Hardware product design · San Francisco
I lead product design teams that take consumer hardware from first architecture to mass production. More than 15 years at Apple and Meta, across wearables, audio, XR and charging.
I spent more than a decade at Apple working on products people use every day: the Vision Pro headbands, the second-generation HomePod, MagSafe for iPhone, the Apple Watch charger and the Lightning connector. I have managed product design teams since 2019 and directed engineering teams across the US and Asia.
At Meta I ran product design for the audio-only smart glasses program, a new product category built on a fast schedule.
My technical background covers soft goods and 3D knit, magnetics and inductive charging, acoustics, human factors, and design for manufacture and reliability. I like the stage where an idea has to become something a factory can build a million times.
Ran product design for Meta's audio-only smart glasses, a new product subcategory developed on an accelerated schedule. Led the product design team through architecture, new technology integration and design for manufacture, and worked with partner engineering teams through prototype builds and production ramp.
Managed and grew the team that delivered the Apple Vision Pro headbands and soft accessories, including the Solo Knit Band: a single-piece 3D-knitted band with integrated rigid connection points, dual latching connectors and a precision dial with a built-in tensioning cable. Coordinated human factors, instrumented ergonomics and large-scale comfort testing to tie comfort to measurable mechanical targets.
Related patent: US 12,622,493Managed the team and served as product design lead for the second-generation HomePod. Directed multiple engineering teams across the US and Asia from architecture through mass production, and led design work on new sensors and integrated technologies for the home products line.
Related patent: US 12,126,950Ecosystem lead for MagSafe for iPhone. Defined the interface requirements and magnetic modules that let cases, docks and third-party accessories attach and charge, and worked with industrial design, electrical and battery teams on charging goals, efficiency and thermal limits.
8 magnetic alignment patentsProduct design lead for the metal and plastic versions of the first Apple Watch charger, and senior engineer on the team that architected its fully sealed, metal-compatible inductive charging interface.
21 wireless charging patentsLed definition of the accessories that bridged Apple's move from the 30-pin dock connector to Lightning, and wrote the development and integration specifications for two Lightning connectors Apple supplies to accessory makers through its MFi program.
13 connector and dock patentsEarlier at Apple (2010 to 2011): developed the fully laminated cover glass that cut display stack thickness by more than half and made the thin-edge iMac possible.
Named inventor on 41 granted US patents and 7 published applications, all assigned to Apple and filed as Paul J. Thompson. Each entry opens the full record on Justia Patents.
48 entries, newest first
No patents match that search.