About Juan
I am a hands-on, committed, and hard-working engineer and technical leader looking to advance the scientific and engineering knowledge of optics as they apply to military, enterprise, and consumer products. I have worked in the telecommunications, solar energy, illumination, and augmented reality fields in my 10+ year career. Specifically, my team at Luminit are responsible for the research, development and successful product introduction of the holographic combiner that enables the Focals by North. I have a B.S. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (2004) at the Technological University of Panama, and a MSc (2007) and PhD (2015) in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Arizona.
SKILLS
Technical leadership with in-depth, hands-on experience in optical engineering and holography
Experience analyzing large sets of data to determine product performance and financial feasibility by identifying metrics relevant to the current market and technology trends
Intellectual property creation, portfolio management and strategic positioning
Program and project management of a $2M/year portfolio
New product introduction from scientific research through transition to manufacturing
Focus on diffractive optical elements including surface relief structures and volume holography
Experience with functional management of groups of up 30 members
Excellent reporting and presentation capabilities proven by a track record of peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations (please see publication summary at the end of this document)
Hands-on experience with optical bench prototyping, holographic development, polymer fabrication, optical coatings, and motion and instrument control
Simulation optical and physics simulation (including rigorous coupled wave theory and coupled wave theory) skills using python, MATLAB, Zemax, FRED, VPI Photonics, RSoft DiffractMOD
Experienced using Microsoft and Google product suites as well as LabVIEW, CorelDRAW, and SolidWorks.
Experience programming in Microsoft Visual Basic and C language
Languages: Spoken and written English and Spanish with native fluency; Italian with basic proficiency
WORK EXPERIENCE
Optical Engineer, Display Test Group Manager, Boulder CO Mar 2024-Present
Augmented reality testing hardware
Optical Engineer, Boulder, CO Sept 2020- Mar 2024.
Augmented reality hardware
Director of Research and Development, Luminit, LLC, Los Angeles, CA Mar 2019-Sept 2020.
Volume hologram and advanced surface relief structures research and development
New product introduction
Company-wide IP creation, portfolio management and strategic positioning
Cross-functional program management and business development: Program execution, including personnel, cost, and schedule management, resource planning, program controls, and risk and opportunity management
Holography Group Leader, Luminit, LLC, Los Angeles, CA Jan 2017-Feb 2019.
Holographic Optical Element (HOE) research and development
Transition of HOE technologies to manufacturing.
Research, development, and new product introduction of holographic combiner of Focals by North v1.0
Research Scientist, Luminit, LLC, Los Angeles, CA Dec. 2014–Jan 2017.
Preparation, writing and submission of SBIR and STTR proposals.
Holographic and optical research and development.
Commercial and Government Project Manager
Research Assistant, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ Jan. 2011 – Dec. 2014.
Holographic spectrum splitting and light trapping in photovoltaic applications
Designed, fabricated and deployed specialized sensors for solar energy applications characterization
Designed and prototyped non-imaging solar concentrators
Sr. Optical Scientist/Holographic Technology Development Manager, Prism Solar Technologies, Inc., Tucson, AZ. Feb. 2010 – Feb. 2011.
Coordinating research and development of holographic planar concentrators (HPC) for solar panels.
Manager of the holographic development team integrated by 4 engineers and 2 technicians.
Publishing prototype related data to peer-reviewed scientific journals and conferences.
Optical Scientist/Laser Safety Officer, Prism Solar Technologies, Inc., Tucson, AZ. Feb. 2008 – Feb. 2010.
Holographic optical devices for HPC solar panels.
Prototyped, rated, and tested HPC solar panels and analyzed performance data for solar panels.
Installed both commercial and prototype flat-type solar panels.
Participated in the design of custom roof deck racking and mounting systems for solar panels.
Analyzed the levelized cost of electricity for solar electric systems.
Research Assistant, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. Aug. 2005–Jun. 2007.
Designed, fabricated, and optimized holographic filters in phenanthrenequinone-doped poly-methyl methacrylate (PQ/PMMA) for telecommunications.
Nanocomposite development (acrylic with SiO2 and TiO2 nano-dopants) for optical parameter control.
Developed models for grating and diffractive optics in MATLAB, RSoft BeamProp and GratingMOD suite.
Designed, fabricated, and tested blazed gratings in photoresist.
EDUCATION
PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. Jan. 2011 – Jan. 2015 Area of Concentration: Solar Energy. Minor: Engineering Management
M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. Aug. 2005 – Dec. 2007. Area of Concentration: Holographic Materials, Optical Communications
B.S. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Technological University of Panama, Panama, Republic of Panama. Apr. 1999 – Aug. 2004. Area of Concentration: Power, Electronics and Communications
WORK AUTHORIZATION
United States – U.S. Citizen
European Union – Italian citizen. Authorized to relocate to and work in any of the EU/EEA block member states
Republic of Panama – Panamanian national. Sociedad de Ingenieros y Arquitectos de Panamá (SPIA) registered
Publication list available at http://www.juanrusso.com/publications or upon request.
CONTACT
Email: info at juanrusso.com