We love shining a light on the people who make Tyrrell Products what it is. This time, it’s Jawad AlNaimi, our Engineering Manager in the TPL Research & Development department.  

In our latest ‘Get to Know Us’ interview, Jawad gives us a look into the problem‑solving and passion that drive our R&D team forward. From the complex challenges he enjoys tackling to how his team’s work in R&D helps bring fresh ideas and smarter solutions to the group, his insights highlight the dedication behind every Tyrrell solution. 

It’s a great reminder that behind every product and innovation, there’s a team of passionate people working hard to make a difference. 

A little about the importance of our R&D team 

At Tyrrell Products, we’re proud to invest in innovation so that you can invest in success. 

Our Research & Development team plays a vital role in ensuring that every solution we build is not only reliable today but also ready for the challenges of tomorrow. Providing cutting-edge solutions tailored to the customers needs, products that are tested and refined for performance and longevity, and a partner who adapts quickly to the fast pace world of building automation. 

Contact us today to start building your partnership to help you stay competitive, efficient, and prepared for the future. 

📞 01942 732819 

📩 [email protected] 

Scroll down to read Jawad’s interview below- 

---

Innovation starts with people interview: Meet Jawad from our R&D team 

What’s your role? 

JAN: To lead product and data initiatives, focusing on turning business challenges into scalable solutions across IoT platforms, IONA integrations, and building management systems.  

What’s one thing you do in your work that people would be surprised to find out? 

JAN: A big part of my job involves simplifying complex technical ideas so different teams can make confident decisions quickly. 

Can you tell us about a complex challenge you’ve enjoyed tackling in the R&D team?  

JAN: One project that really stood out for me was modernizing the software stack for our IONA devices.  

We were essentially comparing two different approaches at the same time: NPS DKA and bootC, which is a container-based system that’s much more stable and easier to manage long term. The tricky part was juggling both architectures while keeping everything coordinated between firmware, backend services, which was still being updated as we worked. I made sure we had clear milestones for each approach, and with the help of the team, we set up a proper test environment so we could validate things properly.  

We also built a strong relationship with Red Hat to get early access to the OS and documentation, which made a huge difference.  

What I found really rewarding was knowing that all this groundwork we did in R&D means TBT is actually ahead of where we need to be. By the time we finished the evaluation, we knew exactly which approach worked best for stability, security, and keeping things maintainable. So, when the business is ready to move forward, all the technical unknowns are already sorted. That’s the satisfying part about R&D work. 

How does your team’s work in R&D help bring fresh ideas and smarter solutions to the group?  

JAN: Essentially, our job in R&D is to explore new technologies, test whether they actually work in practice, and remove the risk before the business has to commit serious resources to something.  

Right now we’re working on quite a few interesting things. We’re developing a better Z-Wave gateway because we can see that’s where the market is heading. We’re also looking at AIoT opportunities and how we can use our analytics platform to add machine learning and intelligent automation into our products.  

Another area we’re focusing on is using AI tools sensibly in our development process. We use them to speed up prototyping and production, but we’re careful not to become too dependent on them. It’s about working smarter and faster without losing our ability to think critically about what we’re building.  

On a practical level, we benchmark new technologies, create reusable components that other teams can use, and write guidelines so everyone’s working consistently. Our aim is to give the business the evidence and frameworks they need to make confident decisions. It’s really about doing the exploration work upfront so the company can innovate without taking unnecessary risks. 

What’s your favourite thing about Team TBT? 

JAN: The collaborative spirit, everyone brings strong expertise, but we also work together in a way that makes tackling tough problems genuinely enjoyable. 

If you had a superpower, what would it be? 

JAN: Time manipulation, I’d love the ability to pause and think deeply when solving big challenges.  

What’s one thing on your bucket list? 

JAN: To develop impactful technology that can genuinely improve lives, beginning with solutions that strengthen healthcare accessibility and outcomes, eventually extending into agriculture to support sustainable practices and smarter food production (one day but not now for sure).