Adam Tokarski, 35
Lead Engineer – New Product Development
FS-Elliott
Export, PA, United States
What Makes Adam an Engineering Leader
Adam has established himself as both a technical expert and an engineering leader. Over the past year, he has led concurrent product design, development and testing efforts while guiding the New Product Development team through demanding technical challenges and aggressive project schedules.
Adam combines deep expertise in rotor dynamics and bearing design with a continuous-improvement mindset, consistently driving innovation and technical excellence. Through his leadership, problem-solving skills and commitment to delivering high-quality products, he has made a significant impact on his organization’s success and the development of those around him.
Leadership & Industry Contributions
After being promoted to lead engineer for new product development, Adam successfully transitioned from an individual contributor to a technical player-coach for the team. During one of the group’s most challenging periods—the design of a new compressor platform—he helped maintain team focus, coordinate technical efforts across multiple disciplines and keep project objectives moving forward despite competing demands.
Adam consistently encourages collaboration, mentors fellow engineers and steps in to take on additional work when needed to support the team. His leadership has helped strengthen overall performance, improve cross-functional communication and foster a positive, results-driven environment where engineers are empowered to do their best work.
Adam actively supports future engineers through his involvement in university capstone projects, sponsoring and guiding senior engineering students as they solve real-world engineering challenges. He also participates in job-shadowing opportunities, mentors students and early-career engineers, and shares practical knowledge that exposes them to manufacturing and product-development environments. Internally, Adam serves as a key technical resource and mentor, developing engineering talent while promoting continuous improvement and innovation throughout the organization.
Why Adam Chose This Career
Growing up, Adam was the kid who always wanted to know how things worked. For him, LEGO bricks and remote-controlled cars were less about playing and more about figuring out what made them tick.
His father fielded plenty of questions along the way, and his grandfather, an engineer himself, had a talent for making mechanical concepts click. By the time college arrived, engineering was not so much a decision as the obvious next step. That same curiosity—and just as many questions—continues to drive Adam today.
