
Joshua A. Tolbert, Ph.D., P.E.
Dr. Tolbert is a licensed professional engineer with extensive hands-on experience and a strong academic foundation, specializing in nuclear energy and power generation. His exceptional ability to communicate complex technical concepts makes him a trusted expert in advancing innovative nuclear solutions and collaborating with diverse audiences.
Practice Areas
Equipment Failures
Product Liability
Product Defects
Design Errors
Manufacturing Errors
Failure Analysis
Laboratory Testing
Non-Destructive Testing
Inspection
Finite Element Analysis
Accident Analysis
Plant Systems
Automotive
Trucks
Railroads & Trains
Elevators
Industrial
Heavy Machinery
Manufacturing
Marine Vessels
Explosions
Codes & Standard Violations
Safety
Security
Enviromental
Safety Devices
Safety Guards
Fitness for Purpose
Subject Areas
Power Generation
Hydraulics & Pneumatics
Machine Design
Automotive
CNC Machinery
Industrial Facility Design
Residential Construction
Industrial Construction
Manufacturing
Welding & Fabrication
Machine Tool Operations
Testing & Experimentation
Accident Reconstruction
Experience
Expert Engineering Consultant: Atlanta Experts
January 2010 - Present
Expert consulting engineer in a variety of subject areas.
VP of Engineering: Last Energy
October 2019 - October 2022
Oversee and direct all technical related matters for the development of a small-scale nuclear power plant with a novel approach to dramatically reduce the time and cost of construction. Build engineering department, provide technical business development support, present technical safety case to international regulators, and support fundraising for series A and series B fundraising rounds. Engineering disciplines include mechanical, electrical, instrumentation & controls, civil, structural, simulation, nuclear, piping, CAD and more.
Technical expertise in industrial plant any system design, equipment selection and specification including pumps, valves, heat exchangers, tanks, etc., civil and foundation design, structural analysis, safety design and review, hazard analysis, probabilistic safety assessment, simulation tools (FEA, CFD, CAD, lumped parameter models), instrumentation & controls, automation, maintenance analysis, cost analysis, and more.
Owner/CTO: Analytics Cubed
October 2019 - October 2022
Develop industrial monitoring and analytics systems to track performance, maintenance requirements and failures of equipment. Analyze equipment performance to develop appropriate measures to track, monitor and record. Identify needs in various industries including power, pulp & paper, chemical, petroleum, district energy, etc. Solve chronic plant maintenance and safety problems. Field testing and analysis of existing processes systems. Select sensors, hardware and equipment to enable monitoring and tracking. Integrate data recording with online cloud platform to enable remote monitoring of data. Design and build dashboard for review and analysis of data.
Technical expertise in PLC programming, instrumentation & controls, data analysis, equipment analysis, industrial automation, systems engineering, fans, pumps, compressors, industrial automation, crushers, conveyers, and more.
Assistant Professor: Kennesaw State University
January 2018 - December 2019
Instruct classes and labs for the subjects of statics, thermodynamics, machine tool, welding and fabrication, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, and computer aided-drafting and design. Serve as faculty advisor for Formula SAE team.
Technical expertise in statics, thermodynamics, machine tool, welding and fabrication, metrology, geometric dimensioning & tolerancing (GD&T), CAD, SolidWorks, manufacturing, and more.
Contractor: Self-Employed
March 2017 - August 2019
Construct new residential structures in the greater Atlanta area. Ensure design and construction consistent with applicable codes and standards. Develop plat plans, floor plans, structural plans, electrical plans, plumbing plans, framing plans, etc. Support inspections by the AHJ (authority having jurisdiction) for approval. Purchase and sell residential property.
Technical expertise in all forms of residential construction including framing, plumbing, electrical, foundation, concrete, roofing, HVAC, masonry, plat plans, inspections, codes & standards, and more.
Chief Technology Officer: Practical Steam
May 2013-February 2017
Develop industrial steam power generation product including design, development, manufacturing, testing and commercialization. Physically support the manufacturing, assembly and testing of machines. Perform safety and maintainability analysis. Support fundraising efforts and give technical presentations to a variety of audiences.
Technical expertise in machine design, thermodynamics, steam systems, fluid flow, welding & fabrication, machine tool, oils & lubricants, control panels, structural analysis, instrumentation & controls, hydraulics, pneumatics, piping, valves, sensors, energy analysis, CAD, codes & standards, and more.
Project Engineer: Engineering Driven Solutions
May 2013 - February 2019
Develop hydrostatic drive system for operation of rotating industrial machinery including fans, pumps, compressors, conveyers, crushers, rollers, etc. Design hydraulic system and select components. Develop, design and construct control system. Integrate and manufacture systems for an industrial facility. Design, construct and test full-scale industrial fan system experiment utilizing radial blade, centrifugal fan.
Technical expertise in machine design, fluid flow, welding & fabrication, machine tool, oils & lubricants, control panels, structural analysis, instrumentation & controls, hydraulics, piping, valves, sensors, energy analysis, CAD, codes & standards, fans, pumps, compressors, conveyers, crushers, shredders and more.
