# John Howard > Interim and Fractional Engineering and Innovation Leader Focused on 0 to 1 Product Development. I help build your teams to achieve audacious goals Location: Palo Alto, California, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/johnhoward1 Senior leader in consumer and industrial robotics, consumer devices, medical analytics and drug delivery. I have developed and launched multiple cutting-edge high volume products for Fortune 100, mid-cap and start-up companies. Adept at driving innovation, developing product and technology roadmaps, executing operational scale-ups and high volume automation programs. Track record of leadership development, and managing multiple development teams, while fostering and managing complex global partnerships. Industries High Tech Consumer Product Development Drug Delivery System Development Medical Device, Diagnostic Devices Consumer autonomous robotics Advanced materials development and commercialization Specialties: Drug Delivery, Medical Device Design, Manufacturing Commercialization, Consumer Electronics, Consumer Product Design, Team Development, New Product Introduction ## Work Experience ### Interim Engineering Leader @ Symbotic Jan 2025 – Present | Greater Boston ### Fractional Engineering Leader @ John Howard Consulting Jan 2025 – Present | San Francisco Bay Area • Provided senior leadership for a publicly traded novel combination product company, driving strategic initiatives. • Organized cross-functional teams to enhance collaboration and efficiency in project execution. • Assist C-level executives in establishing priorities and removing obstacles, resulting in improved operational performance. ### Consulting Associate Professor @ Stanford University Jan 1989 – Present Teach upper division core curriculum Mechanical Design Courses. Develop lectures, labs and exam materials. Instruct on core mechanical design principles and coach students on industry sponsored design projects. ### Senior Vice President Of Engineering @ Markforged Jan 2022 – Jan 2024 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States Markforged is reinventing manufacturing with an integrated smart manufacturing platform. Grew and lead the full 100+ Hardware, Materials, PMO and Software Engineering organization. Reported to CEO and sat on Leadership Team. Developed and introduced first in class multi-material additive printers in Metal and Composite lines including engineered materials for both lines. Responsible for software upgrades across cloud and device releases. Championed software offerings that mined terabytes of operational machine telemetry for increased reliability, fleet maintenance, and customer support tools. Performed technical diligence and integration of two acquired companies in integrated Finite Element Analysis for customers and a best-in-class binderjet metal printer for extremely fine resolution components. ### Vice President Of Engineering @ Markforged Jan 2021 – Jan 2022 | Watertown, Massachusetts, United States Building the future of Additive Manufacturing ### Director, Advanced Products @ Amazon Lab126 Jan 2014 – Jan 2021 | Sunnyvale, CA Lead Advanced Product Development for Lab 126. Built and led the Hardware Teams that delivered multiple Amazon products including the first Echo Show and the Astro Home Robot. ### Director Advanced Materials Development @ Amazon Lab126 Jan 2011 – Jan 2015 | Cupertino, CA It's all very hush hush! Shhh! ### VP R&D @ Intuity Medical Jan 2007 – Jan 2011 Intuity Medical is a late stage venture capital funded company focused on bringing improved diagnostic technology to ease the care and management of Diabetes. Lead the development of a novel integrated multi-test glucomenter. Direct the activities of Hardware, Software, Mechanical Engineers, and Chemists. Additional responsibilities for Operations and new product introduction including clinical production and manufacturing engineering. ### Principal Fellow, Delivery Systems @ Nektar Therapeutics Jan 2004 – Jan 2007 Functional and budgetary responsibility for the identification, selection, and development of all Nektar combination drug delivery device and packaging technologies. Led twenty engineers, project managers and support staff in the development of very high volume patient-operated drug delivery products. Leveraged internal design teams with offshore and onshore design resources. • Developed three next generation inhaler platforms concurrently. Executed designs from concept to human trials rapidly. Designs maintained performance, lowered COGS, and substantially improved patient acceptance while extending Nektar’s Intellectual Property • Integrated Aerogen technical staff and programs into Nektar post-acquisition. Developed and presented a cohesive technology roadmap for liquid inhalation products that rationalized technology investments and eliminated overlapping projects • Contracted with external design organizations worldwide to effect timely, and cost-sensitive designs. Minimized Nektar internal staffing and sped development pace allowing concurrent inhaler programs • Established formal mentoring program for key Nektar senior staff in response to high attrition amongst Nektar’s highest rated directors and senior technical staff. Attrition of participants lower than Nektar average and the program was consistently oversubscribed • Supported business development on existing and prospective deals. Reviewed contracts, presented product options and consulted on business opportunities. Presented technology to prospective major Pharma Partners several times per year • Maintained Design Controls and supported multiple partner and regulatory audits. Department consistently met FDA/GMP/ISO requirements ### Vice President Device Manufacturing @ Nektar Therapeutics Jan 2001 – Jan 2004 Functional responsibility for development and commercialization of pulmonary drug delivery systems. Led twenty-five engineering and manufacturing professionals in Device Manufacturing, Test Engineering, and Sustaining Engineering. • Developed Exubera device supply chain and directed efforts of two contract manufacturers (100+ engineers and support staff) during the specification, design, installation, and qualification of high-speed GMP compliant manufacturing systems and tooling in mirrored facilities in the US and EU • Developed clinical manufacturing capability for Novartis capsule based inhaler program • Managed Customer Service Group in administering and investigating all clinical returns for very large Phase 3 clinical study • Principal device manufacturing liaison with pharmaceutical partners. Attended and presented status at quarterly meetings and met monthly with counterparts on program issues and resolutions ### Senior Director Device Development @ Nektar Therapeutics Jan 1998 – Jan 2001 Responsible for development of novel pulmonary drug delivery systems. Managed Test Engineering and multiple development teams to deliver on-time commercial-ready designs. • Initiated product life cycle planning for drug delivery devices. Developed staffing plan and led recruiting that doubled engineering staff enabling multiple simultaneous device programs. • Completed development of the Exubera Inhaler, the first inhaler approved by the FDA for treatment of a systemic disease. • Performed due diligence on Nektar’s first passive capsule based inhaler acquired for treatment of Cystic Fibrosis. Extended inhaler platform for multiple inhaled anti-infectives. • epresented combination device in key partner and FDA meetings ### Product Design Manager @ Apple Computer Jan 1988 – Jan 1998 Managed PowerBook product design activities on three successive platforms culminating in the PowerBook G3 Portable Product Family. Managed design engineers, consultants, and support staff. Developed and managed $3 million program budgets. • Achieved project goals that included world-class design, innovative features, on-time product ramp, aggressive cost targets • Supported world-wide launches for all programs ### Mechanical Engineer @ Phase 2 Automation Jan 1983 – Jan 1986 Design of robotic systems for clean room automation ### Intern Co-op @ IBM Storage Division Jan 1981 – Jan 1982 ## Education ### MS in Manufacturing Systems Engineering Stanford University ### BS in Mechanical Engineering Stanford University ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/john-howard-7bbb4 --- Source: https://flows.cv/johnhoward1 JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/johnhoward1/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-13