Jathan D. Edwards
AFTON
Summary
37+ years of diverse and challenging experience spanning R&D, manufacturing, field/applications engineering and New Product Development. Physics/Mathematics background with strengths in the areas of NPD project management, optical systems design and construction, test system and methods development, reliability and accelerated life testing, semiconductor final package and wafer level testing, precision motion control, FMAE analysis and IP development. 45+ US patents granted to date.
Professional liaison with strong background in fostering communication and building relationships. Skilled in team collaboration and adept at navigating changing needs to achieve results. Expertise in conflict resolution, project management, and strategic planning. Reliable, adaptable, and focused on driving success through effective partnerships and clear communication.
Experienced with streamlining communication channels and fostering collaborative partnerships. Utilizes exceptional mediation and negotiation skills to resolve conflicts and align stakeholder interests. Track record of driving successful project outcomes and enhancing team cohesion through effective relationship management.
Overview
42
42
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
TGP Senior Adv. Manufacturing Engineer
Honeywell Aerospace
01.2023 - 08.2025
- Engineering intermediary with Laser Mirror Production group (TFO) representing yield and process improvements during 40% YOY ring laser growth in laser gyro production and new process implementations including laser coring procedures to replace conventional coring.
- Designed and tested manufacturing processes to enhance product quality and operational efficiency.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to identify and resolve production issues, ensuring timely project completion.
Senior Patent Liaison
3M OIPC
01.2014
- Technology specialist - patent liaison for OIPC working with Electronic Materials and Solutions Division (EMSD), Display Materials and Systems Division (DMSD) and Transportation and Electronic Group Lab (TEGL) clients. Invention review and processing towards patent applications and IP portfolio management coordinating with legal staff and client division management.
- Facilitated communication between departments to enhance project coordination and execution.
- Developed and maintained relationships with key stakeholders to support operational strategies.
Principle New Product Development Engineer
Johnstech International
01.2008 - 01.2014
- Lead Johnstech’s NPD engineering team through NPI phases to develop novel MEMS final test device for wafer prober testing of WLCSP wafers at 0.4/0.5mm pitch. Resulting IQTouch Micro product provides superior electrical, mechanical and durability performance to competing solutions. Provided successful customer installations and training in semiconductor test floors in several sites across Asia.
- Responsible for international team of 6 Field Service Engineers and 5 Technicians providing customer support for JTI product placements and troubleshooting on test floors around the world. Built FSE request system/database for coordinating and documenting field service support in conjunction with JTI problem resolution system. Compile training materials and led instruction for JTI and partner organizations and customer engineering teams throughout Asia
- Designed and built LabView based testing systems for emulating high speed chip-handler motion profiles for contactor reliability testing over ~ 300K surrogate device insertions.
Optical Technology Leader
Imation
01.1996 - 01.2008
- One of 4 Technology leaders assigned to Executive VP of Technology advisory team to inform strategic planning, IP strategy and direction and potential M&A decisions
- Resolved major production constraint on special assignment in Wahpeton, ND manufacturing facility. Resulting net yield of >20% while halving cycle time and eliminating all false passes from final defect scanning steps for BD-RE product.
- Special assignment to compile data for world’s first archival certification data set for CDR/DVDR media products fulfilling IS18927 certifying 50-year certified median life expectance in conjunction with Library of Congress archivists. Presented results to Government Preservation Working Group (GIPWoG) and Optical Storage Association (OSTA) as member of test standards working group.
- Built out “picket fence” patent strategy from base patent applications covering optical disk structure geometries pertinent to all formats of Blu-Ray media. This patent bundle was later sold by Imation and sustained in court for substantial royalties.
Senior Staff Optical Physicist
3M Company
01.1984 - 01.1996
- Technical coordination of 6-member cross-functional team working on US government funded programs for holographic data storage with full contract award of $1.2M/year for each phase of 3 year program. Developed impenetrable IP portfolio including foundational patents that are necessary to all formats of holographic media under development.
- Designed advanced optical mastering system and processes from laboratory through manufacturing to enable 3M/Imation Near Field Recording (NFR) project sponsored US government programs. The resulting mastering systems were useful to demonstrate capability of 4nm precision in track pitch servo-positioning.
- Design of optical system for exploratory biosensor project with publications showing state-of-the-art kinetic binding chemistry sensitivities. Biosensor technology sold to Quantech.
Senior Physicist (T3)
3M Company
01.1984 - 01.1996
- Design and built world first UV optical disk mastering systems and photoresist candidate evaluations resulting in resolution matching theoretical limitations of 0.22 micron laser spot size. Designed test masters to successfully complete US government program milestones for TRP joint project with IBM/Phillips/HP.
Advanced Physicist (T2)
3M Company
01.1984 - 01.1996
- Primary responsibility to construct and optimize laser scanning systems for novel digital radiography systems based on photoconductive Se plates. Systematic system optimization and noise reductions for the scanning systems allow demonstration of quantum limited x-ray detector sensitivity equivalence to conventional phosphor screen / film systems but with 4X the inherent resolution (needed for mammography)
Advanced Physicist
3M Company
01.1984 - 01.1996
- Program technical coordinator for 5 person cross-functional team with personal responsibility for all testing tasks for (3) 1-year government projects for 14” Optical Disk program for NASA ($1-2M per program). Represented 3M in NIST standardization and test method working groups in Washington, DC.
Physicist
3M Company
01.1984 - 01.1996
- Task leader for media characterization for NASA sponsored Optical Disk Buffer programs. Constructed dynamic test systems for optical disk, tape and card formats.
Education
MS - Physics
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Mn01.1994
BA - Physics, Mathematics
Hamline University
St. Paul, Mn01.1985
Skills
- Assertiveness
- Mediation skills
- Influencing skills
- Representative experience
- Verbal and written communication
- Team collaboration
- Goal setting
Certification
Specialized certifications: LabView/LabWindows, Zemax optical design, SolidWorks essentials
Timeline
TGP Senior Adv. Manufacturing Engineer
Honeywell Aerospace
01.2023 - 08.2025
Senior Patent Liaison
3M OIPC
01.2014
Principle New Product Development Engineer
Johnstech International
01.2008 - 01.2014
Optical Technology Leader
Imation
01.1996 - 01.2008
Senior Staff Optical Physicist
3M Company
01.1984 - 01.1996
Senior Physicist (T3)
3M Company
01.1984 - 01.1996
Advanced Physicist (T2)
3M Company
01.1984 - 01.1996
Advanced Physicist
3M Company
01.1984 - 01.1996
Physicist
3M Company
01.1984 - 01.1996
BA - Physics, Mathematics
Hamline University
MS - Physics
University of Minnesota
Similar Profiles
Maximilian RudolphMaximilian Rudolph
Assembler at Honeywell AerospaceAssembler at Honeywell Aerospace
Concetto SquillaciConcetto Squillaci
Mechanical technician at Honeywell AerospaceMechanical technician at Honeywell Aerospace
GADIEL J. MATHEU VEGAGADIEL J. MATHEU VEGA
Mechanical Design Engineer I at Honeywell AerospaceMechanical Design Engineer I at Honeywell Aerospace
Caylen ConradCaylen Conrad
Daycare Lead Teacher at Billy PuckettDaycare Lead Teacher at Billy Puckett
Kennedy LillardKennedy Lillard
Substitute Teacher at HR Service Group LLCSubstitute Teacher at HR Service Group LLC