Yoofi Annan

Technical Program & Product Marketing Leader | Aerospace Engineer
Milpitas, US.

About

Highly accomplished and multidisciplinary Technical Program and Product Marketing leader with over 6 years of experience managing complex technical projects across aerospace, advanced air mobility, and emerging technologies. Proven expertise in coordinating cross-functional teams, aligning priorities, and delivering critical systems from concept to execution. Adept at managing technical roadmaps, mitigating project risks, and streamlining cross-functional dependencies to drive successful product launches and market expansion.

Work

SanDisk
|

Product Marketing Manager

Summary

Currently leading cross-functional product roadmap coordination across multiple regional markets to drive synchronized product launches and align global strategy.

Highlights

Orchestrate cross-functional product roadmaps across diverse regional markets, strategically balancing competing priorities and resource constraints to ensure optimal product delivery.

Manage complex technical project timelines and interdependencies across engineering, marketing, and regional teams, ensuring synchronized global product launches.

Lead critical scope and resource trade-offs to align global product strategy with dynamic regional market demands and evolving technical capabilities.

Drive data-driven decision-making processes through comprehensive market analysis and cross-functional stakeholder alignment, enhancing strategic product positioning.

Launch Pad Centre for Advanced Air Mobility
|

Advanced Air Mobility Program Coordination (Launchpad Fellow)

Summary

Functioned as a pseudo Chief of Staff, executing strategic initiatives by aligning program priorities with research, industry, and civic partners to accelerate AAM readiness.

Highlights

Collaborated directly with firefighters, emergency responders, and municipal teams to design and implement critical drone applications for public safety, rapid incident response, and infrastructure resilience.

Facilitated high-impact collaboration across a diverse AAM industry consortium, uniting startups, academic researchers, and civic stakeholders to advance dual-use drone technologies.

Designed and assembled a robust drone platform as a technical research engineer, specifically for advanced system testing and safety procedure development.

Achieved FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification, enabling full participation in critical field testing and the design of operational protocols for advanced air mobility systems.

Drone Response AI (ESTEEM Capstone Project)
|

Graduate Student Consultant/Product Manager (Technical Program Leadership)

Summary

Spearheaded the commercialization of $5M NASA/NSF-funded research, launching a Semi-Autonomous AI Drone Management Software venture.

Highlights

Orchestrated cross-functional program execution among Ph.D. researchers and faculty advisors in AI, electrical, and computer engineering, delivering technical solutions for autonomous drone-based grid inspection and system monitoring in the energy and infrastructure market.

Drove a 20% increase in early user adoption by continuously refining product-market fit through iterative stakeholder feedback and rigorous usability testing.

Validated market viability through 40+ structured interviews with domain experts in Energy, Infrastructure, and Drone Technology, precisely defining key use cases and refining product hypotheses.

Developed and executed a comprehensive Product & Go-to-Market Strategy, encompassing IP strategy, commercial licensing models, regulatory risk assessment, business model development, and financial projections.

Secured a pilot partner for MVP deployment in grid inspection operations, driving strategic market expansion within the Energy & Infrastructure sector (one of three target markets).

IDEA Center Innovation Lab, Notre Dame
|

Lab Assistant (Cross-Functional Project Coordination)

Summary

Managed engineering project timelines and resources for 15+ student entrepreneurs and startup teams, optimizing development processes.

Highlights

Managed engineering project timelines and resource allocation for over 15 student entrepreneur and startup teams, ensuring timely delivery.

Coordinated design-for-manufacturability processes across mechanical, electrical, and software domains, achieving a 30% reduction in development cycle time.

Led comprehensive cross-functional design reviews and rigorous validation testing, resulting in a 25% improvement in overall product quality.

Streamlined production workflows by leveraging 3D printing and laser cutting technologies, significantly optimizing resource utilization and efficiency.

Africa World Airlines
|

Aircraft Engineer (Avionics, Airframe & Power Plant)

Summary

Managed critical avionics systems maintenance and validation across a commercial aircraft fleet, ensuring regulatory compliance and operational continuity.

Highlights

Managed critical avionics systems maintenance and validation for a commercial aircraft fleet, achieving a 100% safety record.

Coordinated complex maintenance schedules and optimized resource allocation, consistently maintaining a 98% fleet reliability rate.

Led advanced troubleshooting and resolution for complex mechanical and avionics system issues, ensuring strict regulatory compliance and continuous operational continuity.

Managed comprehensive technical documentation and maintenance protocols across electrical, mechanical, and software systems, ensuring adherence to industry standards.

2020 Courier Services
|

Co-Founder & CMO

Summary

Co-founded and scaled a last-mile logistics startup, overseeing marketing, customer experience, and operational efficiency.

Highlights

Co-founded and rapidly scaled a community-backed delivery service, acquiring the first 15 clients within 3 months of launch.

Recruited and trained the initial rider fleet, coordinating daily dispatch and routing with limited infrastructure to maximize efficiency.

Implemented lean operational tools (WhatsApp, Google Sheets) to achieve 90% on-time delivery and robust order tracking.

Directed branding, enhanced customer experience, and optimized logistics execution across high-density urban areas.

Volunteer

Notre Dame Club of San Jose/Silicon Valley
|

Board Member

Summary

Contributes to the strategic direction and community engagement initiatives of the Notre Dame alumni club in the San Jose/Silicon Valley region.

Education

University of Notre Dame

Master of Science (STEM Innovation MBA)

Engineering, Science, and Technology Entrepreneurship

Courses

Product Management

Data Analysis

Program Management

Design Thinking

Technical Project Leadership

Startups & New Ventures

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Ghana

Bachelor of Science

Aerospace Engineering

Courses

Avionics Systems

Aircraft Structures

Aerodynamics

Propulsion Systems

Control Systems

Systems Integration

Final Year Project: Led cross-disciplinary team to design, build, and test Remote Controlled Aircraft

Certificates

SolidWorks CSWA Certification (Computer-Aided Design)

Issued By

Dassault Systèmes

Human Factors Certification (Aviation Systems)

Issued By

Unspecified

Safety Management System Certification (Aviation)

Issued By

Unspecified

Systems Engineering Fundamentals

Issued By

Unspecified

FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

Issued By

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Skills

Technical Program Management

Cross-functional Team Coordination, Technical Roadmap Management, Resource Allocation, Timeline Management, Risk Mitigation, Stakeholder Alignment, Product Development.

Aerospace & Avionics

Aircraft Systems, Avionics Integration, Flight Systems, Regulatory Compliance, System Validation, Safety Systems, Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Drone Technologies.

Project Leadership

Scope Management, Schedule Optimization, Cross-functional Dependencies, Technical Communication, Vendor Coordination, Volume Production Support, Agile Methodologies.

Technical Tools & Software

CAD/CAM, SolidWorks, Technical Documentation, Data Analysis, Product Management Software, 3D Printing, Laser Cutting, WhatsApp, Google Sheets.

Product Marketing & Strategy

Market Analysis, Go-to-Market Strategy, Product-Market Fit, User Adoption, Commercial Licensing Models, Business Model Development, Financial Projections, Branding, Customer Experience.