Holistic hardware engineering focused on haptic and audio applications.

Hi, I'm David, the person behind most of heartwerk.tech. My expertise ranges from electronics, mechanics, and embedded software to product experience. I like making products easier to understand and trust through interfaces people can feel.

What I bring

Embedded product development

Over a decade in embedded software, hardware engineering, PCB design, prototyping, and product integration.

Haptic interfaces

Haptic interfaces have been a constant thread since my 2014 thesis work on rotary force-feedback devices.

Audio and interaction

I care about musical, expressive controls: hardware that gives people confidence, timing, and a little joy.

Connected systems

Smart home devices, Linux-based prototypes, distributed sensors, and connected hardware all fit the same practical mindset: make the system useful, reliable, and clear.

Selected background

I have worked with teams across music technology, haptics, sensing, and embedded hardware, from early prototypes to released products. A major public example is the patented Haptic Drive Jog Wheel.

For Native Instruments' Traktor Kontrol S4, I helped take the jog wheel from research and prototyping into product integration and manufacturing support. The interface can emulate turntable feel, damping, friction, torque, and physical cue feedback.

I have also worked on vibrotactile feedback, startup hardware, smart sensing, music technology, and undisclosed prototypes. The common thread is making technical systems respond in ways people can feel immediately.

Current work at heartwerk.tech focuses on Printed Circuit Haptics: compact PCB-based haptic controls that can be adapted to knobs, buttons, faders, jog wheels, and custom interface geometries.

References

A selection of companies, partners, and product contexts I have worked with.

More available on request.

Native Instruments

Music production and DJ technology.

Swobbee

Battery sharing hubs and last-mile vehicles.

Katalog Equipment

EXIST-funded startup for music technology.

Watergenics

Industrial smart sensing and monitoring systems.

icon incar

Haptic audio seats for automotive use cases.

icon impact

Consumer electronics research and development.

Polyvection

Smart home and audio technology development.

KORG.berlin

Music products with acoustic synthesis technology.

Hapticlabs.io

Design, development, and deployment tools for haptic interactions.

Nonlinear Labs

Prototyping for high-end music synthesizer technology.

NXP Semiconductors

Showcase hardware for automotive applications.

Let's talk

I am available for consulting, prototyping, hardware and software development, integration support, and the practical work needed to bring your idea to life.

Email david@heartwerk.tech