Open to opportunities

Daniel Olaifa

Senior Embedded Systems Engineer

I turn big ideas into prototypes that actually work. 9 years helping startups go from napkin sketches to products on shelves - firmware, PCB design, and everything in between. With manufacturing connections in China and the USA, I take projects from concept to mass production.

Daniel Olaifa
9+
Years Experience
7
Companies
10+
Open Source Repos
7
ESP-IDF Components
Expertise

What I Bring to the Table

Deep, hands-on experience across the full embedded stack - from silicon to cloud.

Firmware & Embedded Systems

Production firmware in C/C++ for safety-critical and real-time applications. Zephyr RTOS, FreeRTOS, embedded Linux, and bare-metal systems. Python for test automation and tooling.

C/C++PythonZephyr RTOSFreeRTOSESP-IDFnRF Connect SDKEmbedded LinuxYoctoROSBare-Metal

Wireless & Networking

End-to-end wireless and wired - BLE, Wi-Fi, Ethernet (W5500), LoRa mesh with AES-256, GSM/MQTT telemetry, and ESP-NOW for low-latency control.

BLEWi-FiEthernetLoRaMQTTESP-NOWThread

Hardware & PCB Design

Circuit design and multi-layer PCB layout with signal integrity analysis, EMI/EMC compliance, and cost optimization. 3D enclosure modeling in SolidWorks.

Cadence AllegroCircuit DesignAltiumKiCadEMI/EMC3D ModelingSolidWorks

Chips & Protocols

ARM Cortex-M: Nordic nRF52/nRF70, full ESP32 family, STM32, ATmega, Raspberry Pi - plus low-level protocol mastery across SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, and USB.

ESP32 FamilyNordic nRFSTM32ATmegaRaspberry PiSPII2CUARTUSBCAN

Audio, DSP & Edge ML

IEC 61672-1 compliant acoustic measurement, 16K-point FFT, A/C weighting, 1/3 octave bands, real-time voice synthesis, Dolby-tuned DSP, and on-device machine learning for AI edge processing.

FFTEdge MLDSPIEC 61672-1TensorFlow LiteVoice SynthesisDolby Audio

Product & Manufacturing

End-to-end from prototype to mass production. BOM optimization, manufacturer sourcing in China, and regulatory compliance.

Prototype→ProductionBOM OptimizationDFMChina Manufacturing
Portfolio

Featured Projects

A few of the projects I've worked on - from concept through manufacturing to products on shelves.

LightBox
IoT System

The LightBox Project

Control your mains, generator, and inverter from anywhere in the world. Intelligent power management that auto-switches sources, monitors usage over time, and lets you toggle home devices remotely via GSM/MQTT. Built with ESP8266 + ATmega 2560, ESP-NOW, OLED display, and energy monitoring with fault detection.

ESP-NOWMQTTGSMEnergy MonitorEmonLib
C++ · Android App
Sfxer PSB6
Audio Hardware

Sfxer PSB6 - Pocket Soundboard

Pocket-sized 6-key soundboard that plugs between your mic and Xbox/PS5/PC. 32-bit STM32 with AI edge processing - up to 30 simultaneous samples, voice modulation, auto-tune, and a Dolby-tuned DSP unit. LED-lit keys, TRRS I/O, USB-C for charging and sound loading. 100mm x 45mm form factor.

STM32AI EdgeDolby DSPVoice ModulationUSB-C
C++ / Python
Buzz Nightmare
Consumer Product

Buzz Nightmare - Phantom Vibration Generator

A prank device that slips between a phone case or inside a book and vibrates randomly. Designed from concept through PCB layout, enclosure design, and manufactured in China with full BOM management and production oversight.

Product DesignPCBManufacturingChina Production
Hardware / Firmware
She Bops
Consumer Audio

She Bops - Bluetooth Speaker + Power Bank

30W AKG-tuned Bluetooth speaker with 80+ hours playback and a built-in 100W USB-C PD power bank for emergency device charging. Features TWS party mode to sync multiple units for surround sound at gatherings.

