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OUR TEAM

Our people make decarbonization easy.

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Leadership

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Colin Huwyler

Founder/CEO

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Colin is a veteran of the renewable fuels industry. Prior to becoming CEO of Optimus, he founded Fossil Free Fuel and was previously the Director of Research and Technology at Steel City Biofuels.

 

Colin holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a certificate in Entrepreneurial Leadership from Carnegie Mellon University. He is also a co-inventor on several Optimus patents.

 

In his free time, Colin enjoys building, playing soccer, and pursuing outdoor activities such as riding his motorcycle and mountain biking.

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Jon Ewing

Co-founder/Head of Engineering & Production

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Jon is responsible for Optimus' engineering and operations teams. He is the co-inventor for many of the Optimus patents, including The Vector System.

 

He received his BS in Mechanical Engineering and Material Science from the University of Pittsburgh and spent four years in an Army Special Operations Unit. Jon would rather focus on fueling for the transportation sector above ground on US soil than fight for oil dominance in foreign wars.

 

He enjoys the challenges of his job and the camaraderie of the team. In his free time, Jon likes cycling, archery, and spending time with family.

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Kirk Roller

VP of Commercialization

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Kirk is responsible for the commercial aspects of Optimus’ business including managing the sales team, customer success, and partnerships. He holds a BBA from University of Texas at Austin.


He was drawn to Optimus as the company announced 500 trucks on the road at the end of 2023. The need for carbon reduction has never been greater. The value proposition at Optimus allows most companies the lowest cost option for serious carbon reduction.

 

Outside of work Kirk enjoys spending time with his family and getting out for an occasional fly fishing trip.

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Gavin Crain

Head of Finance

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Gavin is responsible for keeping track of all the debits & credits and dollars & cents into and out of the company. With over 20 years of experience as an accounting professional and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh, he is well suited for the job.

 

All his efforts support the carbon emission reduction goals that Optimus has set and his hopes to leave the world a little better than he found it.

 

When Gavin isn’t working at Optimus, he can be found spending time with his family, playing disc golf, hiking, snowboarding or whitewater kayaking somewhere just outside of Pittsburgh, PA. 

The Team

Our team is passionate about helping our customers decarbonize their operations without any interruptions. We are made up of talented engineers, go-to-market pros, and operators who work together to push the boundaries of what's possible and make a positive impact on the world. 

It's fun to do good. Join us. 

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Ananth Palaniappan

Mechanical Engineer

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Chris Waite

Assembly Technician

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Chris Hipwell

Mechanical Engineer

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Cole White

Field Diesel Technician

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David Aliberti

Technical Projects Lead

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Donnie Lawrence

Assembly Technician

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Dontae Robinson

Accounting Specialist

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Ed Davis

Production Manager

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Eren Sengun

Senior Mechanical Engineer

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Gabe Clymer

Assembly Technician

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Gina Lamia

Field Service Technician

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Harper York

Project Support Specialist

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Jason Via

Buyer

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Jess Bala

Assembly Technician

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Joey Lynch

Field Operations &
Service Manager

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Johanna Seminario

Account Executive

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Josh Singler

Mechanical Engineer

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Karl Thomas

Account Executive

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Kate Gaunt

Office Manager

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Katie Crandol

Internal Projects Lead

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Kevin Smyth

Senior Mechanical Engineer

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Matt Homman

People Ops Lead

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Matt Kiley

Engineering Manager

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Matt Ross

Customer Success Manager

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Maximillian Marchioli

Mechanical Engineer

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Mike Kennedy

Lead Engineer
Engine Platforms

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Mitesh Deshpande

Mechanical Engineer

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Monté Wells

Assembly Technician

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Reese Hawk

Mechanical Engineer

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Rick Davis

Field Service Technician

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Roberta Afrifa

Customer Projects Lead

Careers at Optimus

Passionate about reducing carbon emissions? Want to be an important part of creating the future of sustainable transportation? Reach out.

 

Whether you're interested in engineering, working on diesel engines, go-to-market, or more, there are exciting opportunities available to join our team of passionate individuals who are dedicated to creating a better world.

Still Looking for More Information?

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