Cham, Zug, Switzerland
Innovative and multidisciplinary engineer with expertise in electro-mechanical design and a strong focus on software development. Known for driving innovation and delivering high-impact solutions across industries, including e-bike systems, industrial machinery, and consumer products. Adept at transforming concepts into market-ready solutions, technical leadership and leveraging advanced tools for development and testing. A creative problem-solver with a hands-on approach to prototyping and a passion for pushing the boundaries of engineering. My passion lies in discovering optimised solutions to challenges, which often involves increasing my knowledge and learning new methods. Professionally, my diverse project experience includes venture capital funded concept development, blue chip company R&D, Kickstarter projects, community science and the medical engineering sector. To further myself outside of my main employment, I spend much of my spare time developing personal projects, which enable me to hone my skills and pick up new ones - please see my blog: engineer.john-whittington.co.uk and GitHub profile: https://github.com/tuna-f1sh
Led innovation and development for Specialized’s TURBO e-bike systems, driving internal R&D to introduce cutting-edge features previously unattainable. Provided technical leadership across the full product lifecycle, from concept to production. • Architect and built a company-wide IoT data logging solution; a cross-domain project involving hardware design, embedded Zephyr firmware (with a custom AWS SIGv4 module), and AWS cloud infrastructure. • Conducted design reviews and provided technical oversight for hardware and software developed by subcontractors, managing updates across internal and external teams. • Conceived and prototyped innovative electro-mechanical concepts for product managers, driving feature adoption and product differentiation. • Kept up to date with emerging technologies to drive innovation, and delivered workshops to upskill internal teams.
• Developed a Zephyr based BLE 5.0 device (nRF5340) and accompanying Flutter app to stream CAN bus data (RX & TX). Enabling real-time data visualisation for field testing and providing a connected platform for future feature development. • Created a Rust cybersecurity shim for the drive unit to secure the CAN bus and firmware updates, with a simulation layer for SIL testing that enabled development without hardware on a tight schedule. • Built a Python-based test runner with simulation capabilities for SIL/HIL testing on CAN bus rigs (bike/motor dynos), used in both development and production. • Engineered a low-cost, STM32-based CAN bus logger for field tests, featuring runtime configuration, sensor integration, and automated end-of-line testing.
Joined as the first ‘Systems Engineer’ in the Turbo E-Bike team, covering hardware and software development with suppliers for all system components (HMI, drive unit, battery). • Pioneered an internal CAN bus HMI using Linux, SocketCAN, and a containerised stack to streamline on-bike prototyping and testing in a department previously reliant on external suppliers. • Defined system requirements and specifications for the drive unit, battery, and HMI, working with suppliers to ensure alignment with product goals. • Ensured seamless hardware and software integration by debugging issues and coordinating with suppliers to resolve technical challenges and optimise performance. • On-boarded the firmware supplier to git, improving collaboration and establishing company ownership of the codebase to enable future in-house development.
Working as a senior consultant engineer, primarily in the field of electronics. Solving complex challenges, culminating in rapid development of working prototypes for presentation to clients. Leading other electronic engineers and working with designers to realise concepts. • Android & iOS development of hardware connected apps (NFC, BLE and QR) and the connected embedded hardware. Solving for low power, size and development time. • Led the design and development of bespoke Linux R&D lab test machinery with GUI. Work included hardware design, embedded firmware, software and Linux system customisations. Well received by client for consumer grade interface but with laboratory level usability. • Development of portable heating devices to consumer level concepts. Multiple heating technologies explored and implemented. • Schematic capture and PCB layout of embedded devices, often low power with battery management and connectivity. • Explored TensorFlow based audio signature recognition proof of concept for device state, on a single use device without embedded hardware. • Lead and coordinate with designers and other engineers.
Working in a satellite research and development laboratory for a Devon based manufacturer of industrial machinery in the field of electrostatics. • Developed workflows for Simulink Embedded Coder that enabled rapid Simulation to HIL based design, by streamlining the process from x86 to ARM Cortex. Enabled reduced development time whilst advancing technologies - allowing the company to react to the market demands. • Implemented and maintained National Instruments PXI based production testing, which transformed production end of line testing. • Developed a range of high voltage (±30 kV+) generators for industrial use. My role was primarily the development of the real-time (FreeRTOS) embedded software control loop and human interface but also included some ancillary electronic and mechanical design. I applied model based design using Simulink Embedded Coder. • Parametrising and modelling real-world electro-mechanical systems in Simulink. • Lead developer of FreeRTOS based embedded firmwares for hardware controllers. • Provided general R&D laboratory operations and support.
Products synthesising art and engineering. Diverse project experience includes venture capital funded concept development, Kickstarter projects, community science and the medical engineering sector. http://www.jbrengineering.co.uk
Bike component testing and writing of reviews.