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Jonathan Tai
Verified Expert in Engineering
Systems Engineer and Developer
Nashville, TN, United States
Toptal member since January 23, 2024
Bio
Jonathan is a technical product strategist and systems engineer specializing in robotics, processes, discovery, design, delivery, and product management. He has experience building technical product systems, critical systems, and processes for external customers. Jonathan has helped small to mid-size businesses make lasting processes that drive agile development.
Portfolio
southie.ai
Robot Operating System (ROS), ClickUp, Agile, Scrum, User Experience (UX)...
Realtime Robotics
Onshape, Python 3, Robot Operating System (ROS), Linux...
Realtime Robotics
Python 3, Gherkin, Pytest, Jira, Confluence, Robot Operating System (ROS)...
Experience
- Python 3 - 8 years
- Systems Engineering - 7 years
- Product Management - 6 years
- MVP Design - 6 years
- Robot Operating System (ROS) - 6 years
- Autodesk Fusion 360 - 5 years
- Jira - 5 years
- Object-oriented Design (OOD) - 4 years
Preferred Environment
Linux, Jira, GitHub, Simulink, MATLAB, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Robot Operating System (ROS), Figma, Python 3
The most amazing...
...project I've built is a multi-robot collaborative work-cell deployment, where I handled the solution design, customer success, and product strategies.
Work Experience
Product Manager
2022 - 2023
southie.ai
- Managed the design and deployment of a human collaborative multi-robot work cell that doubled customers' labor efficiency and set new systems and internal practices for the company's engineering, management, and solutions teams.
- Owned and designed a complete product vision, defining six key initiatives, roadmaps, and timelines leading to two major customer deployments for robots-as-a-service (RaaS) stakeholders.
- Designed, developed, and implemented unique customer persona-focused training systems, methodologies, and protocols. I successfully trained a robot operator team using novel robot personification training strategies.
- Built and implemented a work management and documentation system using ClickUp, attaining full buy-in and use from all business, engineering, and management teams within three months.
- Implemented a customer support SOP and executed dedicated customer support activities. This initiative standardized support processes, empowering all customer-facing staff to provide satisfying support.
- Pitched and implemented company-wide Agile and Scrum practices, revolutionizing project management and exposing vital work and project metrics to help the teams set and communicate realistic deadlines and deliver better progress to customers.
Technologies: Robot Operating System (ROS), ClickUp, Agile, Scrum, User Experience (UX), User Testing, Miro, Onshape, GitHub, Postman, Python 3, Dual Track Agile, Experience Design, Object-oriented Design (OOD), Autodesk Fusion 360, Human-robot Interaction, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Structured Systems Analysis & Design Method (SSADM), Systems Engineering, 3D Printing, User Flows, Stakeholder Analysis, System Design, Notion, New Product Development, MVP Design, Product Management, Jira, Linux, Figma, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), C++, CAD, User Research, Arduino, Writing & Editing, Robotics, Agile Project Management, SaaS Product Management, Agile Product Management, Project Management, Technical Project Management
Applications Engineer
2021 - 2022
Realtime Robotics
- Executed the design and prototyping of the next-generation product requirements, features, and workflows using Miro and Confluence, resulting in a comprehensive set of documents that informed the following quarter's sprint cycles.
- Conducted user studies and on-site customer interviews to meticulously identify user needs, creating a data-driven customer journey map and contributing 70 story points toward the product development roadmap.
- Influenced the company's roadmap and vision by presenting customer feedback and user stories to the C-suite. I successfully proposed and executed Dual Track Agile and user research integration, enhancing workflow efficiency and strategic alignment.
- Completed CAD design and manufacturing of multi-robot demo cells using real-time robotics software, achieving a 30% reduction in path planning time.
Technologies: Onshape, Python 3, Robot Operating System (ROS), Linux, Object-oriented Design (OOD), Autodesk Fusion 360, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Structured Systems Analysis & Design Method (SSADM), Systems Engineering, 3D Printing, User Flows, Stakeholder Analysis, System Design, Notion, New Product Development, MVP Design, Product Management, Jira, Confluence, GitHub, Figma, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), CAD, Scrum, Agile, User Experience (UX), Dual Track Agile, Experience Design, User Research, Writing & Editing, Robotics, Kanban, Agile Project Management, SaaS Product Management, Agile Product Management, Project Management, Technical Project Management
QA Systems Engineer
2019 - 2021
Realtime Robotics
- Redesigned and implemented a product test system to meet product requirements and release metrics. I standardized requirements-based QA testing for 3rd-party tool integrations and manual and automated tests, increasing testing flexibility by 70%.
