Saad Imtiaz

I’m a product-focused engineer with a deep passion for creating robust, intelligent systems that live beyond the screen. With a foundation in mechatronics and over 7 years of experience in embedded systems, IoT, and automation, I specialize in taking ideas from concept to prototype to real-world deployment. Whether it's designing low-level firmware, building smart connected devices, or automating physical systems, I thrive in environments where hardware meets software and innovation meets execution.

Currently, I work as a Senior Engineer at Elektor, contributing to both hardware and software R&D. My journey has taken me from aviation systems to startup leadership and global product launches—experiences that have shaped my practical, user-first approach to engineering. When I’m not building or debugging something, you’ll likely find me in a competitive FPS match, flying sorties in DCS, or staying active through basketball, boxing, and the gym.

• 2023 — PRESENT

  Senior Engineer · Elektor Ineternational Media B.V

  At Elektor, I lead the end-to-end development of embedded and electronics projects—from software to hardware. I’ve authored and edited technical articles, collaborated on hardware reviews, and worked closely with the community to turn engineering ideas into products. I also direct design projects and foster cross-team collaboration to bring smart, reliable electronics to life.

  • Embedded Systems
  • C++
  • KiCAD
  • SOLIDWORKS
  • IoT and Automation
  • CI/CD
  • Robotics
• 2021 — 2023

  Co-Founder & CTO · LOOFT Inc.

  As a startup founder, I wore many hats—leading the vision, building the product, and managing the engineering team. I designed embedded systems for AI-powered smart air conditioning, crafted intuitive UI/UX, and built firmware in C++ for power-optimized performance. From CAD modeling to cloud architecture, I drove the entire development cycle, reducing energy consumption by 30% and taking the product from idea to pre-launch.

  • Project Management
  • UI/UX
  • Product Lifecycle
  • Team Management
  • IoT Architecture
  • Startup Strategy
  • Investor Relations
  • Hardware Design
  • and much more
• 2017 — 2021

  Mechatronics & Embedded Systems Engineer · Self Employed

  Over four years, I collaborated with 200+ companies worldwide, developing embedded systems using ESP32, STM32, and AVR platforms. I led projects from concept to deployment, often working solo or managing small remote teams. It was an incredible experience that honed my client communication, prototyping, and delivery under tight constraints.

  • Embedded Systems
  • Product Development
  • CAD/CAM
  • IoT Architecture
  • Automation
  • Robotics

• Elektor ESP32 Energy Meter

  The Elektor ESP32 Energy Meter is a device designed for real-time energy monitoring and smart home integration. Powered by the ESP32-S3 microcontroller, it offers robust performance with modular and scalable features.

  ESP32S3

  Software and Hardware Development

  Power Electronics

  Home Assistant

  MQTT

  IoT

  Automation
• An Autonomous Sensor Node: LoRa-Based Data Transmission and Power by Solar Cells

  This Sensor Node project, which uses low-energy and long-range LoRa data transmission, can be used for remote environmental monitoring. Utilizing the LoRa WIO E5 Module and an ESP32-C3 XIAO controller board, it integrates an SCD30 CO2 sensor and a soil moisture sensor, all powered by solar energy. Data is sent to The Things Network (TTN) and can be accessed via Datacake or Home Assistant for real-time insights and automation. This guide covers everything from setting up your LoRaWAN gateway to seamless integration with TTN, Datacake, and Home Assistant.

  Embedded Systems

  Software and Hardware Development

  LoRaWAN

  TTN

  Home Assistant
• Sensor Testing with the ESP32-S3-Based Sensor Evaluation Board

  The Sensor Evaluation Board was created to solve the hassle of repeatedly swapping sensors during development. Based on the ESP32-S3, it includes two high-precision ADS1015 ADCs, Grove connectors, and modular edge card slots. These features allow one to effortlessly test and swap sensors, addressing the ESP32’s ADC limitations and ensuring consistent, accurate data for a smoother, more efficient prototyping process.

  ESP32S3

  Anaolg Front End

  Software

  Hardware

• AlertAlfred: An AI Security System Powered by a Raspberry Pi 5 and the Hailo 8L Module

  AlertAlfred is an AI-powered security system built on a Raspberry Pi 5 and the Hailo 8L module. The AI security system is designed to detect people in a CCTV feed in real-time. In this article, we cover how to set the system up, capture images upon detection, and send instant alerts via Telegram — all while maintaining local data processing to ensure privacy.

• Weather Station Sensors Which One Should You Choose?

  When building a weather station, you have so many options of sensors to choose from. It should be accurate, reliable and not too costly, and also easy to control by the microcontroller of your choice. In this article, we will provide an in-depth comparison of some environmental sensors.

• LiDAR and Vision Sensors for Robotics

  As sensing technologies continue to evolve, they are quietly shaping how robots perceive and interact with their environment. This article looks into a range of LiDAR sensors, and depth cameras that are commonly found across robotics projects — from research and education to more advanced applications. It also touches on software ecosystems, typical use cases, and a few higher-end options that hint at what's possible as these tools become more widely adopted.