Led technical implementation of research and product development within the UX team to create proof of concepts (PoC) and rapid prototypes for next-generation automotive infotainment, ADAS and mobile experiences. Managed UX research laboratory to facilitate local and offshore teams in executing user studies for North America and Europe.

✔ Reduced user research costs 40% by developing remote driving simulation system that enabled live interactive studies across US and Germany to streamline data collection and analysis, foster global collaboration, and eliminate travel costs.

✔ Established and managed CARIAD’s first UX research laboratory in North America, tailoring to technical needs of UX researchers, which added revenue by hosting research studies for VW brands.

✔ Enhanced driving simulator capabilities by integrating Audi and VW infotainment systems through CAN, LIN, Automotive Ethernet, and MQTT signal manipulation, supporting real-world telematics and driving conditions for usability testing, user behavior analysis, and moderated testing to evaluate product engagement and effectiveness.

✔ Designed and refined 5+ innovative product concepts with patent potential collaborating with product and IP legal team to drive intellectual property strategy and secure competitive advantages.

✔ Executed end-to-end competitive research events, strengthening competitive advantage of HMI UX projects for VW brands by benchmarking 10+ vehicles to assess emerging trends, innovations, and market gaps.

✔ Conducted technology scouting at major technology events, such as CES.

Validated infotainment, software projects, supported research, and development of infotainment solutions. Liaised with US and Japan teams to manage validation processes, enhance quality, and accelerate project timelines.

✔ Managed project status with OEM customers and internal teams, driving prompt hardware and software issue resolutions.

• Validated infotainment features and addressed integration challenges through functional testing.

• Oversaw usability testing to ensure seamless user experience, liaising with onshore and offshore teams to address feedback.

• Coordinated performance stress tests, maintaining focus on system reliability while keeping schedules on track.

• Ensured compliance with industry standards and safety regulations by coordinating with internal and external teams for timely testing and resolution.

Coordinated technological strategies within UX design process. Provided expertise in concept discovery and transformation and translated use-cases into HMI solution prototypes. Facilitated communication between UX and engineering teams. Translated design concepts into technical requirements. Executed user research, product development, and intellectual property exploration for new in-vehicle and mobile user experiences.

✔ Conducted extensive UX research and competitive analysis to identify innovation opportunities, ensuring patent submissions addressed unmet user needs and emerging market trends.

✔ Developed and prototyped interactive proof of concept (PoCs) to validate novel UX solutions, demonstrating technical feasibility and user impact before patent filing.

✔ Collaborated with cross-functional teams, including legal and engineering, to refine patent claims, maintaining technical accuracy and alignment with business strategy.

✔ Led ideation and documentation of up to 10 patent proposals annually, defining unique UX methodologies, interaction models, and system integrations to advance company technology.

✔ Secured business contract by designing and prototyping use cases for gesture detection technology.

• Developed HMI UI / UX functional flow, interaction framework, created low- to high-fidelity prototypes.

• Designed and built LED feedback module, integrated steering wheel haptics, and sensors with infotainment.

• Installed, tested, and implemented hardware models, performed user testing, and documented results.

✔ Boosted R&D UX proprietary technology exchange between Alpine Electronics and Alps post-merger, leading to 15+ potential new products and defining 30+ use cases.

• Initiated research project inventory and compiled report to present to Tokyo counterparts.

• Visited R&D labs in Japan to analyze latest proprietary technologies for use in US projects.

• Created portfolio of UX use cases and potential intellectual property opportunities.

Steered e-commerce web content, created content-dynamic sites, and maintained existing sites in multiple languages. Debugged and troubleshot codebase and managed content (CMS) platforms.

✔ Reduced customer’s usability concerns by redesigning obsolete platform in multimillion-dollar revamp project.

• Dissected older platform’s functional flow, enabling issue identification and documentation in planning meetings.

• Optimized user experience by evaluating and refining user flow, sitemap structure, and content strategy.

• Improved navigation, performance, and user engagement through continuous feedback analysis.

• Ensured cross-browser compatibility and device-agnostic performance by implementing responsive and adaptive design principles through use of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (OOP).

✔ Won innovation award at company hack-a-thon by inventing PoC prototype for smart gear gamification.

• Brainstormed ideas for products in business areas for expansion, including wearable technology.

• Constructed medium-fidelity rapid prototype, programming microcontroller (C++) and sensor interfacing.

• Presented prototype before company at major event in private to CEO at request of CIO.

✔ Increased work bandwidth through coordination of offshore web development team by serving in lead role.

• Consulted product managers and business stakeholders, aiding ticket creation, grooming, and assignment.

• Hosted daily scrum meetings to monitor ticket’s life cycle, such as status, issues, and accomplishments.

• Facilitated team member needs, ensuring work completion and QA approval.