Florian specializes in scalable hardware and software development, digital engineering, and industrial automation. Florian has driven enterprise-wide adoption of systems engineering, global V&V strategies, and digitized engineering approaches, implementing Agile methodologies, cross-industry benchmarks, and cross-functional collaboration to reduce cost, accelerate time to market, and improve quality. He is strongly committed to talent development and serves as a mentor for the SAE Detroit Section and the Detroit Economic Club’s CRA program.

Most recently, Florian served as Director of Corporate Product Development at Festo, building a strategic engineering hub in Bangalore, India. He created a service portfolio supporting Festo’s global R&D network, delivered significant cost benefits, and laid the foundation for a software engineering organization of 400+ engineers. His team doubled capacity in key areas across mechanics, project management, process development, software, data science, and simulation.

Previously, he led a global team for simulation-based testing and test infrastructure, supporting programs valued over $100M and reducing test feedback cycles from weeks to hours. Florian oversaw the development of modular, scalable test systems used from unit tests through system validation and end-of-line production tests. He directed the enterprise-wide simulation-based testing program, establishing simulation as a standard validation method.

Florian began his career in Festo’s research and innovation division, developing control algorithms, embedded software, and simulations for next-generation Industry 4.0 applications, while contributing to electronics and mechanical design. He led a high-profile innovation project delivering an AI-enabled intelligent grasping system, combining advanced mechanics, electronics, and software to achieve autonomous object manipulation.

Based in Royal Oak, Michigan, Florian holds dual Master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering & IT and Business Administration from the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany. He advises hard-tech startups, advanced manufacturing firms, and early-stage innovators on technical strategy, system validation, organizational and technological scaling, and product industrialization. Florian has extensive experience leading cross-functional teams, developing talent, and aligning engineering with business strategy.