
Wilfrid Ngo
Verified Expert in Product Management
Product Manager
Mississauga, ON, Canada
Toptal member since April 23, 2024
Wilfrid is a product design engineer with ten years of experience building electromechanical products. He has led engineering teams through full-cycle product development of hardware solutions, such as AI dashcams for car insurance analytics and self-driving car kits. Wilfrid has a proven track record of bringing to market highly-rated consumer products, such as safety razors, double-walled glass mugs, and smart rings.
Project Highlights
Expertise
- Electrical Engineering
- Manufacturing
- Mechanical Design
- Mechanical Engineering
- PCB Design
- R&D
- Rapid Prototyping
- SOLIDWORKS
Work Experience
Founder | Hardware Engineer
ObsidianCrest
- Delivered full-cycle product development of consumer wearable titanium and zirconium ceramic smart rings. Released an initial batch of smart rings to customers within eight months of development.
- Architected the electrical design of Rigid-Flex PCB and integrated the optical navigation, Qi wireless charging, inertial measurement unit, pulse oximeter, and lithium battery power control module into a tightly constrained ring form.
- Developed the device's firmware and featurescompatible with Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, and Linux, including the device firmware upgrade over Bluetooth LE, multimedia control, document scrolling, and presentation clicker.
Product Design Engineer
Freelance
- Delivered the product design and 3D CAD modeling of double-walled borosilicate glass for AVENSI's Coffee Enhancing Glassware. Produced mechanical drawings for the fabrication and assembly of glassware.
- Completed the mechanical design and CAD modeling of the adjustable razor system for Rockwell 6S, 6C, and T2, designed to utilize high-volume manufacturing.
- Developed CAD models and mechanical drawings for Arctic cold brew gaskets and carafe borosilicate glassware.
- Handled the mechanical design of RIGRAP's plastic tackle box, utilizing high-volume plastic injection molding manufacturing methods.
Lead Hardware Engineer
Foresight Analytics
- Led the hardware team through engineering design, prototyping, validation, production, and customer delivery of the initial batch of AI dashcams within six months of development.
- Designed mechanical components, such as plastic housing, sheet metal GPS ground reflector, EMI shielding, and a thermal heat dissipation solution using a forced convection copper heatsink design.
- Applied geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) principles to mechanical drawings.
- Established manufacturing, assembly, testing, and troubleshooting procedures. Managed overseas and North American suppliers and addressed issues promptly to keep production on schedule.
Lead Mechanical Engineer
X-Matik
- Led the development, prototyping, testing, and qualification of electromechanical systems for a level 2 highway self-driving car kit, resulting in a kit that supported 30+ popular vehicle models with varying steering wheel and brake pedal geometries.
- Created a 3D scanning workflow for scanning vehicle interiors into CAD that enabled rapid design iterations, reduced prototyping costs, and produced highly successful prototypes.
- Developed firmware for wheel and brake controller actuators in the self-driving car kit, utilizing a proportional integral differential control algorithm for precise steering and braking.
Product Design Engineer
Think2Thing
- Led and contributed to more than five product development projects, helping clients bring their product ideas to market.
- Enabled Rockwell Razors to achieve a 5-star rating and gross annual revenue of $5 million by providing design and engineering solutions, implementing high-volume metal stamping and metal injection molding to achieve superior product quality.
- Digitized 100,000+ prints across Ontario after designing, developing, and implementing an electromechanical digitization table for capturing artwork and paintings for museum archival applications.
Founder
Sentry Scientific Inc
- Drove the research and development of an electromechanical rollator solution to reduce injury risks among seniors using traditional rollators.
- Developed a sit-detection feature that automatically locks the rollator wheels when the user sits. Introduced a ramp descent function that applies resistance to the wheels, aiding the user as they descend ramps.
- Led successful funding initiatives, including a seed funding round securing capital to fuel growth and product development, and navigated the acquisition process by the Human Care Group.
Mechanical Design Engineer
Calavera Surgical Design
- Designed an autoclavable implant shaping tool for cranioplasty, enhancing surgical precision and patient outcomes in the operating room.
