# Sylvia Wu > Building autonomous drones for rapid wildfire response Location: San Francisco, California, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/sylviawu Product leader with 10+ years of experience driving the successful launch of hardware and software products. Passionate about leveraging technology to create positive impact in the physical world. Specializes in orchestrating highly cross-functional teams to deliver zero-to-one MVPs that delight customers. Expertise in product strategy, roadmap planning, manufacturing strategy, and product launch. Proven track record of reducing operating costs, improving reliability, and scaling. ## Work Experience ### Head of Product @ Seneca Jan 2025 – Present | Sausalito, California, United States At Seneca, I lead product — but in practice my day to day also encompasses program management, supply chain, integration testing, and hands-on building. My focus, along with everyone on the Seneca team, is getting the system built and into the hands of firefighters as quickly as possible. Each one of us do whatever it takes to make it real. ### Director of Product Management @ Rapid Robotics, Inc Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 | San Francisco, California, United States ### Head of Product @ Kepler Communications Inc. Jan 2023 – Jan 2023 | San Francisco, California, United States ### Group Product Manager, Launch System @ Astra Jan 2021 – Jan 2022 | San Francisco, California, United States Product Lead for Astra's Launch System, responsible for managing hardware and embedded software for successful space launches. Defined product strategy and roadmaps for two-stage liquid-fueled rocket, ground launcher platform, telemetry systems, and test systems. ### Senior Product Manager, Scooter Hardware @ Uber Jan 2018 – Jan 2020 | San Francisco Bay Area As the founding product manager of JUMP's scooter hardware team, I led the entire product development process, from product definition and supplier selection to market entry planning and field data analytics. The custom scooter introduced significant advancements in user comfort and safety, with responsive handling, cushy suspension, and high-performance braking. Its unique swappable battery system enables sustainable "refueling". ### Lead Product Manager @ Fictiv Jan 2015 – Jan 2018 | San Francisco Bay Area As the Lead Product Manager at Fictiv, I oversaw the development of several software product areas: CAD analysis, automated quoting, order management, and vendor solutions. During my tenure, I introduced CNC machining, injection molding, and urethane casting services, restructured the pricing model to achieve positive unit economics, developed automated quoting tools and design-for-manufacturability feedback tools, and implemented an ERP system to streamline business operations. ### Director of Product Design @ Orion (Formerly OnBeep) Jan 2013 – Jan 2015 | San Francisco Bay Area As the design team lead, I delivered the industrial, mechanical, and packaging design for two generations of the Orion Onyx wearable communicator. Working closely with manufacturing partners in China, I led the products through DFM and ramped to mass production. My expertise in product design and manufacturing allowed me to bring the product to life and ensure its quality from concept to production. ### Product Design Engineer @ Lab126 Jan 2012 – Jan 2013 | Cupertino, CA, United States Designed proof-of-concept prototypes for the Amazon Echo family of consumer products. ### BioSand Water Filter Researcher @ Samaritan's Purse Canada Jan 2011 – Jan 2011 | Phnom Penh, Cambodia Evaluated the impact of slow-sand filter operating conditions on nitrate and nitrite levels in filtered water, prepared findings for publication, recommended field strategies to minimize nitrification. Samaritan's Purse Canada's Household Water Program provides safe drinking water and hygiene training to people in the developing world. A main HWP initiative is the implementation of BioSand filters (BSFs), a household-scale point-of-use slow sand water filter. ### Humanoid Robotics Undergraduate Research Assistant @ University of Waterloo Jan 2011 – Jan 2011 Designed the lower body of a humanoid bi-pedal robot to study humanoid gait. The project aims to become a laboratory teaching tool of electromechanical controls ### Medical Device Design Intern @ Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Jan 2010 – Jan 2010 | Toronto, Ontario Worked on the early-stage design of a 3D forward-looking ultrasound catheter for cardiac imaging. Hand-prototyped micron-scale components, designed the physical physician interface, and negotiated with both Canadian and foreign vendors to source materials. ### iPhone Product Design Intern @ Apple Jan 2010 – Jan 2010 | Cupertino, CA, USA Worked on the mechanical design and EVT/DVT of the iPhone 4 (SIM and CDMA versions). Resolved several key cosmetic issues, supported Apple engineers working overseas, supervised contractor work, conducted extensive product reliability tests and failure analysis. ### Product Design Intern @ Sentinelle Medical (now part of Hologic Corp.) Jan 2009 – Jan 2009 Designed MRI periphery products for CNC and injection molding. Designed and built automated product testing fixtures. Design and conduct statistical experiments to improve manufacturing yields. Research bio-compatible plastics for CNC and molding. Conducted prototype verification tests in Greater Toronto Area hospitals. ### Medical Imaging Software Test Automation Developer @ Agfa Healthcare Jan 2008 – Jan 2008 | Waterloo, Ontario Scripting for automated tests used against the medical imaging softwares IMPAX and Agility. ### New Product Development Intern @ CAMI Automotive Inc. Jan 2008 – Jan 2008 | Ingersoll, Ontario Responsible for process improvement in the production of Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Equinox hydrogen fuel cell, Suzuki XL7, Pontiac Torrent. ## Education ### Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) in Mechatronics Engineering, Biomechanics Option University of Waterloo ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sylviawu --- Source: https://flows.cv/sylviawu JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/sylviawu/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-05