Michael Milton Email & Phone Number

San Diego, California, United States

SlantRange; acquired by Hiphen, Avignon, France Founded and grew agriculture technology company; developed 3 revenue generating product lines from concept through deployment, including multispectral imaging, processing and analysis software.Assembled and directed team of data science, software development, electrical engineering, image processing, and manufacturing personnel. Determined success metrics, assigned project duties, provided ongoing training and coaching. Built the team from scratch and was able to develop cohesive unit that produced high-quality results and supported projects effectively.Established development process, standardized ROI measurement, and resource management, developed and launched internal project management, change management, and operations strategies, including implementing management tools, documentation of requirements and specifications, standardized management structure, meetings, and reporting.Partnered directly with stakeholders to enhance product, led feedback sessions, explained new features, and communicated updates and roadblocks.Responsible for the development, testing, and launch of all deliverables, crafted and implemented product development roadmaps for hardware and software product lines, determined needed resources, and directed IT, development, QA, and fulfillment teams, while interfacing with vendors. Built and managed project plans, developed documentation, integration plans, timelines, resource requirements, personnel structures, and go-live schedules.Actively identified and resolved project risks, issues, and changes, including resource shortages, scope creep, requirement updates, schedule pressure, communicated issues to others on the executive team. Managed design and integration of manufacturing tooling, process, and facility for imaging system, optimized product design for easy manufacturing, outlined scalable manufacturing process, and led error and QA checks.

Led development of automated geospatial data processing and exploitation platform, identifiedcritical components and outlined project plans, built foundational functionality to optimizeplatform development, and led client beta testing and feedback collection; new solutionachieved 80% gross margins on key contracts.Managed machine learning and AI algorithm development, partnered with software engineers toselect ideal architecture for models, identified and collected sources of training data with clients,selected key variables and measurable traits to measure impact and correlation, and updatedalgorithm to minimize selection bias; secured ~93% prediction accuracy in first year.Spearheaded mechanical engineering of the multispectral sensor product line, led materialselection, physical layout, and size and weight optimization, outlined project planning andtracking, oversaw all electro and mechanical product development, QA and analysis. Finalizedcomponent design, and developed production tooling and hardware production process.Supported the CEO in developing pitch decks and participating in investor calls, securedmultiple rounds of investment capital, demoed solutions to fund company and bringproduct to market, expedited growth and go-to-market strategies, enabled company to signcontracts with leading industry customers.Served in key role for M&A process for successful exit after multiple offers, identified targetedsuitors with banking partners, developed engagement and marketing strategies, supported duediligence process, and contributed to negotiations to secure agreements with key stakeholders.

San Diego, California, United States

Served as Technical lead on $10M, long-term development project for militaryhardened, airborne active imaging system for government customer; managed hands-on development of quick-turn experimental proof-of-concept and demonstrationsystems, transitioned to commercial production, and oversaw field deployment.Commended by leadership for delivering workable project plans, effectively leadinginternal development team, outside vendors, and government customer, andsuccessfully deploying system that introduced new capabilities to provide strategicsurveillance advantage.Directed team of 14 mechanical, electrical, and software engineers, determined successmetrics, assigned project duties, collected status reports, and provided ongoing trainingand coaching. Planned and led technical design reviews for government customers, partnered with keytechnical personnel to develop requirements, oversaw ongoing meetings to reviewdesign progress and update timelines, and provided ad hoc support and follow up asneeded.Built analytical heat transfer models, kinematic optical mount designs, temperature andvibration stabilized optical systems, as well as thermal, structural, and vibration FEAmodels.

Healdsburg, California, United States

Led mechanical design of state-of-the-art dynamically stabilized camera systems;designed vibration-damping systems, heat transfer models, thermal and structural finiteelement models, and modal analysis models for stabilized sensor platform.

Rohnert Park, Ca

Greater San Diego Area