About Me
Hi, my name is Raj, and I’m Chief Engineer of Wearable Systems at Silicon Witchery. I’ve previously worked for companies big and small, focusing largely on consumer wearables, and IoT products.
Over the years I’ve been involved in end-to-end product development. From drawing specifications with customers to the factory floor ensuring correct assembly. I’ve also worked closely with technology partners and EMC test facilities to ensure our products have been fully verified before launch.
I’m an embedded systems engineer that loves to build hardware and write code. But my experience in end-to-end product development gives me the edge to see the bigger picture. I always strive to build the best for the business and value good communication to keep things running smoothly.
Projects
Silicon Witchery
https://www.siliconwitchery.com/Building the smallest wearable computers for clothing, and implantable devices.
Wanting to prototype quickly for different clients, I created the S1 module as a platform containing all the core components to build a wearable. It went on to become an overnight success, and people went crazy for the tiny module that could do so much. Built for designers that wanted to get straight to their application rather than spend months on an HDI board. They now had a validated wireless module with FPGA acceleration and complete battery management.
Within less than a year, we now have customers worldwide building with our device. We’re supporting them closely to ensure they have everything they need to bring their world-class products to market.
Silicon Witchery’s vision is to become the best in wearable computing technology, enabling life-changing wearable products, and accelerating humanity to a brighter future.
Experience
A startup designing smartwatches for front line workers.
At Turnpike I led product development of bespoke smartwatches for customers including Microsoft and H&M.
I faced a high-pressure startup environment with composure, ensuring product development remained stable during times of business turbulence. When needed, I’d carefully adjusted work to match business needs, creating value in the right places at a high level of quality. This role taught me the lessons to understand different people, bring their opinions together, and operate the business as a team.
A global fabless technology company that designs and manufactures semiconductors.
At Silabs I worked on Bluetooth and Zigbee smart products for large customers such as Bosch and Dell. I experienced what it was like to work with design teams across the globe, and gained extensive training for global EMC compliance.
Bristol Robotics Lab
https://www.bristolroboticslab.com/Research in Human Robot Interaction
2013 - 2014
The UK's largest center for multi-disciplinary robotics research.
At BRL, I engineered position sensors for robotic joints that needed to function in the absence of gravity and alongside the astronauts who would operate them. I made extensive use of model-based design to research brand new sensor fusion techniques to ensure safe and reliable code.
Education
University of the West of England
MSc Embedded Systems & Wireless Networks
2013 - 2014
Sharing its campus with Hewlett Packard, Bristol Robotics Lab, and the UK Ministry of Defence. UWE is a public research university centered around industry. Its reputation and location makes it a hot spot for industry events in the English West Country.
During my time at UWE, I learnt advanced skills in model based design and control theory. These skills I then immediately applied to my Masters Thesis Project which then went on to be featured on Hackaday, and gained 25,000 views on YouTube.
I also had the opportunity to arrange field trips and meet the engineering teams behind such projects as the Bloodhound Land Speed Record Vehicle.
University of Bristol
BEng Electronic & Communications Engineering
2019 - 2013
Bristol is a red brick research university having received its royal charter in 1909, although it can trace its roots to a Merchant Venturers' school founded in 1595. The university has been associated with 13 Nobel laureates throughout its history, including Paul Dirac, and Sir Nevill Francis Mott who were both pivotal to the field of engineering.
UoB taught me essential skills in teamwork and leadership. It also taught me the appreciation to explore science and the pursuit of knowledge.
In my free time, I helped with various university clubs and raced on the regional go-karting team. Though I never quite made it to Formula 1.
A Little More About Me
Alongside my interests in electronics, some of my other hobbies include:
- STEM outreach and volunteering.
- Plot acting at live roleplay events, including the UK’s largest, attracting over 1800 visitors per year.
- Folk singing at maritime and renaissance fairs.
- Athletic pole dancing.