# Jason Burton > Managing Director | PwC Connected Physical Products-BMR Location: San Jose, California, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/jasonburton I began my career as a Assembly Manufacturing Engineer at a small-engine manufacturing facility in Wisconsin. It was there that I honed my understanding for design for high-volume manufacturing, as well as developed my passion for understanding and integrating the needs of others into design. It was a natural progression to join SurfaceInk in 1999 to share in the founders’ vision to serve the needs of the client while designing high-impact products that excite and delight end-users. I strive to understand clients needs, processes, and resources and leverage SurfaceInk-developed processes and networks to find efficient and thoughtful solutions, as well as deepen relationships within the network. To pay forward the mentoring that I have received in my career, I work with clients and SurfaceInk team members to grow the team’s collective knowledge to make a more meaningful impact on their products, and thus, on their consumers. Specialties: • Project Lead of multiple projects & personnel • Managing cross-functional and vendor teams • Industrial Design integration and preservation • Designing for: complex plastic injection molding, machining, prototyping, sheet metal, structural, EMI containment, thermal transfer, connectors, human factors, audio, environmental factors, springs, drive systems, adhesives, antennas, recyclable/renewable materials, MIL-spec, environmental hazard protection, toy industry safety standards, and mechanisms ## Work Experience ### Managing Director @ PwC Jan 2023 – Present | San Jose, California, United States ### Vice President of Engineering @ SurfaceInk | Product Development Jan 2014 – Jan 2023 ### Member, Board of Directors @ SurfaceInk | Product Development Jan 2011 – Jan 2023 - Appointed key company officers to set and guide the vision of the company - Review and approve corporate operating budget - Represent shareholders' interests in key company decisions ### Marketing Manager @ SurfaceInk | Product Development Jan 2010 – Jan 2011 Managed marketing department, including campaign creation, brand strategy, and leads generation ### Engineering Team Manager / Project Technical Lead @ SurfaceInk | Product Development Jan 2005 – Jan 2011 - Provided project personnel management and technical leadership of multiple projects - Delivered on R&D projects, proofs-of-concept, product architecture and roadmap development, completing large and small projects with high and low volume across multiple industries - Managed cross-functional and outsourced vendor teams both remotely and in-region, including international travel for project management and support - Specialized in Industrial Design integration and intent preservation - Presented to executives and project teams in design reviews and risk mitigations - Mentored junior and peer engineers on design philosophy and management techniques, arranged and led group training sessions ### Principal / Consulting Engineer @ SurfaceInk | Product Development Jan 1999 – Jan 2011 Designed for: complex plastic/rubber injection molding, machining, prototyping, sheet metal forming, assembly, manufacturing, structural members, EMI containment, thermal transfer, connectors, human factors, audio, shock & vibration, environmental factors, springs, drive systems, adhesives, antennas, use of recyclable/renewable materials, MIL-spec standards, environmental hazard protection, toy industry safety standards, and mechanisms Primary client list: Apple, Inc., Amazon Lab126, Topcon Positioning Systems, Green Toys, Quantum3D, Socket Communications, Ditech Networks, Altigen Communications ### Product Design Engineering Manager @ Barnes & Noble Jan 2011 – Jan 2014 | Palo Alto, CA - Cross-functional and Product Design team leadership - Developed and preserved user-centric design strategy - Selected and managed key suppliers and manufacturers - Grew and cemented key relationships for the company - Managed risks and priorities for local and international design and manufacturing teams - Oversaw manufacturing and finishing processes and responsible for first article and CMF approvals - Executed design for handoff to NPI and SQE/PQE teams - Developed mechanical architectures including: ----- Attention to Industrial Design intent and fidelity ----- Strategies for balance between product weight and structure ----- Design for manufacturability and repeatability in mass-production ----- Thermal/EMI/ESD mitigation ### Assembly Manufacturing Engineer @ Tecumseh Products Company Jan 1997 – Jan 1999 | New Holstein, WI - Workplace design / Plant and facility layout and optimization - Tool and fixture design for high-volume manufacturing, automation, and safety improvement ## Education ### BSME in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration Marquette University ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jasonaburton - Portfolio: http://www.surfaceink.com --- Source: https://flows.cv/jasonburton JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/jasonburton/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-13