Aaron Mcdaniel Email & Phone Number

Seattle, Wa, Us

Seattle, Wa, Us

Led hardware development for emerging products within the JWO Technology group, focusing on creating seamless, AI-driven shopping experiences. Delivered multiple hardware innovations, taking concepts from ideation to production while driving cross-functional collaboration and technical excellence.JWO RFID Checkout Lanes:- Spearheaded the development of an industry-first, frictionless checkout solution using RFID, sensors, and AI. Scaled the project from an unfunded concept with three contributors to a fully-funded product line with over 80 team members.- Directed initial hardware R&D, prototype development, and system integration. Defined test plans, hardware architecture, system requirements, and physical designs.- Authored detailed engineering specs, CAD models, and drawings for contract manufacturing. Led onsite issue resolution, ensuring the pilot's success.- Designed and patented Gen 2 innovations, including the electro-mechanical detailed design of rotating tech pole assembly integrating RFID antennas, wireless access point, lighting, and cameras. Completed design, analysis, testing in under six months for production release.- Defined hardware vision and IP strategy, securing four patent applications and driving two hardware generations to production.Gen 3 Smart Shopping Cart Charger:- Directed the development of a next-gen cart charger for the 2025 smart cart release. Led a team of four engineers in rapid design iterations, testing, and prototype builds. Delivered a patent-pending solution aligned with product goals.Hardware R&D & Innovation:- Championed the integration of UHF RFID, computer vision, and AI technologies into store systems, developing and testing four distinct architectures in collaboration with research, software, hardware, and product teams- Authored five feasibility studies and secured 10 patents across six system architectures, resulting in the funding of three new initiatives.

Seattle, Wa, Us

- Managed hardware development for the JWO store variable weight initiative, fulfilling a critical demand from Amazon Fresh Store businesses. Innovated four distinct hardware solutions, with two solutions currently deployed, integrating in-store PC weight scales and camera tracking. Additionally, conducted a successful pilot of RFID sensor and camera tracking integration. Responsibilities encompassed RFID sensor post system architecture definition, mechanical part and assembly detailed design, and test setup and cordination. -Identified and executed the plan to technologically enable existing store refrigerators for the installation of JWO shelf sensors, resulting in the creation of a comprehensive blueprint for suppliers, retrofit processes, and custom cable raceway retrofit hardware utilized in current refrigerators.-Led the transition from custom to Joint Development Manufacture (JDM) on tech-enabled ambient fixtures, achieving a 78% cost reduction and enabling scalability to new store formats. This involved supplier selection, evaluation, and driving the development of 45 unique parts, now installed in all 100+ JWOT stores. Received a patent for wall-mounted cable housing assemblies used.

Seattle, Wa, Us

Lead R&D engineer on next generation sous vide maker, a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled kitchen appliance. Researched a new method of motor-less water mixing taking it from an idea to working prototype with pitch to investors.

Seattle, Wa, Us

Product development consultant specializing in mechanical engineering. Lead engineer on three products and mechanical engineer on over a dozen. Products I was the lead engineer on include: A new high end cookware product line with over 30 SKU from concept to production. Two different medical device trainers with a combined 100,000 EAU and worldwide distribution from concept to production. A medical diagnostic headset from a idea to a working prototype. Plus, designed and built various test fixtures to support design verification and process validation (i.e. force-deflection, circuit board QC, sound performance, and temperature profile, etc).

I cofounded a hardware startup after validating the need for a product gap while doing user research with Physiotherapist to help optimize their workflow. The business plan and proposal was selected for the local incubator Thrill Mill at Pittsburgh. I lead prototype design and build and conducted several user-studies along with the prototype with a small team of 3 members with local Physiotherapist and their patients testing, validating and perfecting the final product.

Louisville, Ky, Us

Designed and executed 36 new dishwasher consumer interface parts three product family launches with over 1.5 million annual volume. Parts include dishwasher outer and inner door and rack assembly parts. Inventor on 4 patents and 7 patent applications on dishwasher features. Several of the features are present in dishwashers currently in the market.

Louisville, Ky, Us

Completed Edison Engineering Development Program (EEDP) that consisted of advanced engineering courses, technical projects, and four rotational assignments in different product lines. I was responsible for initial development through working prototypes for ice maker bucket, refrigerator shelf, and range soft-close hinge. Received 3 patents and 6 patent applications from product ideas and features in refrigerator and ranges.

Louisville, Ky, Us

Redesigned a refrigerator door hinge for all top mount refrigerators that reduced thirty percent of the material and maintained the same stiffness and performance.

Mcminnville, Or, Us

Taught Machine Shop, Introduction to Physics, and Electronics labs for two years.

Santa Barbara, Ca, Us

Developed a bi-layer lithography process using nano-imprinting during a ten-week internship at the Nano-fabrication Facility. Presented results, “Bi-Layer Lithography Using Nano-imprinting”, at the 2005 NNIN REU Convocation at Stanford University on August 11, 2005.

Tempe, Az, Us

During a 10-week internship, developed an analytical model to optimize tennis racquet string tension given atmospheric conditions. Results form the bases of my B.S. thesis “Trajectory of a Tennis Ball: Air Density Versus String Tension.”

Designed two full sets of house plans used to build homes in Oregon and Washington. Built one house from the ground up. Responsibilities included; site preparation, framing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, siding, deck, flooring, and finish woodworking. Project details and pictures at: http://aaronmcdaniel.design/#/house/

Master'S Degree, Product Development

Master Of Science - Ms, Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Applied Physics

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Business