Bluetooth TWSAKG 30WUSB-C PD 100WBattery Design
C++ / Firmware
AutoGate
Automation

AutoGate - Self-Actuating Smart Gate

Solar-powered autonomous gate for a robotic mower in Denmark. Uses RSSI triangulation and active RFID to detect the mower's direction and intent, opening only when it needs to pass. Self-diagnostic reporting and internal solar-charged battery for off-grid placement.

RSSI TriangulationRFIDSolarMotor Control
C / C++
Sound Level Meter
Industrial IoT

Forensic Sound Level Meter

IEC 61672-1 compliant acoustic measurement for oil and gas. ESP32-S3 with Class 1 B&K microphones, 16K-point FFT, A/C weighting, 1/3 octave bands, continuous lossless recording, and LoRa mesh networking with AES-256 encryption.

ESP32-S3FFTIEC 61672LoRa MeshAES-256
C / Python
Macro Keyboard
Hardware Project

Macro Keyboard

Custom macro keyboard with ESP32-S3, LVGL touchscreen, Cherry MX switches, RGB LEDs, Python macro management. Full hardware - PCB, 3D-printed enclosure, and firmware.

ESP32-S3LVGLKiCadUSB HID
C++ / Python
HUSB238
ESP-IDF Component

HUSB238 USB-PD Driver

Complete ESP-IDF driver for USB Power Delivery sink controller. Published on the Espressif Component Registry. Dynamic 5V–20V selection, hot-plug handling, callbacks, and thread-safe multi-task operation.

USB-C PDI2C5V–20VEspressif Registry
C
Net-Switcher
ESP-IDF Component

Net-Switcher

WiFi/Ethernet network switcher for ESP-IDF with automatic failover, preference-based switching, DNS handling, and pre/post switch callbacks for seamless dual-interface IoT devices.

WiFiEthernetFailoverW5500
C
LED Status
ESP-IDF Component

LED Status - Addressable LED Indicator

WS2812/SK6812/WS2811 LED status indicator for ESP-IDF. 22-function API with 8 animated patterns, custom callbacks, flash overlay, brightness scaling, and HSV utilities - all non-blocking via FreeRTOS.

WS2812SK6812RMTAnimations
C
eth-w5500
ESP-IDF Component

eth-w5500 - W5500 Ethernet Driver

Pure C W5500 Ethernet driver for ESP-IDF. 19-function API with DHCP/static IP, status callbacks, SPI bus sharing, MAC auto-detection, and 5-state machine. No Arduino dependencies.

W5500EthernetSPIDHCP
C
SD Card Driver
ESP-IDF Component

SD Card Driver - SDIO & SPI

SD card driver for ESP-IDF with SDIO 4-bit and SPI support. 21-function Arduino-style file API, FAT auto-mount, hot-plug detection, storage monitoring, and error tracking with 3-strike degradation.

SD CardSDIOFATHot-Plug
C
NVS-EEPROM>
ESP-IDF Component

NVS-EEPROM - Arduino EEPROM API

Arduino-style EEPROM API backed by ESP-IDF NVS. Dual C/C++ interface with type-safe macros, C++ templates, RAM-buffered writes for minimal flash wear, and NVS auto-recovery. No Arduino dependency.

NVSEEPROMC/C++Arduino API
C / C++
Career

Work Experience

Building production embedded systems across IoT, industrial, robotics, and consumer electronics.

