Aaron Moncur

Being an Engineer

About the show

The Being An Engineer podcast is a central repository in which we collect and share industry knowledge & best practices associated with the discipline of engineering. We hope that engineers throughout the world will benefit from this content as they connect with the companies, technologies, people, resources, and opportunities that are relevant to their engineering or engineering-adjacent roles. Contact us at info@teampipeline.us. Intro and Outro music by John Martell

Newest episodes

Ryan Pickens | AI Tools You Can Use Today for Hardware Development

Nov 13, 2026 53 min

Send us Fan Mail What if AI could help you take a hardware product from concept to production in a fraction of the time? In this episode of Being an Engineer, Aaron Moncur sits down with Ryan Pickens, founder of Pickens Cycles and former Director of Engineering at TE Connectivity, to explore how AI is transforming the way engineers design, develop, and launch physical products. Ryan shares his journey from corporate engineering leadership to entrepreneurship, where he's using AI-powered tools to develop high-performance recumbent trikes. He discusses how tools like Zoo.dev, SimScale, and ChatGPT have accelerated everything from CAD modeling and FEA simulation to market research, product strategy, and business operations. In one example, Ryan explains how he completed a design task originally estimated to take two months in just three days. The conversation also explores the importance of engineering judgment when working with AI, the challenges of designing lightweight mechanical systems, and how engineers can start incorporating AI into their existing workflows. Whether you're developing a new product, managing an engineering team, or simply curious about practical AI applications, this episode offers real-world examples of what's possible with the tools available today. LINKS: Ryan Pickens LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-pickens-9151a811/ Pickens Cycles website: https://pickenscycles.com/ Pickens Cycle's E-Assist Finder: https://pickenscycles.com/pages/e-assist-finder Aaron Moncur, host Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday. The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.us Watch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com...

Mark Blakey & Ruben Inzunza | Behind The Scenes: How Pipeline Developed EZ Motion

Nov 6, 2026 52 min

Send us Fan Mail What if mechanical engineers could automate motors, pneumatic actuators, and testing equipment without needing to write complex code or rely on a dedicated controls engineer? In this episode of Being An Engineer, host Aaron Moncur welcomes two members of the Pipeline Design & Engineering team: Ruben Inzunza, Director of Automation, and Mark Blakey, Senior Mechanical Engineer. Together, they take listeners behind the scenes of Easy Motion, an automation platform developed to simplify motion control and make automated testing more accessible to engineers. The journey wasn't without setbacks. Early versions of Easy Motion encountered hardware limitations, programming challenges, and integration issues that nearly brought development to a halt. Mark and Ruben share how they revisited previous engineering work, combined existing technologies, and collaborated across disciplines to overcome these obstacles. Their experience highlights the importance of rapid prototyping, learning from failure, and creating an environment where engineers feel comfortable experimenting and asking for help. The conversation also explores how Easy Motion is being used in real-world engineering applications, from automated cycle testing to production equipment. One particularly impressive example involves a customer testing solar panel tracking systems. By implementing Easy Motion, the customer reduced a testing process from approximately 10 months to just 2 months—an 80% reduction in testing time. Beyond the technology, this episode offers valuable lessons about engineering teamwork, effective communication, and knowing when to simplify a problem rather than overcomplicate a solution. Whether you're a mechanical engineer exploring automation, a controls engineer looking to streamline development, or an engineering leader trying to improve your team's efficiency, this conversation offers practical insights into building better products and accelerating innovation. Learn m...

Ghulam Murtaza | Overcoming Adversity: An Inspiring Tale of Perseverance

Oct 30, 2026 41 min

Send us Fan Mail Ghulam Murtaza is a Controls Project Engineer at Vanderlande with a background spanning industrial automation, robotics, controls, data science, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. Before joining Vanderlande, he worked as a Senior Automation Engineer with CBRE supporting Amazon fulfillment operations, where he developed tools aimed at improving equipment reliability, troubleshooting, and maintenance efficiency. His journey into automation was far from straightforward. Growing up in Khairpur, Pakistan, Ghulam developed an early interest in computers but initially followed a different educational path. He later taught himself programming, endured multiple graduate-school rejections and visa challenges, and eventually earned a master’s degree focused on robotics and artificial intelligence from the University at Buffalo. That persistence carried into his engineering career. While working in fulfillment operations, Ghulam looked for recurring problems experienced by technicians and controls engineers and began developing his own solutions. One example was a parts lookup system that brought together information from more than 1,200 pages of vendor data with internal equipment and inventory information, allowing technicians to locate components much faster. He also developed tools for equipment monitoring and technical-document searching, including systems designed to help engineers diagnose faults without manually digging through large manuals or PLC logic. Today, Ghulam works at the intersection of traditional controls engineering and newer software technologies—PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, industrial networks, robotics, Python, AWS, data analytics, and AI. His career offers an interesting example of how controls engineers can extend their impact beyond keeping machines running and begin building scalable tools that improve how entire engineering and maintenance teams work. LINKS: Ghulam Murtaza LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghulam-murtaza...

