Pedro Neto is a control and automation engineer from Maceió, Brazil, with a bachelor’s degree from Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. He brings a robust background in control systems, with particular expertise in microelectronics hardware and low-level programming. In 2024, Pedro joined Dr. Ali Emadi’s research team at the McMaster Automotive Resource Centre (MARC) to pursue advanced research in motor control, building on five years of hands-on experience in the electric mobility industry.
Full Profile
Pedro Neto began his engineering journey in 2019 at Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, one of Brazil’s leading institutions. Early in his undergraduate studies, he joined the university’s Baja SAE team, where he found his footing in automotive embedded systems. During his first year, he contributed to the development of the vehicle’s central units and electronic subsystems. At his first national competition—with over 70 teams competing—Pedro earned top marks in the electronics system presentation.
That early success opened the door to an opportunity at Voltz Motors, Brazil’s leading electric motorcycle company at the time. Brought on to help build the research and development team from the ground up, Pedro worked closely with global suppliers and was responsible for designing embedded hardware and firmware for core motorbike components. In the fast-paced startup environment, he also led the development of the company’s connected ecosystem—creating a mobile app and technical infrastructure that linked more than 2,000 electric bikes. The success of this project played a key role in securing a $23M CAD investment.
After three years at Voltz, Pedro moved into a new role with Stellantis North America, joining the company as a software quality process engineer. There, he helped develop and design the workflows and standards of the automotive software, to ensure there were zero defects in the car’s components. His work required a broad understanding of organizational structure, cross-functional teams, and supplier systems to streamline development and uphold software quality across the board.
In 2024, Pedro took the next step in his career by joining CERC@MARC under the supervision of Dr. Ali Emadi. Now a master’s student at McMaster University, he is channeling his industry experience into motor control research. His work focuses on developing controllers for switched reluctance and permanent magnet synchronous machines, involving low-level programming, real-time control implementation, and hardware-in-the-loop testing. Through MARC’s industry partnerships, Pedro is continuing to bridge practical innovation with research, contributing to the next generation of electric mobility systems.
