Portfolio & Work History
of Kurt Foster


Updated March 6th, 2024:
I'm open to new job opportunities in the Sparks-Reno area.
Currently a resident of Sparks, Nevada.


Here is a copy of my Resumé.pdf



2023 - Present

Repair and Maintenance Technician

HP Inc. · Full-time short-term contract with Kforce Inc.

Repairing industrial automated systems.

• Editing and troubleshooting PLC ladder logic and command language programs
• Determining root cause analysis of circuitry, control panels, and mechanical systems
• Following through with timely repairs, updates, and documentation of issues resolved
• First responding troubleshooter diagnosing a wide variety of electromechanical issues
• Participating in the development of maintenance and operational documentation of equipment
• Evaluating spare part needs and use available systems to warehouse and track inventory/availability
• Interpreting mechanical drawings, schematics, printouts, specifications, and test procedures
• Ensuring measuring/diagnosing instruments are calibrated and verified on a regular basis
• Working with my fellow Technicians and Engineers on resolving issues by communicating effectively and ultimately managing our tasks for efficent completion

2021 - 2023

Automation Systems Technician

Automated Hydroponic Technologies, ABN · Full-time

Gravity-fed nutrient dosing for hydroponics.

Utilized my automation experience to design, build, and test a UL-compliant consumer appliance that combined the potential of microcontrollers and industrial automation technology into a greenhouse product that could ideally sustain a hydroponics farming operation for years, if not decades, without major repairs required.

Responsibilities:

• Testing components at an individual level, keeping track of performance measured
• Translating custom CAD to real world results, and constant iteration through the issues
• Taking the relevant safety precautions with machine start up, shut down, and troubleshooting
• Continuous improvement of design, as it progresses from test bed to prototype
• Updating ladder logic to fit individual component testing, and associated wiring changes
• Creating accurate analysis of data recorded, in order to optimize machine output in performance

Direct-tasks:

• Adhering to UL standards of electrical design practices in prototype construction
• Created electrical, fluid, and mechanical drawings for assembly of fixtures & prototypes
• Used a variety of hand tools for assembly and construction of electro-mechanical systems
• Developed CAD and 2D engineering drawings for component fabrication and assembly
• Used continuous improvement for design to lower cost, increase quality of automated devices
• Programmed and wired PLC and microcontroller devices for real-time process control
• Used a variety of hand tools: WAGO Variocrimp, self-adjusting wire stripper, heat-guns, tap & die sets, metal jig saws, and other common shop tools
• Electrical wiring involving 3.3VDC to 120VAC for powering pumps, valves, and associated electrical equipment, all organized to be functional, safe & user friendly

Open-sourced Showcase:

2018 - 2021

Equipment Maintenance Technician

Tesla, Inc. · Full-time Direct hire

Powertrain Manufacturing equipment repair.

Applied technical skills to install, maintain and repair high speed high volume mechanical and electrical systems, factory automation and robotics.

Work history:

➥ Equipment Maintenance Technician II

• First responding problem-solver managing machine breakdowns and full recovery
• Diagnosing machine faults and laying out plan to execute repair or escalation procedure
• Electrical systems ranging from 24VDC to 480VAC 3-phase
• Repaired automated machinery, requiring full knowledge of the functional operation
• Communicated with supervisors and managment for fast repair execution
• Talked with production associates on production ergonomics and improving machine output
• Trained other Level 1 Maintenance Technicians on repair and maintenance tasks

Jan—Feb 2021 • 2 mos.
Model 3 Drive Unit, Final Assembly

Oct—Dec 2020 • 3 mos.
Model 3 Drive Unit, Test Line & Raven Line

➥ Equipment Maintenance Technician I

• Diagnosed equipment failures and suggested improvements to process engineering
• Prevented 500+ drive units from fallout (est. $3.6mm+ savings according to Sr. Process Engineer)
• Repaired automated machinery, requiring full knowledge of the functional operation
• Mentored production associates on equipment updates and safe throughput
• Replaced required mechanical and electrical components of production equipment
• Acted with the first intent being on creating a safe working environment for everyone

Jan—Jul 2019 • 7 mos.
Model 3 Drive Unit, Test Line

Sep—Dec 2018 • 4 mos.
Model 3 Drive Unit, Final Assembly

Jun—Aug 2018 • 3 mos.
Model 3 Battery Module,
Clamshell Current Collector Attach
Graduated 2018

Linn-Benton Community College
AAS, Industrial Automation Technology

Graduated June 2018

Spring 2018

Automation Technician Intern

Andrews Cooper, Inc. · Part-time

Built custom manufacturing equipment.

• Kept high-level attention to detail when fabricating/assembling complex robotic machinery
• Drilled, tapped, fastened components for industrial electrical panels and pneumatic panels
• Wired control panels using electrical diagrams, red-lined issues and reported to engineering
• Stripped, crimped, assembled, MIL-Spec multi-pin connectors (up to 56-pin)
• Followed work procedures associated with procurement for timely machine assembly
Spring 2018
Bearing Project Image

Bearing Supply, Sorting, and Placement Machine

Linn-Benton Community College · Part-time

Operation of the machine is for rejecting short-width bearings and accepting a tall-width bearings. The tall bearing would then be picked up and placed into a bearing housing on a conveyor line. The system uses five electrically actuated directional control valves to power five pneumatic cylinders and requires twelve sensors for operation.

If the viewport doesn't load correctly, Click Here to open PDF externally.

Fall 2017
Wafer Handling Project Image

Automated Parts Transfer System

Linn-Benton Community College · Part-time

During my second year as a Mechatronics student at Linn Benton Community College, I developed and assembled a prototype version of an automated process that involved communication between two Arduino's and a Programmable Logic Controller. Utilized two dual-axis (rotational and linear acting) wafer handling machines which were used as robot arms. The concept image is a possible route for where this project could take the next steps.

If the viewport doesn't load correctly, Click Here to open PDF externally.

Graduated 2017

Philomath High School
Standard Diploma

Graduated June 2017


Summer 2016
Bike Frame Project Image

Aluminum Mountain Bike Frame

High School Senior Project · Part-time

I designed, built and tested a fully functional 6061 Aluminum Mountain Bicycle Frame. Some of the challenges included: learning to TIG weld aluminum, reverse engineering of bicycle frame components, project scope and aesthetics.

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2014 - 2016

Truss-style Newtonian Telescope

Personal Hobby Project · Part-time

Hobby project buliding a smaller 8" aperture version of the legendary Obsession Telescopes. Since I was 14-years old when I started this project, I needed some guidance, so I consulted Kreige and Berry's book, The Dobsonian Telescope.

Clicking the telescope image will bring you to a CAD model I drew up on the PTC OnShape platform that accurately matches the size of the telescope components. This CAD model however is not yet complete, as doing this can be very time consuming. It's currently lacking a primary mirror cell in the CAD and much of the components of the secondary cage.

• Annealed telescope optical blanks with 1800°F kiln
• Reverse engineering of existing plans to fit specific size requirements
• Utilized a CNC wood router for side rocker construction
• 100+ hrs hand grinding the telescope mirror
• Extremely stiff frictional bearing mounts for altitude and azimuth axis control
• Tight dimensional tolerancing of wood/metal structures
• Materials used: plate and borosilicate glass, marine grade plywood, birch plywood, aluminum, and steel
• Mechanical skills: trigonometric calculating for truss design, cantilever loading


If the viewport doesn't load correctly, Click Here to open PDF externally.