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All episodes

The newest 50 of 390 episodes

Ryan Pickens | AI Tools You Can Use Today for Hardware Development

Nov 13, 2026 53 min

Mark Blakey & Ruben Inzunza | Behind The Scenes: How Pipeline Developed EZ Motion

Nov 6, 2026 52 min

Ghulam Murtaza | Overcoming Adversity: An Inspiring Tale of Perseverance

Oct 30, 2026 41 min

Eron Flory | Toastmasters for Engineers, and FIRST Robotics

Oct 23, 2026 53 min

Send us Fan Mail Eron Flory has built a career around turning difficult engineering problems into real products—and, increasingly, around helping other engineers learn how to do the same. His background crosses custom automation, robotics, manufacturing equipment, medical-device R&D, process development, and engineering leadership. Before recently stepping away from full-time engineering, he spent more than six years at Medtronic working on steerable delivery systems for transcatheter mitral and tricuspid heart valve replacement while also mentoring and recruiting engineers and developing knowledge-sharing programs. His career before Medtronic included leadership roles at Merit Medical, Osseon, Direct Flow Medical, and Production Robotics. Across those organizations, Eron worked on everything from transcatheter heart valves and vertebral compression fracture devices to automated manufacturing equipment, test systems, Nitinol devices, and manufacturing process development. That breadth has given him an interesting perspective on the value of engineers bringing knowledge from one industry into another rather than spending an entire career inside a single technical silo. Eron's path into engineering was also highly hands-on. Before earning his mechanical engineering degree, he worked as an automotive technician and raced motorcycles, eventually becoming a national champion. He later earned a master's degree in robotics from the University of Texas at Austin. Today he still coaches high-performance drivers and has even worked with autonomous-vehicle engineers to help them understand vehicle dynamics and how skilled human drivers respond near the limits of a vehicle. Mentorship has become an especially important part of Eron's work. He teaches engineering at Santa Rosa Junior College, mentors its Baja SAE program, and has spent several seasons coaching students through FIRST Robotics. He has described FIRST as an environment where students can learn not only engine...

James Bryant | A Process For Engineers to Succeed at Home & at Work

Oct 16, 2026 43 min

Send us Fan Mail Dr. James Bryant, Ph.D., P.E., is a dynamic force in the engineering and leadership development arenas. With a robust background in civil engineering, James has spent over 20 years leading multimillion-dollar projects in the transportation sector, contributing to technical publications, and serving on national committees. His tenure at the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies saw him providing executive oversight for over 22 volunteer technical committees, showcasing his commitment to advancing the field. Transitioning from engineering to executive coaching, James founded Engineer Your Success LLC—a boutique firm dedicated to helping engineers and business owners align their professional ambitions with personal well-being. Holding certifications as a John Maxwell Leadership speaker and a Master Certified Professional Coach, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his clients, guiding them to achieve sustained growth and work-life harmony. James's philosophy centers on the belief that success in business should not come at the expense of personal fulfillment. Through his coaching programs, he empowers clients to clarify their values, set purposeful goals, and develop strategies that lead to a balanced and fulfilling life. His approach is encapsulated in his free resource, "The Engineer's Blueprint for a Balanced Life," which offers actionable insights for engineers seeking to thrive both professionally and personally. As the host of the Engineer Your Success podcast, James shares his insights and interviews with industry leaders, providing listeners with practical tools to navigate the challenges of engineering careers while maintaining personal well-being. His engaging style and depth of experience make him a sought-after speaker and coach for those aiming to excel in all facets of life. LINKS: Dr. James Bryant LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbryant2/ Engineer Your Success LLC Website: https://www.engineeryoursuccessnow.com...

