At Nokē, we're proud to spotlight the people driving the innovation behind the scenes. Today, we're excited to introduce Tony Li, VP of Hardware Engineering, a veteran engineer whose passion for quality and process is shaping the future of Nokē hardware.
Tony joined Nokē with over 30 years of experience at Honeywell, where he held roles in developing and managing sensor systems, access control technologies, security products, and HVAC solutions. Starting his career as a repair technician, he steadily advanced into leadership. Bringing with him deep technical knowledge and a passion for building reliable systems at scale.
His career has been defined by one constant: a focus on delivering products that meet high standards in design, performance, and reliability.
Since joining Nokē, Tony has been instrumental in strengthening the foundation for consistent, high-quality product development. One of his top priorities has been standardizing the way engineering and QA teams operate, ensuring that quality is not an afterthought, but a core part of every phase.
Tony's approach emphasizes what he calls the “Three Ons” principle:
He’s also implemented a framework grounded in industry best practices, including:
A key turning point in Tony’s approach was addressing an outdated mindset that had lingered from the past: the idea that making last-minute changes and pushing out a “good enough” product was sufficient.
Today at Nokē, that standard no longer applies. “Good enough” is no longer good enough.
Product development now centers around discipline, consistency, and a commitment to building hardware that meets the highest expectations.
Tony played a key leadership role in bringing the Nokē Ion to market, a product that has since become Nokē’s most consistently high-performing lock to date. Its reliability and performance are the result of a focused, disciplined development process that Tony helped lead.
Under his guidance, the team delivered two major innovations:
But what truly set the Nokē Ion apart wasn’t just what it could do; it was how it was built.
Tony introduced a disciplined approach rooted in lean product development, emphasizing process over shortcuts and accountability over assumptions.
That framework includes four clear stages:
This structured, repeatable process has become the foundation for how Nokē approaches hardware engineering today.
When asked how he ensures quality remains a top priority, Tony keeps it simple:
This mindset, and the systems behind it, have not only led to the success of the Nokē Ion but are now influencing every new product that follows.
One of the most important shifts Tony has championed is making customer feedback (Voice of Customer, or VoC) the foundation of product development. Every new project starts with an intentional focus on understanding real-world needs, ensuring that what’s built is not just functional, but valuable to those who use it.
Outside the office, Tony enjoys staying active through hiking, jogging, volleyball, and wall climbing. His energy and drive to take on challenges translate just as naturally into his work as they do on the trail or the court.
The lessons learned from the Nokē Ion are already informing the next generation of Nokē hardware. Fast installation, reduced cost, and intuitive user experiences are top priorities, along with building systems that are truly worry-free for both facility operators and tenants.
To support these goals, Tony is focused on strengthening internal development processes, upgrading QA infrastructure, and continually evaluating team capabilities to ensure Nokē stays ahead of the curve.
He’s most excited about what’s ahead, both for the team and the product roadmap, as Nokē works toward a future where access is seamless, secure, and truly smart.
Tony's impact can be felt on our newest product, Nokē Ion. See the difference for yourself >>
