Christopher Wessel
About Christopher Wessel
Christopher Wessel is the Lead Vehicle Program Manager - FCEV at Nikola Motor Company, with a background in mechanical engineering and business administration.
Lead Vehicle Program Manager at Nikola Motor Company
Christopher Wessel currently serves as the Lead Vehicle Program Manager for FCEV at Nikola Motor Company. Since 2022, his role has involved managing vehicle programs with a specific focus on fuel cell electric vehicles. His responsibilities presumably encompass overseeing development timelines, coordinating between different teams, and ensuring the successful execution of vehicle projects.
Professional Experience in Vehicle Development
Before his current position, Christopher Wessel held multiple roles at Nikola Motor Company and Navistar Inc. He served as a Program Manager at Nikola for 5 months in 2022 and as a Senior Engineer from 2020 to 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. At Navistar Inc, he worked as a Senior Product Development Engineer for truck seating from 2018 to 2020 and as a Product Development Engineer for overhead storage from 2016 to 2018, both roles based in Lisle, Illinois.
Educational Background in Business and Mechanical Engineering
Christopher Wessel achieved his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from DePaul University - Charles H. Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, focusing on Business Administration and Management, from 2018 to 2020. He also holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, completed from 2013 to 2016. Additionally, he studied Liberal Arts and Sciences at Harper College from 2011 to 2013.
Early Career and Academic Involvement
During his academic tenure, Christopher Wessel held key roles in several significant projects. He was the Manufacturing Lead for the Hyperloop Team at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, participating in the SpaceX Competition from 2015 to 2016. He also led the manufacturing effort for Harper College's USLI NASA Project from 2012 to 2013.
Cross-Functional Team Collaboration
Christopher Wessel has valuable experience working with cross-functional teams across various countries, including Mexico, India, and China. This experience was particularly notable during his tenure at Navistar, where he focused on interior systems for heavy trucks. His involvement in these international collaborations highlights his ability to manage and coordinate complex engineering projects on a global scale.