Steve Watts Email & Phone Number

Leland, Nc, Us

Wilmington, Nc, Us

Leading development for XTG-ES IoT products. Focusing on IoT device and gateway products, as well as cloud services. • Tasked with leading end-to-end solution development, cloud and general systems at CD.• Led the companies new GateX and NetX product offerings with responsibilities across marketing, architecture, development, sales and deployment.• Currently building a new systems team within the larger XTG-ES FoC

STEAM Ventures provides consulting services to university TTOs, entrepreneurs and small companies in areas of Technology Commercialization, Product Development, Start-Up Operations, Investment Attraction and Business Planning.

• Led software development: handling software development process and quality programs, solution architecture, issue resolution & project management. • Took part in business development and more extensive/complex project management while managing and growing the development team.• Worked with key business partners to align on technology strategies and product roadmaps, enabling the ideation and prioritization of new projects and operational improvements.• Acted as the primary point of contact across the Software Development Lifecycle, overseeing Solutions Architects, Systems Engineers, Developers, Testing, and Application Support staff.• Managed outsourced resources as well as provided ongoing customer support.• Turned around several existing projects with serious delivery issues to customer’s satisfaction, taking several on personally to release resources for new business. • Worked with a broad range of technical systems and tools in product development, including GitHub, Atlassian Tools, Multiple Vendor Development Environments, AWS, and Azure.• Closed multiple new contracts by directly interacting with customers on technical needs early on in the new business cycle.

Raleigh, North Carolina, Us

• Performed product definition, competitive analysis, IP protection, and customer acceptance/deployment.• Commercialized Smart Grid technology for the electrical distribution industry while managing a team of NCSU researchers.• Grew and led internal development team, and managed an external partner network to develop the company's first products.• Acted as the Chief Product & System Architect, standardized company’s development process and tools while incorporating improved, pre-prototype simulation.• Generated the company’s initial IP portfolio and worked with IP attorneys to create and file initial claims.• Added advanced intelligence and communications to products.• Directed the production of second-generation product while overseeing internal GridBridge resources, NCSU post-doc team, and external contract services.• Architected product portfolio for use in the home at home/utility boundary involving interoperation between consumer-based green energy generation, consumer storage, and grid operation.

• Worked on military energy generation and management products, including fuel cells, multi-fuel IC generators, smart-grid products, and battery charge and storage.• Achieved product acceptance into military trials by liaising with government test departments and led product development across chemical engineering, electronics, software, and mechanical disciplines. • Developed marketing materials and strategy and led intellectual property (IP) protection via patent generation.• Transformed R&D-based team into a multi-disciplinary product development team, bringing in new processes and project disciplines to improve the development speed and quality.• Took multiple systems through government testing and acceptance and developed a network of strategic partners and vendors to develop a virtual manufacturing department.• Provided advanced product direction in intelligent energy grids, storage, and generation areas.• Developed multiple new control techniques for optimizing the performance and durability of product offerings.

• Recruited by CEO to drive engineering efforts to pioneer innovative thermoelectric energy harvesting devices and implement them in standard CMOS and MEMS processes. • Actively participated in core research, device simulations, government grant writing, application investigation, customer research, and investment activities. • Explored and cultivated global relationships with potential partners and OEMs and managed semiconductor fabrication as an outsourced service. • Restored the company’s focus on physics and fundamental electrical and thermal issues, keeping the company on the right course.

• Co-Founder and initial CEO/COO for a venture-backed start-up developing 3M gate ASIC to encapsulate SONET over IP networks. • Raised $14MM in capital investment, set up operations, built team, and managed top-level development plan with outsourced teams in the US, Canada, Taiwan, Singapore, and Ireland. • Handled CFO duties and legal as well as taking an active role in business development.

Murray Hill, Nj, Us

• Joined Sahara Networks to lead hardware & mechanical development for a revolutionary family of multi-service access communications products. • Architected system, hired team, set up technical operations, and led the development from a concept to a released product. • Headed up all safety, compliance, and Telecom standards certifications and took a role in customer support. • Cascade Communications acquired Sahara Networks for $213M in 1996, and Cascade was acquired by Ascend Communications for $4B in 1997.• Ascend was acquired by Lucent in 1999 for $24B. • Steered team through three consecutive acquisitions winning the Bell Labs’ President’s Award for Excellence in 1999. • Made significant individual development contributions to add features such as full-system redundancy. • The product line was deployed at major service providers, including Sprint, Bell South, Deutsche Telekom, Bridge IS, and NTT.

Irving, Tx, Us

• Migrated technical know-how & operations to the US for the World’s first ATM Switch as part of an international acquisition. • Took on Engineering Manager role, trained US staff, improved morale, and interdepartmental communications• Improved & added multiple functions to product line while working with marketing to define next-generation roadmap. • Developed relationships in the standards community to enhance company’s position in the industry.

• Founded and grew international contract engineering firm• Secured and managed contracts with high-profile clients including: BICC System Development Center (UK), Texas Instruments (UK), HP (UK-Scotland), Philips (Holland), Ericsson (Sweden), Reuters (UK)• Company was sold when I moved to the US in 1994.

Bs.Hons, Physics With A Minor In Microelectronics & Computing

Master Of Science - Ms, Microprocessor Enginering And Digital Electronics