Headline

Building Aina | Building Next-Gen AI Wearables | Ex-Tech Lead (IoT & Wireless) | Specializing in Hardware + AI Integration

About

I’ve spent the last decade building hardware that sits at the intersection of sensors, wireless networks, and the physical world. Currently, I’m at Project Mirage working on the next generation of consumer wearables. My focus is on the "Interface" category—using premium SoC platforms to build devices where AI and hardware actually work together to understand user context. Before this, I spent 8 years leading the engineering for smart building sensor networks. I’ve worked with a wide range of sensing tech—from mmWave and Lidar to vision analytics and gas sensors—and integrated them across Zigbee, BLE, Wi-Fi, and LoRaWAN. I enjoy the "full stack" of hardware development. For me, that means more than just high-density PCB design and signal integrity; it’s about the hardware-firmware integration. I’m comfortable getting into the low-level firmware to ensure the silicon and sensors are actually playing nice together. I love the process of taking a messy concept through prototyping and debugging, all the way to mass production (NPI) and global compliance. At the end of the day, I’m a hardware engineer who loves solving real-world problems through purposeful, intelligent design.

Location

Greater Bengaluru Area

AI stack

claude

hermes agent

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notion

Granola

Make

Work experience

Building Aina at Aina, Aug 2025 - Present · 1 yr 3 mos, Bengaluru, Building the hardware for AI-driven wearable interfaces on premium SoC platforms, focusing on how the device actually understands user context. Handling the low-level hardware-firmware integration, making sure the SoC and all the peripherals are perfectly synced for on-device AI. Solving the "puzzle" of tiny footprints by using multilayer HDI and Flexible PCBs to pack everything into extreme space constraints. Dealing with the power-performance trade-off, tuning the system to keep AI features "always-on" without hitting the battery too hard. Taking the design through the full NPI cycle, from debugging the first prototypes to component selection and mass production.

Subject Matter Expert - Internet of Things at digital blanket®, Sep 2024 - Jul 2025 · 11 mos, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, Spearhead IoT-driven initiatives to design, implement, and scale smart, sustainable solutions across various verticals, including Office, retail, hospitality, and utility management. Evaluate third-party products and solutions for technology, functionality, application, and integration feasibility with the Digital Blanket platform, while creating use case stories. Identify and assess LoRaWAN products for use cases in occupancy, HVAC, air quality, energy and water metering, and protocol conversion. Drive the adoption of wireless BMS solutions to enable scalable, cost-effective building management systems. Lead the development of sensor-free space analytics using Wi-Fi access point data for occupancy monitoring. Conduct requirement analysis, prepare product requirement specifications, and identify technologies for custom hardware development. Collaborate with vendors and stakeholders to ensure timely project execution and alignment with business goals. Focus on cost optimization, scalability, and seamless integration of IoT solutions into the Digital Blanket ecosystem.

Tech Lead - IoT Sensor Engineering at digital blanket®, Aug 2017 - Aug 2024 · 7 yrs 1 mo, Bengaluru Area, India, As a seasoned Tech Lead specializing in IoT sensor engineering, I orchestrate all aspects of hardware research, prototyping, development, testing, and delivery. My role encompasses: Crafting and deploying cutting-edge wireless sensor solutions tailored for smart workspaces, spanning occupancy monitoring, air quality assessment, energy metering, and lighting controls. Leveraging a diverse array of MCU/SoC platforms, including Texas instrument's- CC253x, CC265x, Espressif's- ESP8266/ESP32, STMicroelectronics-STM32, and Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4, to architect robust hardware solutions. Implementing an extensive range of sensor technologies, ranging from CMOS cameras, Lidar time-of-flight, longwave infrared thermography, gas sensors, and particulate matter sensors to current measurement, PIR, ambient light, pressure, MEMS microphones, inertial measurement sensors, and mmWave sensors. Seamlessly integrating sensors with a myriad of interfaces such as SPI, I2C, I2S, UART, USB, Ethernet, HDMI, CSI, RMII, and One wire to ensure interoperability and functionality. Designing hardware solutions engineered to operate flawlessly with various power sources, including batteries, AC mains, USB, and Power over Ethernet (PoE). Ensuring meticulous adherence to mechanical constraints, DFM, DFT, RF signal integrity, EMI/EMC standards, FCC, CE certifications, and stringent environmental testing protocols. Overseeing end-to-end product certification processes, encompassing CE, FCC, Safety, and environmental testing, to guarantee regulatory compliance and market readiness. Providing expert guidance to production teams for Integrated Circuit Testing (ICT) and Functional Verification Testing (FVT), while spearheading cross-functional teams from inception to product delivery. My leadership and technical acumen have been instrumental in driving the development and deployment of innovative IoT solutions, elevating workplace intelligence and efficiency on a global scale.

Sr. Embedded Engineer at VerveTronics, Feb 2017 - Jul 2017 · 6 mos, Pune, Maharashtra, India, As a Senior Embedded Engineer, I delivered impactful outcomes through my expertise in hardware design and firmware development, particularly within the automotive and IoT domains. Highlights of my past experience include: Led the design and simulation of Hardware in Loop Simulation (HILS) systems for automotive applications, ensuring the reliability and performance of electronic systems in vehicles. Successfully integrated Xbee modules and industrial temperature sensors into IoT applications, optimizing data acquisition and communication protocols for seamless connectivity and real-time monitoring. Orchestrated firmware development on MSP430 microcontrollers, facilitating the integration of analog and digital sensors to achieve precise data acquisition and processing. These efforts significantly improved system responsiveness and accuracy. My tenure as a Senior Embedded Engineer was marked by a track record of driving positive outcomes, from enhancing vehicle electronics reliability to optimizing IoT application functionality.

Hardware Engineer at palette tech pvt ltd, Jun 2015 - Jan 2017 · 1 yr 8 mos, Pune Area, India, As a Hardware Team Lead at a dynamic startup specializing in retrofit hardware for smart home solutions, I played a pivotal role in driving innovation and delivering impactful outcomes. Key highlights of my role include: IoT Expertise: Leveraging my expertise in IoT technologies, particularly ZigBee and Wi-Fi, to design and develop cutting-edge solutions for smart homes. This involved implementing robust communication protocols and ensuring seamless integration with existing home networks. Retrofit Wireless Modules: Spearheading the design and development of retrofit wireless modules tailored to measure power consumption, control home appliances, and enhance home safety and security. These modules were instrumental in enabling homeowners to monitor and manage their energy usage effectively while ensuring the safety and security of their homes. Firmware Development: Demonstrating proficiency in firmware development using TI cc2530 SoC, Z-stack, and IAR Workbench. This involved optimizing code efficiency, implementing advanced functionalities, and ensuring compatibility with the hardware platform. Product Demonstration and Installation: Engaging in product demonstration activities to showcase the capabilities and benefits of our smart home solutions to potential customers. Additionally, I provided guidance and support during the installation process to ensure a seamless transition to our products. My tenure as a Hardware Team Lead was characterized by a relentless commitment to driving innovation, delivering high-quality solutions, and exceeding customer expectations. I am passionate about leveraging technology to transform homes into smarter, safer, and more efficient living spaces.

Education

Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.), Electronics and Telecommunication, Savitribai Phule Pune University