Aaron McDaniel

With 15+ years in hardware, research, and design development, I combine mechanical, product, and design engineering expertise with a passion for innovation. I thrive in cross-functional teams, working with product managers, industrial designers, and software and hardware engineers to deliver scalable, customer-centric solutions. My expertise spans hardware design, mechanical architecture, system-level design, and project management, with a focus on new initiatives and user-centric solutions. From concept to production, I ensure technical excellence, manufacturability, and alignment with product and organizational goals. I’ve led 12+ hardware initiatives and contributed to 12+ successful products across startups, consultancies, and large corporations. With 25+ patents, I’m committed to driving innovation and solving complex engineering challenges. If you're seeking a versatile hardware leader, let’s connect. Skills Technical Expertise -Mechanical Design & Architecture: End-to-end hardware development, system-level design, and component engineering. -CAD Tools: Skilled in SolidWorks, PLM systems, and detailed engineering documentation. -DFM/DFA: Expertise in design for manufacturability and assembly, scalability, and tolerance analysis. -Prototyping & Testing: Rapid prototyping, functional testing, and FEA simulations. Innovation & Problem-Solving -Intellectual Property: 25+ patents, driving IP strategy and development. -Emerging Technologies: Experience with RFID, and AI/ML in hardware systems. -Complex Systems Engineering: Solving interdisciplinary challenges across domains. Leadership & Collaboration -Cross-Functional Collaboration: Aligning hardware design with product, software, and research teams. -Project Management: Scheduling, design and technical review writing, risk mitigation, and delivery. -Mentorship: Leading and mentoring engineers to foster innovation. -User-Centric Design: Partnering with industrial design and UI teams to create innovative, intuitive products that balance technical constraints with customer experience Manufacturing & Production -Processes: Injection molding, CNC machining, sheet metal, additive manufacturing, etc. -Supplier Management: Managing global suppliers for prototyping and production. -Product Lifecycle: Comprehensive experience from concept to mass production.