Scott Ramirez

Role & Scope

Served as mechanical design lead for the reader device, responsible for the complete electro-mechanical system architecture, product reliability, verification and validation, high-volume manufacturing optimization, and design transfer to the manufacturing facility.

Housing & Fastener Design

Developed a robust two-piece housing with integrated buckle snap design within a constrained industrial design envelope. Engineered crush-post datum structures for USB-C alignment, and designed retention hooks to prevent wall deflection during high-impact events. Solved the challenge of no visible screws while maintaining structural integrity for an unsupported optical train cantilever.

Tolerance Analysis & Optimization

Ran 50,000-iteration Monte Carlo simulations to determine LSL/NOM/USL of the critical compression gap governing optical performance and contact-pad force distribution. Developed tolerance models based on design intent and critical datums using triangular and normal distributions.

Custom Test Fixtures

Designed and built the "Pusher Tester 9000" — a high-precision Mini-MTS system with 0.0005" plunger accuracy, real-time force/displacement feedback, FUTEK 5lb load cell at 48,000 SPS, and custom LabVIEW GUI. Built motor characterization fixtures to develop regression equations for torque vs. force across voltage ranges.

Critical Firmware & Failure Analysis

Performed root cause analysis on intermittent motor stall failures, identifying deformation of motor mount wings causing parasitic friction on the rotating hub. Developed custom C++ firmware with updated timing for extension, free running, endstop, and retraction events — plus an error-handling "wiggle" routine to detect and recover from stall conditions. Brought the no-flow failure rate from 30%+ to zero before clinical trials.

FerroWave System

Designed a fully automated medical device for proprietary magnetic cell sorting. Integrated automated custom syringe pumps, a door system with automated valve actuation, and a simplified magnetic core with the ability to retract from the cartridge. Built precision DC motor assemblies with encoder feedback using 3D-printed non-magnetic PETG chassis.

Hydra Consumable Cartridge

Designed the Hydra fluidic cartridge for mass production with molded barbed fittings, flexure-based extraction locks, interchangeable chips, and a custom 3-way valve — all optimized for reliable sealing and low-cost tooling. Ran a 3-factor, 2-level DOE to determine optimum sealing force for the extraction lock actuator.

8-Track Large Scale System

Scaled the core technology to an 8-channel system with custom valve actuators, centralized control board, and servo-driven extraction lock actuators designed from DOE-optimized parameters. Built an 8-channel electro-magnet test fixture with custom Arduino/Teensy 4.1 firmware pulsing coils at up to 20Hz.

Software & Controls

Created user-facing interface software in LabVIEW and Node-RED with real-time pump and motor feedback, minimal operator input, and popup instructions for complex separation routines — reducing user error during sensitive biological processes.

Overview

Founded Equiso and brought the first Android smart-TV streaming stick to the US market. Secured $2.1M in investment, built and led a full cross-functional team spanning engineering, procurement, logistics, and marketing. Partnered with Walmart for nationwide retail distribution.

Engineering

Drove the product from rapid prototyping through electro-mechanical integration, injection mold tool design, and mass production. Managed the full hardware development cycle from concept through production-ready tooling and manufacturing transfer.

Recognition

Won "Best Product" at the Cambridge Science Festival, validating both the technical execution and market positioning of the product.

Wireless Test Rack System

Developed a wireless, programmatically controlled test rack system for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) antenna modules. Designed custom PCBs with integrated stepper control for automated positioning and calibration sequences.

Automated RF Calibration

Built automated RF test and calibration software in LabVIEW for receiver antenna modules, significantly reducing test cycle time and improving measurement repeatability. Developed both the software interface and the mechanical test bed with precision stepper-controlled positioning.

System Design

Designed a fully automated dynamic press system featuring PID-controlled heated platens, a PID-controlled pneumatic system with proportional regulator for dynamic force control, sheet metal housing, and status indicator lighting.

Custom Software

Developed custom tablet software with a comprehensive GUI displaying real-time temperature monitoring (Fahrenheit), force output (lbs-f), multi-cycle programming with individual time and temperature settings, yield calculator, and profile save/restore functionality. The interface was designed for minimal operator complexity while exposing all critical process parameters.

Orbit Vaporizer

Additionally designed the Orbit — a premium portable vaporizer with a sleek, phone-height form factor featuring multiple temperature settings and precision heating control.

Overview

Designed a solar-powered smart pool monitoring system compatible with both chlorine and salt water pools and spas. The system provides continuous monitoring of critical water chemistry and environmental parameters with wireless connectivity to a mobile app.

Sensor Suite

Integrated a comprehensive sensor array including pH balance monitoring, ORP (Oxidation-Reduction Potential) for sanitization effectiveness, water temperature for chemistry accuracy, and an accelerometer for auto-sensing pump activation and unexpected pool activity detection.

Power & Connectivity

Powered by a 6-watt solar panel that tracks output levels and provides full system power — no battery charging required. Low-power IoT architecture ensures continuous operation with wireless data transmission to a companion app.