David Augustine

Fractional Chief Product & Engineering Officer | Builder of New Industries | Global R&D Leader (US, Europe, India, China) | Innovation, Electrification, Robotics, Indoor Ag

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

About

I’m a fractional Chief Product & Engineering Officer who has spent my career transforming breakthrough ideas into entire industries. I’ve led global engineering organizations across the US, China, India, Czech Republic, Ireland, and the UK — delivering rapid speed-to-market, multi-million-dollar cost reductions, and scalable innovation pipelines. I’ve built and led teams of 200+ engineers, raised private equity, founded and exited companies, and created new global commercial markets: Created the Class 8 truck APU industry — now a multi-company market. Created the LED refrigeration lighting industry — used globally in retail cold cases. Pioneered autonomous floor-cleaning robotics — launching automation in industrial cleaning. Secured $12M+ in private equity to scale proprietary indoor agriculture technology as Founder & CEO. Built a $20M R&D center in Prague, half funded by the Czech government. Today, I selectively partner with companies as a Fractional CPO/CtO/VP Engineering to: Accelerate innovation pipelines Drive engineering transformation Optimize product costs Build global technical organizations Provide technical due diligence for private equity If you're looking for high-impact fractional leadership, technical/market strategy, or advisory support, let’s talk.

Experience

  • Guest Lecturer - Leadership and Innovation at University of Minnesota
    Aug 2017 - Aug 2024 · 7 yrs 1 mo

  • Director of Advanced Product Development at Northern Tool + Equipment
    Feb 2022 - Jul 2024 · 2 yrs 6 mos

  • VP of Product Management and Engineering at QM Power, Inc.
    Jan 2020 - Feb 2022 · 2 yrs 2 mos

    -Market creation for new to the world motor technology

  • Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Living Greens Farm, Inc.
    Jan 2016 - Dec 2018 · 3 yrs

    -Invented new to the world indoor agriculture technology -Scaled technology to business level -Raised Private Equity capital to expand globally

  • Director of Global Innovation and Advanced Product Development at Tennant Company
    Oct 2011 - Jan 2016 · 4 yrs 4 mos

    -Created autonomous floor cleaning capability, business and industry.