Elad Einav | How To Engineer Covered Medical Device Stents

Oct 9, 2026 44 min

Send us Fan Mail Elad Einav is a mechanical engineer, entrepreneur, and Co-Founder and CEO of Medibrane, a medical-device contract development and manufacturing organization specializing in polymer covers, membranes, coatings, and components for stents and other implantable devices. His work sits at the intersection of mechanical design, polymer science, manufacturing-process development, quality, and medical-device commercialization. Elad began his career as a mechanical engineer before moving deeper into medical-device R&D, where he designed implants and delivery systems and later managed multidisciplinary programs from concept through commercialization. Over the years, he has founded or co-founded several medical-device companies and has worked across engineering, clinical development, manufacturing scale-up, and business leadership. At Medibrane, Elad works on an engineering challenge most product developers never get the opportunity to see firsthand: how the polymer covering of a stent is actually created and attached to the metal frame. A particularly important decision is whether ePTFE is joined through sintering or through an adhesive-assisted lamination process. Both approaches can result in a covered stent, but the manufacturing choice can influence adhesion, polymer microstructure, permeability, stiffness, crimp profile, fatigue behavior, delamination risk, and even the regulatory strategy for the finished device. Elad's perspective is that these manufacturing decisions need to happen much earlier in product development. The way a stent is covered isn't simply something to hand off to manufacturing after the mechanical design is complete. It's part of the design itself. In this conversation, we'll explore those tradeoffs, look at what engineers can learn from real-world failures, and discuss how design teams can better connect material selection, manufacturing processes, testing, and regulatory requirements from the beginning. LINKS: Elad Einav Lin...

PDX 2026 Starts Soon—Get Your Ticket Now

Oct 8, 2026 1 min

Send us Fan Mail PDX 2026 starts October 20 in Phoenix, AZ. Practical training for growth-minded engineers. Learn more and register at https://pdexpo.engineer/ Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday. The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.us Watch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus

Matt Ketterer | The Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Episode

Oct 2, 2026 57 min

Send us Fan Mail This episode of Being An Engineer takes a detour from engineering and onto the mats as Aaron sits down with Pipeline Design & Engineering Principal Controls Engineer and longtime Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner Matt Ketterer. With more than 20 years of BJJ experience and a second-degree black belt, Matt shares what initially drew him to the sport, the humbling experience of being a beginner, and how his approach to training has evolved over the years. Aaron and Matt discuss why technique can overcome strength, learning to stay calm in uncomfortable situations, dealing with injuries, narrowing your focus to accelerate learning, and the strong bonds that form between training partners. They also explore some of the bigger lessons that extend well beyond Jiu-Jitsu: checking your ego, becoming comfortable with struggle, focusing on what actually works, and continuing to learn even when you feel like you’re going backwards. Whether you train BJJ, are curious about martial arts, or simply enjoy conversations about mastery and personal growth, there’s plenty to take away from this one. LINKS: Matt Ketterer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewketterer/ Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday. The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.us Watch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus

Dakota Welker | User Needs, Design Inputs, Verification & Validation

Sep 25, 2026 42 min

Send us Fan Mail Dakota Welker is a mechanical engineer, product developer, and founder of Think MedTek, an engineering consultancy focused on helping startups transform early-stage ideas into functional, manufacturable products. A Purdue University graduate with a background in engineering technology and organizational leadership, Dakota has worked across medical devices, industrial automation, pneumatic systems, and other forms of physical product development. Through Think MedTek, Dakota works closely with physician inventors, hardware founders, and growing product companies that need experienced mechanical leadership without immediately building a full internal engineering team. His work covers product design, CAD engineering, prototyping, design optimization, testing, and preparation for manufacturing and regulatory requirements. Dakota’s project experience includes leading a medical-device redesigns with validated improvements, developing a multidisciplinary nephrology prototype in 12 weeks, and designing surgical and prosthetic concepts that contributed to patent filings and grant opportunities. He has also taken over projects that stalled during previous vendor or freelancer engagements, helping clients improve both technical quality and development timelines. His approach is built around treating every prototype as though it could enter production in the near future. Rather than postponing manufacturability, documentation, supplier planning, and risk reduction, Dakota incorporates them throughout the development process. That philosophy allows startups to create prototypes that do more than demonstrate an idea—they support testing, fundraising, regulatory planning, and the eventual transition into production. Think MedTek similarly emphasizes rapid iteration, startup-conscious budgeting, and designing for real-world use from the beginning. LINKS: Dakota Welker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dakota-welker-834453b0/ Think MedTek website: https:...

