design with software and electronics

Andy Sigler

About

I'm a designer who uses software and electronics. I use emerging technologies to design novel devices and interactions. I hope to use these tools to bring some magic and playfulness to everyday objects. These days, I'm most interested in finding new forms of interaction at the intersection of machine-learning, hardware, and connected devices.


Work

Software / Electronics / Systems Engineer 2014-'15 & 2016-'19
@ Opentrons Labworks
  • First employee at hardware startup, writing entire software stack for the company's Kickstarter release
  • Designed and developed the Opentrons Python API on a small team
  • Lead design and systems engineering of the OT2 liquid-handling machine and pipettes
  • Sole electronics designer for the OT2, pipettes, temperature module, and magnetic module
  • Lead early product ideation, R&D, testing, and design for all hardware products, focusing on electronics and systems design
  • Helped grow factory and production process in Opentrons' Shenzhen factory, growing from 2 employees in 2016 to >50 in 2019
Adjunct Professor 2015-Present
@ ITP-NYU
  • Teaching a course of my own design, entitled Homemade Hardware
  • Graduate students from all types of backgrounds learn to design and fabricate DIY circuit boards
Electronics Design Engineer 2015-'16
@ Tomorrow Lab
  • Designed and tested production-ready prototypes and beta runs of wireless devices
  • Designed electronics and firmware for devices utilizing wireless protocols, including Bluetooth LE, WiFi, LoRa, and ANT
Research Resident 2014-'15
@ ITP-NYU
  • Research focusing on internet-of-things design tools, as well as circuit board fabrication techniques
  • Mentored graduate students with their projects, as well as held office hours to teach relevant engineering skills
  • Created the ITP "Hard-Lab", which is a section of the facility dedicated to circuit board fabrication, using pick-and-place machine, micro-milling machines, reflow ovens, parts management, and diagnostic equipment

Tools and Tech

  • Python
  • NodeJS, HTML5, ES6
  • Wireless protocols (WiFi, BLE, LoRa)
  • Embedded C/C++, Arduino
  • Eagle CAD, PCB Fab and Production
  • Solder, multimeter, tweezers
  • Duct tape, Gaffer tape
  • MaxMSP/Jitter

Education

Master's Degree 2012-'14
@ ITP-NYU
  • Self-lead master's degree, focused on interaction design through emerging hardware and internet technologies
  • Presented a master's thesis, Patchbay, a wireless framework for designing wirelessly interoperable toys and musical instruments
Bachelor's Degree 2006-'10
@ Hamilton College
  • Political science major, and music minor
  • Varsity lacrosse player, three years starting at defensive midfield and close defense
  • Member of Alpha Delta Phi fraternity