied R&D, engineering and system integration, testing and validation, and iterative product/process improvement. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with significant experience in leading complex projects and collaborating with technical teams to deliver value and achieve tangible outcomes.

In her previous roles, Heather was the Managing Director of a small engineering firm providing custom hardware and software solutions for data acquisition, signal processing, automation, and process monitoring and control. Heather secured and led a successful Phase II Small Business Innovation Research project to develop a biofidelic slip tester to meet a new standard for measuring shoe-floor coefficient of friction and inform interventions to mitigate slips and falls. Prior to that, Heather served as the Program Director for the National Defense Center for Energy and Environment. In this role, she managed a portfolio of projects focused on the development, evaluation, and transition of emerging technologies and sustainability solutions to the defense industrial base. She has also provided leadership for various strategic initiatives in additive manufacturing, augmented/virtual reality, energy storage, and cybersecurity in advanced manufacturing.

Education

Heather received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Engineering Design from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA. She also received an Executive MBA from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA.

Jose Vazquez’s public sector career includes nearly 15 years leading technology development programs that advance capabilities for U.S. soldiers and first responders. The commercialization of more than a dozen defense and security products reflects Jose Vazquez ’s ability to combine product innovation and usability.

As a director at both the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T), Jose Vazquez drove rapid spiral technology development and worked closely with users to optimize new products for their operational requirements.

During his two decades of U.S. Navy service, Jose Vazquez held engineering and weapons systems responsibilities that culminated as second in command of an AEGIS cruiser. Jose also operated, maintained, and fielded engineering, communications, and advanced computer systems during his U.S. Navy career.

Jose holds a B.S. degree in physical science from the U.S. Naval Academy, and an M.S. degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in applied science (underwater physics).

His professional recognition includes receiving the secretary of Homeland Security Excellence Award for fielding technologies.