Company
PanOptimization addresses the current simulation and optimization needs of the AM market: to dramatically improve simulation accuracy, to simulate parts of extreme geometric complexity, and to not just predict print outcomes but to improve/optimize them. We license the PanX solver which is critical for enabling effective manufacturing and design across a variety of AM industry segments, including Aerospace, Defense, New Space, Energy, and Automotive.
A stable presence in the industry; our business is run entirely on PanX licensing revenue. We do not accept (let alone depend on) outside funding , making us accountable not to investors, but to our end-users.
We are headquartered in State College Pennsylvania, just across the street from Penn State’s CIMP-3D Lab. Our network of employees, contractors, resellers, and partners spans the globe.
Leadership and Key Personnel
Pan Michaleris, Ph.D.
C.E.O. and C.T.O.
Pan Michaleris founded PanOptimization LLC to develop and commercialize process optimization solutions for Advanced Manufacturing. In 2012, he founded Pan Computing LLC which was acquired by Autodesk in 2016. The additive manufacturing process simulation software CUBES developed by Pan Computing was commercialized as Netfabb Simulation. Dr. Michaleris became Sr. Software Architect at Autodesk and supervised the development of additive manufacturing simulation software until 2021. He has over 40 years of experience in high performance computing and thermo-mechanical process modeling such as additive manufacturing, welding and thermal forming. He has a Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, and has worked as a senior research engineer at Edison Welding Institute (EWI) from 1994 to 1997, and as professor at the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering of The Pennsylvania State University from 1997 to 2016. He has coauthored over 100 technical papers – with over 10,000 citations and an h-index 49, one book on Minimization of Welding Distortion and Buckling, one book on Thermo-Mechanical Modeling of Additive Manufacturing and one book on Additive Manufacturing with Metals. He is a Highly Ranked Scholar – Lifetime (top 0.05%) and is ranked 20th in the 3D printing category.
Erik Denlinger, Ph.D.
C.O.O. and Chief Engineer
Erik Denlinger co-founded PanOptimization LLC where he currently serves as Chief Operating Officer. His work focuses on validating and commercializing process optimization solutions for Advanced Manufacturing. Prior to joining PanOptimization he was a stakeholder and engineer at Pan Computing LLC. After the acquisition of Pan Computing LLC by Autodesk he became a Principal Research Engineer and Manager of Additive Process Simulation at Autodesk, where he also served as Product Owner of Netfabb Simulation and the Fusion 360 Additive Simulation Extension. He has over a decade of experience investigating thermal and mechanical effects during AM processing and validating Finite Element models of Laser Powder Bed Fusion and Directed Energy Deposition processes. He holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Penn State University and has coauthored over 20 technical publications, including the ASM Handbook on Additive Manufacturing Processes and a book on Thermo-Mechanical Modeling of Additive Manufacturing.
Tyler Nelson, M.S.
Distinguished Engineer
Tyler Nelson joined PanOptimization LLC in 2023 as a Principal Engineer and was promoted to a Distinguished Engineer in 2026. He previously worked at the GE Research Center (GRC) and GE Aviation in the areas of process modeling, software development and design. His research focused on simplifying additive process modeling and developing software for iterative geometry compensation and improved part buildability. He was the primary developer of the SimComp platform in use as a standalone software package at GE Aviation as well as powering the compensation portion of the GE Additive Amp platform. He has over 10 years of finite element analysis and process modeling including additive manufacturing, welding, thermal and structural analysis. He has a MS in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University and holds several patents relating to model-based geometry compensation and re-coater clearance optimization.
David Lupia, M.S. EE
Senior Executive VP, Business Development Sales GTM.
David joined the PanOptimization team in 2026, bringing over 30 years of experience in engineering, program management, and international business development. Having spent his career at industry leaders such as Raytheon, Honeywell, L3Harris, GE Aerospace, and Synopsys, David is still an engineer at heart with numerous patents to his name. His record of accomplishment includes capturing nearly $2 billion in business and leading high-level pursuits for critical programs such as NGAD, FLRAA, Launch Vehicle Avionics, and MRBM targets. This extensive background is supported by a deep expertise in ITAR regulations and proposal management. Throughout his career, David has partnered with many of the world’s most advanced organizations, including DARPA, NASA, United Launch Alliance (ULA), Boeing Phantom Works, and Lockheed Martin Skunkworks. At PanOptimization, his blend of technical foundation and strategic experience is vital as we continue to push the fringe of mathematics in additive manufacturing simulation technologies.
Daniel Bartilson, Ph.D.
Principal Computational Mechanics Engineer
Daniel Bartilson joined PanOptimization LLC in 2025 as a Computational Mechanics Engineer. Before joinning PanOptimization, he spent several years developing a range of simulation software for Alta Dynamics, Inc., including structural, acoustic, and multiscale composite material modeling. He also worked for a major U.S. defense contractor where he contributed new capabilities to a high performance coupled structural-acoustic simulation software. Daniel holds a Ph.D. from the Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics department at Columbia University.
Evan Butcher, M.S.
Principal Engineer – Additive Manufacturing
Evan Butcher holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, and holds 50+ patents. He has over 14 years of mechanical engineering and metal powder bed fusion additive manufacturing experience. Most of his career has been in a research and development role, focused on design for additive manufacturing software tools, while working at a prime aerospace and defense contractor. The majority of his hands-on experience relates to designing additive manufactured prototype hardware, where build simulation played an important role in achieving successful functional hardware. He is a jack of all trades at home with personal hobbies including guitar, video games, car and yard equipment maintenance, and keeping up with his two boys.
Juls Scott
Operations Manager
Juls Scott joined PanOptimization in 2025 as Operations Manager. She has also been the Operations Manager for spotLESS Materials Inc. since June 2022. Juls has 15 years of experience from Penn State University as the administrative coordinator and assistant to the Department Head of Mechanical Engineering. Prior to joining Penn State, she was the Branch Manager of a heavy equipment parts and service business for one of the oldest Berco importers in the U.S. Juls offered an abundance of experience ranging from parts and supply management, manufacturing and production, fleet management, all aspects of human resources, finance, travel, itineraries, sales and customer service, organizational change management, process analysis, and policy matters involving OSHA, and the EPA. She previously worked in retail banking as an assistant manager with extensive knowledge in sales lead generation, goal setting, establishing employee reward and discipline programs, and a proven track record of positive employee management. Juls also has experience in advertising, negotiating contracts, and graphic design.
Peter Rogers
Global Sales
Peter Rogers is an additive expert in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. Peter began his career in AM as Global Sales Director role at Kabuku Inc where his business development lead to a total of $10mil+ in venture capital fund-raising. At Autodesk, Peter was the head of the AM cohort and was the regional product specialist from 2016 to 2022. He served as APAC regional director of business development at Velo3D, working with all of the major manufacturers in APAC on delivering high value solutions. He graduated from Swinburne University of Technology (Australia) International Business / Arts double degree, and has lived in Tokyo for 16 years. His strong industry presence earned him the nomination for Community Advocate of the Year award in 2021 at the 3D Printing Awards.