- Developed the device, which was then successfully used in over 30 cranioplasty surgeries, demonstrating the tool's functionality in a high-stakes surgical environment.
- Built a CAD model, provided mechanical and assembly drawings, and communicated specifications to fabrication shops.
Mechanical Design Engineer
Eclipse Scientific
- Developed a 3-in-1 adjustable frame compatible with the company's ultrasonic sensor system, reducing the need for NDT engineers to bring multiple frames to pipe scanning jobs, streamlining operations, and increasing efficiency in the field.
- Assisted the project lead with managing end-effect probe suppliers, contributing to a high-profile project involving reactor wall scanning at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, ensuring quality and adherence to project timelines.
- Conducted quality testing and documentation of a batch of encoders, ensuring reliability and accuracy.
Mechanical Design Engineer
Titan Medical
- Reduced manual tool swapping time by 30% by innovating a quick-release mechanism for efficiently swapping surgical instruments in remote surgical robots, enhancing procedural efficiency and reducing downtime.
- Led the prototyping of a trocar designed for laparoscopic endoscopy procedures, integrating this component into the advanced Amadeus surgical suite and contributing to broader procedural versatility.
- Conceptualized torque-limiting features aimed to mitigate high tensile stress on instrument pull-cables, extending the operational lifespan of surgical instruments, reducing maintenance frequency, and enhancing overall system reliability.
Project History
ARKIV 360 | Design and Implementation
https://arkiv360.com/Led the design and implementation of ARKIV 360, an electromechanical digitization table that scans large-format artwork and documents for archival applications. The machine achieved 100,000+ scans for institutions across Ontario.
Additionally, I produced detailed mechanical drawings for all parts, including assembly diagrams and a bill of materials, and oversaw suppliers to ensure components met specifications and were delivered on schedule. I installed the electrical systems, integrating key safety features such as an emergency stop and fuses, and added a foot pedal for convenient jogging and stopping of the tabletop.
Rockwell 6S and T2 Safety Razors | Design and Engineering
https://getrockwell.com/products/rockwell-6s/Drove the design and engineering for Rockwell Razor's 6S and T2 product lines from initial concept to production and market launch, generating $5 million in annual revenue and achieving a 5-star product rating.
I developed 3D CAD models of the razor system and drafted mechanical and assembly drawings to convey specifications clearly to suppliers. I employed high-volume production techniques such as screw machining, metal stamping, and metal injection molding. I also oversaw international suppliers to ensure timely delivery and addressed any quality issues identified during inspections to maintain high standards.
Foresight Analytics | AI Dashcam for Insurance Analytics
http://www.foresightanalytics.ca/Steered the hardware team to develop and install an initial batch of B2B AI dashcams into customer vehicles within six months of development.
I developed an adjustable dual-camera infrared night-vision system to allow easy calibration during installation and set up. I also designed a thermal management solution featuring a copper heatsink with forced convection to maintain optimal device temperatures, which is crucial during Atlanta's summers when ambient temperatures can exceed 60°C.
Moreover, I engineered plastic and sheet metal components, including electrical harnesses, and coordinated fabrication and assembly with overseas suppliers. I also successfully navigated supply shortages and shipping disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure on-time deliveries.
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Mechatronics Engineering (Biomechanics Option)
University of Waterloo - Waterloo, ON, Canada
Certifications
Licensed Professional Engineer
Professional Engineers Ontario
Skills
Tools
SOLIDWORKS, Rhinoceros 3D, Trello, Altium Designer (PCAD), Skype, Google Hangouts, Zoom, Autodesk Inventor
Paradigms
Rapid Prototyping, Thermal Management
Other
CAD, 3D Printing, Mechanical Design, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, Electrical Engineering, PCB Design, 3D Scanning, Discord, Product Development, R&D, Firmware, C, Control Systems, Engineering, Firmware over the Air (FOTA), Bluetooth Low Energy (LE), Management, Research, Sensors & Actuators
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