Dr. Nils Perzborn

I have held several positions in the management at ZF in the recent years. Since 2024 I am Engineering Manager for the Actuators and Steering Systems NVH in Germany. I am responsible for several locations and teams within total 20 young and as well experienced engineers. From our Düsseldorf location I report into our global testing organization. I am responsible for the strategic development, budget management and planning and performance monitoring for the German NVH teams.

It is important to me to ensure a networked team and generate the highest value from every member while ensure a high level of technical ability. We responsible for the cross functional acoustical optimization and validation within ZFs chassis development. Our mission is to ensure an exceptional user experience for all our products.

The challenge is to find technical solutions within budget and in time for highly complex problems with interdependencies. Here we deal with hardware, electronic and software aspects in an ASPICE compliant development process. It requires well-structured analyses to reach a detailed root cause understanding for a targeted problem solving within a cross functional environment.

Furthermore, I am also involved in several research projects and I am strongly committed to the development of new strategies for future challenges in mobility and new products as Steer-by-Wire, particularly with a crosswise link between simulation and analysis. This also includes the standardization and development of processes to meet the requirements of electric and autonomous vehicles.

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Starting in 2014 with the team lead of 7 NVH engineers the foundation brakes development at ZF.  We enable our foundation brakes products to achieve customer and field acceptance by development and testing of noise measures.  In addition to ensuring a timely and cost-effective solution finding I had to develop the team of young and as well experienced Engineers in order to be able to meet the given requirements and to use the right methods efficiently. 

Beginning 2018 I started to build and manage a NVH team and test facility in Czech Republic with the target to develop global capabilities to ensure best possible and optimized processing.

In 2019 I was given the role of coordinating and managing the NVH activities for the “One Box” brake control systems development and application in Europe.

In 2021 I had the chance to take over the roll as head of the NVH team for electronic steering and brake control systems in Düsseldorf.  The big challenge was to re-strengthen the team and build up state-of-the-arte development and validation capabilities. I had to integrate the work in the used process landscape and re-established an integrated and sought-after expert team with clear delivery focus.

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Before joining ZF, I have built up and lead the measurement technology department at a research institute. Starting from almost zero, by sustainable developing and growing the team, we were able to realize and successfully operated numerous measuring instruments and -systems. I was responsible for the budget planning and project management as well as for the project acquisition.

In 2014 I finished my Doctoral Thesis with the title:  Development and Realization of a Tribometer for Investigations of High-Load Contacts.

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From 2002 to 2008 I studied industrial engineering at the Technical University of Braunschweig with specialization in automotive engineering, controlling and finance.

In my diploma thesis, I designed, programmed and tested a control system for an autonomous driving vehicle. In addition to the in-depth insights into automation and software development, it was exciting to see how a self-created control software lets a car drive on its own. 

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First experience in the industry especially in the automotive production I could gain in several internships e.g. at Volkswagen Slovakia. As part of my work in the product management there, I was involved in the production quality engineering and the SOP planning.