Boston University Welcomes Ian Westmacott as SAIL Director
The Hariri Institute for Computing is pleased to welcome Dr. Ian Westmacott as Director of the Boston University Software and Application Innovation Lab (SAIL), effective August 3, 2026. He will lead the Institute’s professional software development team, working with faculty and students to develop software, systems, and AI infrastructure tailored to their research needs.
Westmacott brings more than two decades of experience leading the development of advanced software systems across academia and industry. His career spans leadership roles at Symbotic, Veo Robotics, Amazon, Johnson Controls, and Tyco Security Products, where he has built and managed high-performing engineering teams delivering technologies in robotics, computer vision, machine learning, video analytics, and intelligent software systems.
Most recently, he served as Senior Director of FreeMove Software at Symbotic, leading the software engineering teams responsible for the FreeMove safety platform. The system combines 3D time-of-flight sensing and computer vision to enable safe collaboration between humans and industrial robots, advancing the next generation of intelligent manufacturing.
“Ian brings outstanding technical leadership and a proven ability to translate innovative ideas into impactful software solutions,” says Ioannis (Yannis) Paschalidis, Director of the Rafik B. Hariri Institute for Computing and Computational Science & Engineering. “We are delighted to welcome him back to Boston University and look forward to the vision and leadership he will bring to the Software and Application Innovation Lab.”
A Boston University alumnus, he earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science, where his research focused on type-based program transformations and region inference. Throughout his career, he has authored scholarly publications and holds more than 30 patents in video analysis and security technologies, reflecting his commitment to translating innovative research into practical applications.
As Director of SAIL, Westmacott will lead initiatives that connect researchers, students, and industry partners to accelerate the development of impactful software solutions. His leadership will strengthen the Lab’s mission of advancing applied research, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and preparing students to tackle real-world challenges through innovation.
Please join us in welcoming Ian Westmacott to Boston University and the Hariri Institute!