Product Development Engineer: Tosyali International
September 2012-May 2013
Develop new products including the ideation, design, manufacturing and commercial production. Program CNC machinery and industrial automation equipment. Design and develop manufacturing process from automated feed of raw material, through processing, machining, assembly, packaging and shipment.
Technical Expertise in CNC programming, automation, machine tool, CAD, medium to high volume mass production, parametric programming, and more.
Design Engineering: Tolbert Performance Engineering
December 2008 - September 2012
Dynamic analysis of rotational-inertial systems. Design and manufacturing of complex assemblies including welding & fabrication, machine tool, assembly, instruments & sensors, electrical systems, hydraulic systems, data acquisition, control systems and safety systems.
Technical expertise in dynamic analysis, static analysis, structural analysis, welding & fabrication, machine tool, hydraulics, machine design, safety systems, instrumentation & controls, safety systems, automation, codes & standards, and more.
GK-12 Fellow: National Science Foundation
August 2010 - April 2012
Research technical subjects including testing and experimentation. Design experiments consistent with standards. Test water and install solar powered lights in remove village of Peru, South America. Instruct algebra, physics and chemistry classes to high school students in Sumter County School System.
Technical expertise in machine design, testing, experimentation, internal combustion engines, hydraulic systems, power systems, systems engineering, and more.
Graduate Instructor: University of Alabama
January 2010 - May 2010
Instruct senior level mechanical engineering courses and laboratories. Design, develop and supervise engineering experiments.
Technical expertise in machine design, testing, experimentation, hydraulic systems, pneumatic systems, fluid flow, heat transfer, thermodynamics, instrumentation & controls, and more.
Design Engineer: Drummond Company
May 2010 - August 2010
Design rear gate along with counterweights, bearings, hydraulic pumps & cylinders for apron feeder (apparatus for loading trucks with coal or overburden). Calculate and confirm material quantities required for construction projects. Create and revise AutoCAD drawings of structures to be constructed at Mina Pribbenow in Colombia, South America. Visit Mina Pribbenow in Colombia, South America.
Technical expertise in machine design, machine elements, hydraulics, civil engineering, construction engineering, quantity estimations, CAD and more.
Design Engineer: Northrop Grumman
May 2008 - August 2008
Implement troubleshooting procedures for the Machinery Control System (MCS) on the LHD8 amphibious watercraft – USS Makin Island. Order tests of the MCS by the United States Navy. Review and update mechanical and electrical drawings. Disassembly, inspection, and recording of internals of Data Acquisition Units (DAUs) abord the USS Makin Island. Receive naval architecture training and education.
Technical expertise in control systems, power systems, systems engineering, CAD, and more.
Residential Contractor: Self-Employed
May 2006 - December 2009
Remodel, repair and construct residential dwellings. Read and develop floor plans. Physically perform tasks related to framing, concrete, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, masonry, excavation, etc.
Technical expertise in all forms of residential construction including framing, plumbing, electrical, foundation, concrete, roofing, HVAC, masonry, etc.
Automotive Technician: Self-Employed
May 2006 - December 2009
Perform maintenance and repair of automobiles.
Technical expertise in all forms of automotive repair including engine, transmission, drivetrain, electrical, HVAC and more.
Constructor and Fabricator: Tolbert Construction
May 2002 - August 2006
Fabricate and weld structures for residential, commercial and industrial applications. Physically perform various tasks of residential construction including framing, concrete, foundation, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, masonry, excavation, roofing, etc. Operate heavy machinery including bulldozer, excavator, backhoe, dump truck, tractor, skid steer, etc. Maintenance and design of HVAC systems. Repair and maintain heavy equipment and machinery. Create and update floor plans.
Technical expertise in all forms of residential construction including framing, plumbing, electrical, foundation, concrete, roofing, HVAC, masonry, etc. Heavy equipment operation & maintenance, HVAC design & maintenance, and CAD.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering
University of Alabama, 2015
Dissertation: Design, Theory, Development and Testing of a New Form of Steam Power Generation - The Practical Steam Engine.
Master of Science, Mechanical Engineerinig
University of Alabama, 2012
Special Project: Refrigeration Cycle for Temperature Control of Intake Air Charge of an Internal Combustion Engine.
Master of Science, Engineering Science & Mechanics
University of Alabama, 2012
Special Project: Thermal and Mechanical Fatigue of a Vehicle Mounted Heat Exchanger.
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
University of Alabama, 2009
Special Project: Electric Powered Moon Vehicle.
Certifications
Professional Engineer
State of Washington - License No. 55372
State of Georgia - License No. PE042134
State of Alabama - License No. PE52275
Qualified Fan System Specialist
Department of Energy, Certificate No. 151, Issued Aug 2011
Qualified Process Heating Specialist
Department of Energy, Certificate No. 260, Issued December 2012
Fundamentals of Erosion & Sediment Control
Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission, Issued 2019