July 2024 - Present
Senior Embedded Systems Engineer
Watts Lights · Calgary, Canada
  • Developed W5500 Ethernet chip emulation on nRF7002, implementing high-speed SPI, custom register sets, and socket structures in C/C++ (Zephyr RTOS, nRF Connect SDK)
  • Resolved severe LED flicker issues by transitioning the product from bare-metal to a FreeRTOS-based system with deterministic timing
  • Built Matter and Home Assistant integration, adding smart home ecosystem support to the product
  • Implemented WiFi 6 support (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands), improving connectivity range and throughput
  • Engineered low-level Wi-Fi frame transmission, optimizing the network stack for real-time IoT lighting control
  • Optimized PCB design from 6-layer to 4-layer, reducing manufacturing costs while improving signal integrity
  • Automated firmware validation and hardware testing using Python, accelerating debugging
  • Conducted EMI performance and RF efficiency testing, ensuring industry compliance
March 2023 - July 2024
Senior Embedded Systems Engineer
DeltaTee Enterprises · Calgary, Canada
  • Designed LiDAR-based cable integrity scanner, integrating real-time machine vision for high-precision defect detection
  • Developed firmware in C/C++ for ARM Cortex-M, optimizing real-time signal processing and sensor fusion
  • Implemented RTOS (Zephyr/FreeRTOS) for multi-threaded task management and deterministic control
  • Conducted EMI/EMC compliance testing (EN301489) and hardware debugging, ensuring industrial reliability
  • Automated firmware validation using Python scripting, reducing test cycles by 40%
  • Mentored junior engineers in firmware optimization and PCB design, improving team-wide efficiency
2022 - 2023
Hardware Designer
Prosound Effects · Remote · Contract
  • Designed the Sfxer PSB6 pocket soundboard - 32-bit STM32 with AI edge processing, Dolby-tuned DSP, and real-time voice modulation in a 100mm × 45mm form factor
  • Engineered analog audio path with TRRS I/O, USB-C charging, and addressable RGB LED control
  • Managed full product lifecycle: manufacturer communications in China, CAD team coordination, BOM optimization, and production oversight
February 2021 - January 2024
Electronics Project Engineer
Sbread Labs · California, USA
  • Designed HDI multi-layer PCBs using Cadence Allegro, Altium, and KiCad, ensuring signal integrity, power efficiency, and EMC compliance
  • Developed and optimized firmware in C/C++ for IoT and audio processing, implementing RTOS for real-time WAV playback and audio effects
  • Integrated wireless communication modules, optimizing antenna design for IoT connectivity and RF performance
  • Designed embedded software architecture for a Linux-based wearable, using C and Python for touchscreen control and real-time data processing
  • Conducted hardware validation, signal integrity analysis, EMI/EMC testing, and regulatory compliance reviews
  • Worked closely with hardware and software teams, improving development efficiency and product quality
2020 - Present
Hardware Lead
Kodar Embedded Technologies · Remote · Freelance
  • Lead client consultations, requirements gathering, and technical architecture for embedded hardware projects
  • Oversee full prototype-to-production pipeline - schematic review, PCB layout, firmware development, and manufacturer coordination
  • Manage outsourced engineering teams and vendor relationships across China and USA supply chains
2019 - 2021
Senior Embedded Designer
India Transport Exchange · Bangalore, India · Contract
  • Designed driver vital sign monitoring hardware with real-time sensor data acquisition and cloud telemetry
  • Built end-to-end data pipeline - embedded firmware to MQTT cloud collection and dashboard visualization
  • Managed manufacturer relationships in China for PCB fabrication, assembly, and component sourcing
February 2017 - February 2021
Embedded Systems Engineer
Bitsort ApS · Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Designed autonomous robotic mowers using real-time Linux, integrating IMUs and proximity sensors for navigation and obstacle detection
  • Developed and optimized motor control firmware in C/C++, ensuring precise movement and real-time responsiveness
  • Integrated sensors and actuators, improving system feedback and control
  • Conducted hardware and firmware validation, troubleshooting and debugging to improve reliability and performance
  • Managed a team of two engineers, overseeing mechanical and control system integration
  • Optimized the BOM to reduce manufacturing costs while maintaining industry compliance
Education

Education & Certifications

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
University of Ibadan
Ibadan, Nigeria
Electronics Engineering
The Polytechnic College Ibadan
Ibadan, Nigeria
January 2025
nRF Connect SDK Fundamentals
Nordic Semiconductor
January 2025
nRF Bluetooth Low Energy Fundamentals
Nordic Semiconductor
January 2025
nRF Wi-Fi Fundamentals
Nordic Semiconductor
September 2024
Tools of the Trade: Linux and SQL
Google
March 2024
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701)
CompTIA
November 2023
Google Cybersecurity Professional
Google
Get in Touch

Let's Build Something

Whether you need a senior embedded engineer or want to take your startup's next big thing from napkin to shelf - I'd love to connect.