- Scoped, planned, and implemented testing software architecture for five product release cycles, showcasing enhanced testing efficiency and a streamlined test development process.
- Designed and implemented a scalable longevity testing software and system architecture for multi-robot setups. This initiative facilitated comprehensive testing, ensuring robust product performance over extended periods.
- Implemented a comprehensive documentation system using Confluence and GitHub, streamlining accessibility and improving collaboration and alignment between QA, R&D, and customer success teams.
- Proposed and implemented Scrum, Kanban, and Agile methodologies across the company workflow using Jira. This transformation enhanced project visibility and collaboration, increasing company project alignment and work visibility.
Technologies: Python 3, Gherkin, Pytest, Jira, Confluence, Robot Operating System (ROS), Gazebo Simulator, Agile, Onshape, Scrum, CAD, Object-oriented Design (OOD), Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Structured Systems Analysis & Design Method (SSADM), Systems Engineering, 3D Printing, System Design, Notion, New Product Development, MVP Design, Linux, GitHub, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), C++, Autodesk Fusion 360, User Research, Arduino, Kanban, Writing & Editing, Robotics, Agile Project Management, SaaS Product Management, Agile Product Management, Project Management, Technical Project Management
Robotics Product Strategist Intern
2018 - 2018
Ling Technology
- Prototyped a novel robot social UX system targeted at children aged seven to nine, collaborating with a team of artists, designers, and engineers.
- Developed a product system for modern Chinese parent-child relationships and education needs, addressing a $2.3 billion market and leveraging the unique Jibo robot IP to tackle novel AI and character-driven human-robot interfaces.
- Performed customer interviews and industry analysis, determining data-driven product requirements and feature workflows.
Technologies: User Research, CAD, Autodesk Fusion 360, Human-robot Interaction, Miro, User Experience (UX), C++, Arduino, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Character Design, Game Design, Structured Systems Analysis & Design Method (SSADM), 3D Printing, Stakeholder Analysis, System Design, Notion, New Product Development, MVP Design, Product Management, Writing & Editing, Robotics, Agile Product Management, Project Management
Experience
Social Robotic Play Partner Prototype
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WfQK-q45qQSKQeOf58SVFg1PniqC9cWd/view?usp=drive_linkA robotic prototype designed to fill the niche of family-first-focused edtech in China. As China's younger generation begins having families and their life and work demands more of them, younger parents are finding they are spending less time with their children. This project offers a unique robotic solution that allows them to connect through character-based family members. Taking inspiration from Jibo, various child psychology experts, and traditional pet ownership, I designed a prototype robot that acts as a new family member and allows parents and children to connect through an intelligent facilitator.
Intro'd
Making a good introduction is the key to successful businesses and fantastic networking. Intro'd is a software platform allowing streamlined, managed, intentional, and process-driven networking introductions. Some significant features of this project include the capability to track the status of an introduction, manage follow-ups, and analyze feedback from introductions.
Modular Ergonomic Backpack
http://www.bit.ly/2HGwhvaThis research project assessed college student needs and over 50 student carryalls to design a modular backpack system. The resulting user research and designs were published in an analytical study for the student journal of Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Education
2015 - 2019
Bachelor's Degree in Robotics Engineering
Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Worcester, MA, USA
Skills
Tools
Jira, Confluence, Figma, Miro, Notion, GitHub, Autodesk Fusion 360, SOLIDWORKS, Pytest, MATLAB, CAD, Postman, Gazebo Simulator
Paradigms
Scrum, Agile, User Testing, Object-oriented Design (OOD), Structured Systems Analysis & Design Method (SSADM), Agile Project Management, Agile Product Management, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Kanban
Industry Expertise
Project Management
Languages
Python 3, Gherkin, Simulink, C++
Platforms
Linux, Arduino, Visual Studio Code (VS Code)
Other
ClickUp, User Experience (UX), Experience Design, 3D Printing, User Flows, System Design, New Product Development, MVP Design, Product Management, Robotics, Writing & Editing, SaaS Product Management, Technical Project Management, Robot Operating System (ROS), Onshape, Dual Track Agile, Human-robot Interaction, Game Design, Systems Engineering, Stakeholder Analysis, User Research, Character Design
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