Scott Stearns
Founder & CEO, Vantage Meridian Group
30+ years building data-intensive systems. Now building AI-augmented products for underserved markets.
About
I've spent 30+ years building data-intensive systems — from signal processing algorithms at venture-backed startups to managing bioinformatics programs at J&J to directing data sciences for a stroke detection company. Four patents. Four degrees from Johns Hopkins, Catholic University and Penn State. MIT data science certification. Along the way I've worked at every scale, from two-person startups to multinational healthcare companies, and in every role from individual contributor to department manager to director.
Now I'm applying all of that to Vantage Meridian Group, where we build AI-augmented software products for underserved SMB markets. Our approach is systematic: a repeatable Product Factory pipeline that takes ideas from market signal to launched product, with AI embedded at every stage — not as a feature, but as an operational multiplier.
Our first product, PricePilot, helps businesses optimize pricing using data they already have. It's the kind of tool that should exist for every small business but doesn't, because the pricing intelligence market has historically only served enterprises.
Career
Founder & CEO — Vantage Meridian Group
2025 – Present · Orlando, FL
VMG builds AI-augmented software products for underserved small and mid-size business markets. We operate a systematic Product Factory — a seven-phase pipeline that takes market signals through research, validation, and launch, with AI embedded as an operational multiplier at every stage. Our first product, PricePilot, is a pricing intelligence platform that helps businesses optimize pricing using their existing data.
Senior Development Engineer — Philips
May 2023 – Present · Orlando, FL
Systems engineer for MR-compatible patient monitors. Lead engineer and architect for the MRPC AI Platform — AI-enabled multi-agentic applications that improve product development workflows across the engineering organization.
Director of Data Sciences — MindRhythm, Inc.
Dec 2019 – Dec 2021 · Cambridge, MA
Led data sciences and ML algorithm development for a VC-backed medical device startup developing pre-hospital stroke detection. Built the end-to-end data management infrastructure (AWS EC2/RDS/S3, MySQL, MATLAB App Designer) and implemented the full ML workflow — from automated data quality screening through deep transfer learning with pre-trained CNN architectures (ResNet, GoogLeNet). Managed the clinical study data pipeline including REDCap EDC customization for multi-site investigators.
Mentor — MIT IDSS Applied Data Science Program
June 2023 – June 2024
Mentored cohorts of aspiring data scientists through MIT's intensive 12-week Applied Data Science program. Led weekly sessions covering Python, statistics, machine learning, deep learning, and recommendation systems.
Staff Engineer → Department Manager → Senior Manager & Senior Principal Engineer — Ortho Clinical Diagnostics / J&J
1999 – 2011 (12 years) · Rochester, NY / Zurich, Switzerland
12-year career spanning individual contributor through department management at J&J's diagnostics division. Conceived and managed the BIRCH Program (bioinformatics web-portal and private cloud for J&J researchers). Delivered Smart Search technology achieving 2000x computational efficiency improvement in biomarker discovery. Managed a technical staff of 12–17. Served as international service employee managing strategic partnerships in Zurich. Saved ~$10M by modeling optical system errors that eliminated a field calibration program. Named inventor on patented metering and fluid handling technologies.
Engineering Career: Medical Devices & Defense
1994 – 1999
Signal processing and systems engineering across medical devices and defense. At MedAcoustics (VC startup), developed patented algorithms for non-invasive coronary artery disease detection using acoustic signal processing and machine learning. At ORINCON Corporation, built pattern recognition and automated target classification systems for sonar, radar, and real-time FLIR video using neural networks.
Patents
Estimating Fluidic Properties and Methods to Improve Metering Precision and Accuracy
Diagnostics / Fluid HandlingAcoustic Window Identification
Cardiac DiagnosticsQuantitatively Measuring Error Causing Parameters in Fluid Handling
Diagnostics / InstrumentationNon-Invasive Turbulent Blood Flow Imaging System
Cardiac ImagingKey Technical Projects
MRPC AI Platform
PhilipsAI-enabled multi-agentic applications improving product development workflows across the MR patient monitoring engineering organization.
Pre-Hospital Stroke Detection ML Pipeline
MindRhythmEnd-to-end ML workflow for LVO stroke detection — automated data quality screening, feature extraction, 25 traditional ML algorithms, and deep transfer learning with ResNet and GoogLeNet architectures.
BIRCH Program
J&JConceived and managed a bioinformatics web-portal and private cloud computing platform for J&J researchers, enabling large-scale biomarker discovery.
Smart Search
J&JTechnology for mining high-dimensional spaces in biomarker discovery, achieving a 2000x increase in computational efficiency.
Coronary Acoustic Imaging
MedAcousticsPatented algorithms for non-invasive coronary artery disease detection using time-space array signal processing and machine learning. Two patents resulting.
PricePilot
VMGAI-augmented pricing intelligence platform for SMB CPG brands. Deterministic rules engine, Next.js/FastAPI stack, Stripe payments, deployed to production.
Selected Engagements
Consulting and contract engagements across medical devices, diagnostics, and instrumentation.
| Company | Role | Domain | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baymar Solutions | Sr. Systems Engineer | Multi-omic digital spatial PCR IVD | 2022 |
| Johnson & Johnson | Quality Engineer | Robotic surgical systems | 2019 |
| Philips | Systems Engineering SME | Automated external defibrillators | 2018–2019 |
| Datacolor | Application Engineer | Spectrophotometer calibration (MATLAB) | 2016–2018 |
| Terumo Medical | Systems Engineering SME | Cardiac catheter (ultrasound + OCT) | 2017 |
| Heart Test Laboratories | Systems Engineering SME | Wavelet ECG device (ISO 13485, IEC 60601) | 2015–2016 |
| BioArray Solutions / Immucor | Principal Systems Engineer | Molecular immunohematology genotyping | 2013–2014 |
| Johnson & Johnson | Sr. Manager Bioinformatics / Sr. Principal Engineer | In vitro diagnostics & Bioinformatics | 1999–2011 |
Advisory & Board Availability
Available for fractional technical leadership and board advisory roles.
What I Bring
- Product development lifecycle
- AI/ML strategy & implementation
- Medical device regulatory (ISO 13485, IEC 60601)
- Systems architecture & engineering
- Data infrastructure & pipeline design
Industries
- Healthcare & MedTech
- Diagnostics
- SaaS & Data Products
- Defense & Signal Processing
- CPG / Retail Tech
Education & Credentials
Education
- M.S. Engineering & Applied Physics of BiomedicineThe Johns Hopkins University
- M.S.E. Electrical EngineeringThe Catholic University of America
- B.S. GeophysicsThe Pennsylvania State University
- B.S. Applied MathematicsThe Pennsylvania State University
Certifications
- Data Science & Machine LearningMIT Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS)
- Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)American Society for Quality (ASQ)
- Six Sigma Black Belt