{"id":31427,"date":"2021-10-19T11:00:22","date_gmt":"2021-10-19T15:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/?p=31427"},"modified":"2026-03-26T06:23:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T10:23:24","slug":"meet-the-team-nicholas-amato","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/meet-the-team-nicholas-amato\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Team \u2013 Nicholas Amato"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From classic cars to a career in CFD <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs engineers we love new challenges and with all these different customers it never gets boring.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>Nicholas Amato<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"Nick<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Simcenter portfolio would be nothing without the fantastic engineers that strive to continually develop and improve them. In this new series, we are taking the opportunity to get to know some of them a bit better and find out what makes them tick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First up is Nicholas Amato, Simcenter Engineering Services Manager. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did you first develop an interest in engineering?<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When I was growing up my dad was really into classic cars \u2013 hot rods, muscle cars, that kind of thing. He\u2019d always have a car in the garage that he was working on, and I used to help him out. I was hooked pretty much straight away. I guess I was just really curious to understand how these machines worked. This curiosity progressed to studying engineering when I was older. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, you studied engineering at college? What was the progression from college to a career in engineering like?<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

My undergraduate degree, and then later my graduate degree, were both in mechanical. Whilst I was studying for my first degree I had a part-time job at Blockbuster Video, which was fun. I then thought it might be a good idea to try to get some engineering experience before I graduated. It was actually my mom who saw a job advert for mechanical engineers at CD-adapco. After applying, I went on to interviews and was fortunate enough to get hired. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I started working part-time for a gentleman named Fred Ross. Fred is now the Director for Simcenter solutions for Automotive and Transportation, Siemens Digital Industries Software.  I was responsible for running a series of tests for each new version of the software STAR-CD.  That was my first exposure to CFD and what it could do.  It was a great experience for me whilst I was studying and once I graduated I went full time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What was the industry like when you first started? Has it changed a lot since?<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I think it\u2019s always changing but it was a particularly transitional time when I graduated in 2004, at least at CD-adapco. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ was a brand new product the company was rolling out and due to my position, I was working with Fred on testing it.  It was a huge learning experience for me but in a way, it was ideal. I was learning on the job it opened a new opportunity for growth.  I started looking for more responsibilities and was fortunately given the opportunity to move to the Engineering Services team.  Due to my experience, I was able to help train the team to transition from the previous software, STAR-CD. I developed training materials and helped migrate processes over to the new software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most engineers who\u2019ve come into the industry will study CFD either as part of their undergraduate or graduate degree before they come and work for a company like Siemens. Eventually, I studied CFD in my graduate degree but that was ten years after I started working in the industry! I guess I was in the right place at the right time to get in as early as I did. I started working for CD-adapco before I left college. Working my way up from a project engineer through to senior and then lead engineer. When the company was acquired by Siemens in 2016 a management position opened up which I was fortunate enough to get. I\u2019ve been running this team and our projects ever since. <\/p>\n\n\n\n