Elif Miskioglu | The Science of How to Build Engineering Intuition

Sep 18, 2026 53 min

Send us Fan Mail Elif Miskioğlu is an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at Bucknell University and a scholar of engineering education. She holds a B.S. in Chemical and Biological Engineering with a genetics minor from Iowa State University, along with an M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University. At Bucknell, she has taught courses including separations, senior design, technical and professional communication, mass and energy balances, and thermodynamics. Elif’s early technical research focused on bacterial biosensors capable of screening pesticides that target Anopheles gambiae, the mosquito species associated with malaria transmission. That work, combined with exposure to infectious disease and epidemiology, shaped her interest in the broader context surrounding engineering problems: who they affect, how solutions are used, and what engineers need to understand beyond the purely technical details. Today, Elif’s scholarship centers on how engineers develop from novices into experts, with a special focus on engineering intuition. Her work explores how engineers learn to judge whether a solution is reasonable, predict outcomes, make decisions under uncertainty, and connect formal analysis with experience-based judgment. In 2025, she received a five-year, $650,000 NSF CAREER Award for her project “It’s Not Sorcery, It’s Skill,” which investigates how professional and personal experiences shape the way engineers use intuition in practice. What makes Elif’s work especially relevant to practicing engineers is her commitment to bridging the gap between education theory and day-to-day engineering practice. She is not only studying how engineers think; she is working to help educators and industry leaders better cultivate the judgment, communication, and problem-solving habits that young engineers need to become effective professionals. LINKS: Elif Miskioğlu LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elif-miskio%C4%9Flu-649b7135/ ...

Antonio Valadez & Nate Post | Building Better Engineers Through Better Leadership

Sep 11, 2026 1 hr 6 min

Send us Fan Mail Nate Post and Antonio “Tony” Valadez bring decades of combined experience leading engineering, manufacturing, continuous improvement, and new product introduction efforts within the medical-device industry. Nate currently serves as Director of New Product Introduction at Edwards Lifesciences, where his career has progressed through manufacturing leadership and NPI roles. Outside of medical devices, he is the founder of Blue Collar Blades, where he handcrafts knives and other tools—a side of his career that combines engineering curiosity, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship. Tony has spent roughly 30 years in manufacturing, with extensive experience in manufacturing engineering, process improvement, design transfer, validation, lean manufacturing, and engineering leadership. After holding senior engineering leadership roles across the medical-device industry, he recently founded Nexcellence Engineering Solutions, where he provides consulting and training services to regulated manufacturers. But the connection between Nate and Tony goes deeper than a shared industry. Earlier in their careers, Tony managed Nate during his time in R&D pilot manufacturing. Nate remembers Tony telling him that his job as a leader wasn't to change Nate's leadership style to resemble his own, but to help refine it and bring out the best version of the leader Nate already was. That philosophy left a lasting impression and became part of the reason Nate wanted to introduce Tony to the Being An Engineer community. In this conversation, Nate, Tony, and Aaron explore engineering leadership through the lens of an actual mentor-mentee relationship: how leaders recognize potential, give people meaningful opportunities, build trust, provide difficult feedback, and develop the capabilities their organizations will need in the future. They also discuss why technical organizations can’t separate people development from business performance—and how engineers can become leaders with...

Jacob Evink | From CAD to Mechanical Curiosity: Student Engineer Spotlight

Sep 4, 2026 36 min

Send us Fan Mail Jacob Evink is a mechanical engineering student at Western Michigan University with interests in mechanical design, robotics, manufacturing, and product development. Rather than waiting until graduation to begin practicing engineering, Jacob is actively developing projects that allow him to apply CAD, prototyping, electronics, and mechanical problem-solving to real-world challenges. His industry experience has already exposed him to several sides of the product-development process. During an engineering design internship, Jacob created and modified CAD models, prepared manufacturing drawings, supported prototype development and testing, participated in design reviews, and collaborated with cross-functional engineering teams. He now works in a high-volume injection-molding environment, where he operates production machinery, performs quality inspections, and troubleshoots problems that can affect production. Outside of work and school, Jacob is building an online engineering community by sharing his projects and lessons publicly. His content includes not only successful results, but also the mistakes, failed ideas, and repeated iterations that are often responsible for the greatest amount of learning. Jacob also serves in a leadership role as a founding member of a fraternity chapter at Western Michigan University. As he continues through his engineering education, he is developing a perspective that combines technical curiosity, hands-on manufacturing experience, leadership, and a willingness to learn in public. LINKS: Jacob Evink LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-evink-b67b12353/ Jacob Evink Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gruff.makes?utm_source=qr Aaron Moncur, host Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday. The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like c...

