Dr Matthew Leach

Founder / Product & Systems Lead — Geotekk (Self-employed | United Kingdom)

• Led the end-to-end development of an IoT-enabled asset security product from concept through to production-ready stage, integrating hardware, embedded software, GPS, LTE/NB-IoT connectivity, and cloud services.
• Owned the full product lifecycle, translating customer needs into requirements, specifications, prototypes, validation activities, and manufacturing-ready designs.
• Delivered a low-power IoT solution combining GPS, LTE/NB-IoT, sensors, and embedded systems, achieving multi-month battery life from a 900mAh battery through power and connectivity optimisation.
• Led iterative product development through extensive field testing, resolving issues across mechanical durability, RF performance, connectivity reliability, manufacturability, and security resistance.
• Managed supplier and manufacturing relationships, transitioning designs from prototype through injection moulding, investment casting, and composite/aramid-based production methods.
• Evaluated connectivity and communications trade-offs including LTE vs NB-IoT and MQTT vs MQTT-SN to optimise reliability, power consumption, data transmission and operational performance.
• Designed and implemented structured product testing, verification, and evidence-capture processes to improve product quality and development decision-making.

• Deployed on operations in Afghanistan, maintaining communications capability and supporting decision-making in dynamic and safety-critical conditions.
• Worked with communication systems where reliability, situational awareness, and information availability directly impacted operational effectiveness.
• Served as a Signals Marine within Commando Forces, supporting communications and information systems in operational environments.
• Developed disciplined planning, problem-solving skills while operating under significant environmental and operational constraints.
• Gained first-hand experience of how users interact with technology in demanding real-world conditions, reinforcing a user-centred approach to requirements and system design.