Adam Tarleton
About Adam Tarleton
Adam Tarleton is the Head of Vehicle Validation at Nikola Motor Company, leading the validation efforts for BEV and FCEV since 2021.
Current Role at Nikola Motor Company
Adam Tarleton currently holds the position of Head of Vehicle Validation at Nikola Motor Company. Since October 2021, he has been leading the company's validation efforts for both Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV). Based in Phoenix, Arizona, he is responsible for overseeing the full vehicle validation process across Nikola's commercial vehicle platforms. Tarleton leads a cross-functional engineering team to ensure that all vehicles meet the stringent quality and performance standards required for commercial success.
Previous Experience at Nikola Motor Company
Before becoming the Head of Vehicle Validation, Adam Tarleton worked as the Sr. Manager of Vehicle Verification & Validation at Nikola Motor Company. Although his tenure in this role was brief, lasting only three months in 2021, it provided him with crucial insights and experience that he now applies in his current position. During this time, he began developing and refining processes critical to the successful validation of Nikola’s vehicle lineup.
Professional Background at PACCAR
Adam Tarleton has significant experience from his tenure at PACCAR, where he held multiple positions. From 2019 to 2021, he served as the Powertrain Validation Engineering Supervisor for Transmissions & Electrification in Mount Vernon, WA. Prior to that, he was a Powertrain Validation Engineer for Transmissions and Alternative Fuels from 2015 to 2019. His work focused on the validation and engineering of powertrain systems, including alternative fuels and electrification, enhancing PACCAR’s offerings in these critical areas.
Early Career and Other Roles
Adam Tarleton began his professional journey in the engineering field in various roles. He was a Mechanical Design Engineer at Kenworth Truck Co. from 2011 to 2015, based in Kirkland, WA. Prior to this, he worked as a Design Engineer at Consolidated Metco from 2009 to 2011 in Vancouver, WA. His earliest role was as a CNC programmer at Heath Tecna in the Bellingham, WA area, where he worked from 2008 to 2009.
Educational Background
Adam Tarleton has a robust educational background that supports his extensive career in vehicle validation and engineering. He earned his MEES - Master's in Engineering Engine Systems from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he studied Plastics Engineering/Automotive Engineering from 2017 to 2020. Prior to this, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Plastics Engineering/Automotive Engineering from Western Washington University, completing his studies between 2005 and 2009. He also holds an Associate's degree in Universal Transfer from Skagit Valley College, earned from 2003 to 2005.