Robert States | How Engineers Can Thrive in Corporate R&D

Aug 28, 2026 46 min

Send us Fan Mail Robert States is Vice President of Technical Services at Cormica Medical Device & Pharmaceutical Testing, where he supports clients across medical device, pharmaceutical, and combination product testing. His work spans development strategy, risk management, testing strategy, process development, supply chain optimization, and regulatory-minded technical problem solving. Cormica’s announcement of his appointment highlighted his role in strengthening global technical services across UK, US, and EU laboratories. Before joining Cormica, Rob spent more than 20 years at Stress Engineering Services, where he held leadership roles across medical device and pharma, consumer products, strategic client engagement, and consulting. Stress Engineering’s medical and pharmaceutical practice focuses on product design, analysis, testing, failure analysis, material science, packaging, manufacturing support, reliability, and regulatory-grade engineering solutions—areas that align closely with Rob’s career-long focus on helping organizations solve difficult technical and business problems. Rob’s technical foundation is in plastics engineering, supported by an MBA from Ashland University and a BS in Plastics Engineering from Penn State. Over his career, he has worked across companies including Procter & Gamble, Newell Brands, Stress Engineering Services, Accelitek, and now Cormica. His experience gives him a rare perspective that bridges hands-on engineering, product development, failure remediation, consulting, business strategy, and executive-level technical leadership. A central theme of this conversation is how engineers can thrive in corporate R&D environments. Rob wants to explore the intersection of budgeting, project success, layoffs, and business performance—and how engineers can use that understanding to make better decisions, protect their careers, and create more value for their organizations. Rather than treating corporate realities as distractions from...

Michael Brooks | How BayCath Medical Is Rethinking Catheter Development

Aug 21, 2026 47 min

Send us Fan Mail Michael Brooks is the founder and CEO of BayCath Medical, a Silicon Valley medical-device company specializing in the design, development, and contract manufacturing of catheter-based products. BayCath was created to give startups and fast-moving R&D teams a more collaborative manufacturing partner—one capable of supporting rapid prototyping, iterative development, pilot production, and smoother transfers into manufacturing. Michael launched BayCath after seeing catheter development lead times grow and watching delays interfere with customer timelines. His vision is to create an environment where engineers, physicians, and manufacturing specialists can work closely together, explore multiple solutions, and make informed design decisions without wasting valuable time or capital. Before becoming a founder, Michael held program management, engineering, and manufacturing roles throughout the medical-device industry. Across those positions, he gained experience in braided and coiled catheters, material selection, process development, design for manufacturing, validation, manufacturing transfers, fixture development, supplier management, and regulatory support. He also led high-priority customer programs, helped establish project-management processes, and coordinated complex work across technical, operational, and customer-facing teams. Michael earned his bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from the University of California, Davis, along with a minor in technology management. His career has placed him at the intersection of hands-on engineering, customer communication, program leadership, and entrepreneurship—giving him a valuable perspective on what it takes to move medical-device ideas from early prototypes toward production and, ultimately, patient care. LINKS: Michael Brooks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micbrooks10/ BayCath Website: https://www.baycath.com/ Innovation Week: https://www.baycath.com/workshops MedTech Bay Are...

