Cai-Syuan (Sally) Chang

Sally's Bio

Cai-syuan (Sally) Chang is the lead Project engineer that has been supporting the Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) program for the past 4.5 years for the engine starting system in Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC). In her current role, Sally works as a multi-function engineer, including project engineer, system engineer, procurement engineer, mechanical design engineer and customer support engineer.

Sally received her bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from National Taiwan University (NTU). Before her current work in AIDC with the AJT program, Sally also had experience working as a R&D engineer for silicone 3D printing technical development. After some time developing 3D print technology, Sally found a role supporting the AJT program. Starting as a beginner in aerospace industry, Sally took responsibility immediately in charge of the development of the engine starting system and successfully delivered a compact and satisfactory design for the AJT program.

As a project engineer, Sally works with program office, manufacturing, test cell, and logistics, to make sure the engineering development can meet the overall program schedule. It includes contacting international suppliers, identifying program risk, making manufacturing plan, ground and flight test plan and solving technical issues. This position makes her well familiar with the overall product development process, from the very beginning to the last of production. 

As a system engineer, Sally is responsible for establishing the system schematic, defining system functions and making sure the system performance meets the specifications. In order to accomplish the foresaid working items, Sally works with multiple function groups, including structure group, electrical group, thermal group and power group, to ensure the system interface is all under control. To confirm the system performance, Sally also manages performance analysis, system tests and releases the design reports and test reports.

As a procurement engineer, in addition to supplier survey, the work of RFI, RFP, Sally establishes procurement documents, such as specifications, statement of work and data deliverables. She also participates in contract negotiation and provides support from engineering aspect. Weekly meetings and periodical design reviews with international suppliers are the routine for her to monitor the contract performance and procured product design and delivery.  

As a mechanical design engineer, Sally has also spent time on 2D/3D CAD design, such as pneumatic tubes, structure supports and exhaust ducts. CATIA is the modeling software used to generate the 3D model and the 2D drawings for detail parts, assembly drawings and the installation level drawings. During the design process, Sally continuously coordinates with the manufacturer to implement design for manufacturability (DFM) and to improve manufacture/assembly quality. 

As a customer support engineer, Sally provides engineering support for customer field issues of the in-service engine starting system on the IDF fighter program. Sally contributes to the success of multiple RCCA investigations to improve fault isolation procedures, increase time between unscheduled removals, and ultimately increase customer satisfaction.

Since the AJT program has completed its design and development phase with successful roll out and flight test, Sally believes it is time to move on for next project in her career. Though the aircraft may be different product from the next challenge, the product development process and methodology in aerospace could still be a valuable reference. Sally believes her experience as a multi-function engineer can be contributive and looks forward to taking the challenge and getting more achievement in the world leading field.