Tony Kelbert | Authenticity, Engineering, and the Business of Manufacturing

Aug 14, 2026 1 hr 11 min

Send us Fan Mail Tony Kelbert is a mechanical engineer, manufacturing strategist, and Chief Burrito Officer at AeroGrowth, an organization focused on helping precision manufacturers pursue and win the right aerospace and defense work. Drawing on experience from both the OEM and supplier sides of the industry, Tony helps manufacturers better understand positioning, quoting, customer relationships, and the realities of selling into complex aerospace supply chains. Tony began his engineering career at a defense vehicle manufacturer, where he designed lightweight, durable components for severe-duty military vehicles, managed mass properties for a weight-sensitive program, and led a team of designers. He later spent several years at a major aerospace company, designing medical oxygen systems for transport aircraft and lightweight structural components for VIP aircraft interiors while serving as a liaison between engineering and manufacturing. His career eventually expanded beyond traditional product design. Tony moved into manufacturing business development, worked as a senior mechanical engineer at a product development firm, and became a venture advisor focused on manufacturing. These experiences gave him a broader view of how technical capabilities, customer selection, pricing, sales, and company culture affect the long-term health of a manufacturing business. Tony is also the managing partner of goodthink labs, where he uses engineering analysis, experiments, storytelling, and occasional unnecessary inventions to make technical subjects more engaging. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota and now brings together engineering experience, business strategy, curiosity, and humor to help manufacturers build businesses worth owning. LINKS: Tony Kelbert LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonykelbert Tony Kelbert website: https://aerogrowthllc.com/ Aaron Moncur, host Subscribe to the show to get notified so you...

S7E33 Sam Thomason | The Black Magic of Nano-Machining

Aug 7, 2026 59 min

Send us Fan Mail Sam Thomason’s career sits at the intersection of technical sales, manufacturing automation, Japanese business culture, and advanced machining. With more than 14 years of experience in CNC machinery, factory automation, and industrial robotics, Sam has worked across the U.S., Japan, and Australia helping manufacturers evaluate and adopt technologies that improve productivity, safety, and competitiveness. He is currently National Sales Manager for Shibaura Machine Company, America’s Nano Processing division, where he is responsible for U.S. sales strategy and customer development around the UVM Series ultra-precision machining platforms. His work involves helping engineering, R&D, tooling, and executive teams define applications, validate processes, and qualify advanced nano-machining capabilities for industries such as optics, photonics, medical devices, semiconductor-adjacent manufacturing, and high-precision moldmaking. Shibaura describes the UVM Series as high-precision machining centers built around high-speed, high-quality machining with high-precision aerostatic bearing spindles, with applications in precision molds, automotive lighting, lenses, smartphone frames, LED packaging molds, and precision parts machining. Before joining Shibaura Machine, Sam held roles in automation, robotics, machine tools, and business development with organizations including Workr Labs, Yuasa International, Konica Minolta Australia, SE4, and TAKAMAZ. His early career included working in Japan as an application engineer and technical sales/cutting engineer at TAKAMAZ, giving him a practical foundation in CNC programming, machining applications, and communicating technical details across cultures. Sam’s background also includes robotics and teleoperation, including work with SE4 in Tokyo, where he helped demonstrate latency-resilient robotic teleoperation software and even supported a live international demo operating a dual-arm robot in Tokyo from Abu Dhabi de...

S7E32 Steven Szymeczek | From Taking Things Apart to Teaching Engineers How to Build

Jul 31, 2026 46 min

Send us Fan Mail Steven Szymeczek joins the podcast to share a career shaped by curiosity, hands-on learning, and a willingness to explore new opportunities. He traces his path from taking apart gadgets as a child to manufacturing crop-duster components early in his career, designing aircraft interiors, and eventually launching his own product development business. Steven and Aaron discuss the realities of moving from engineering into entrepreneurship, including learning how to communicate with customers, build a dependable network of manufacturing partners, price projects appropriately, and avoid overextending yourself to win the wrong work. Steven also shares the story of an early product-development client whose invention eventually appeared on Shark Tank, along with the lessons he learned about translating an entrepreneur’s vision into a manufacturable product. The conversation also explores the rapid evolution of additive manufacturing, from the unreliable desktop printers of the early days to today’s fast, accessible systems. Steven explains the differences between technologies such as Multi Jet Fusion and selective laser sintering, why polymer powder-bed fusion is becoming more accessible, and how rapid prototyping enables engineers to fail early, learn quickly, and improve designs faster. Finally, Steven describes his work at Boise State University, where he teaches additive manufacturing and leads a product development lab that gives students experience working on real client projects. From 3D-printed combat robots to medical devices and entrepreneurial product concepts, Steven is helping the next generation of engineers build practical skills, embrace experimentation, and enter their careers with meaningful hands-on experience. LINKS: Steven Szymeczek LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-m-szymeczek-0a33608a/ Aaron Moncur, host Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday. The Being An Engineer podcast...

S7E31 Stanley Leong | Engineering Your Finances: A Former Electrical Engineer’s Guide to Building Wealth

Jul 24, 2026 50 min

Send us Fan Mail Stanley C. Leong brings an unusual and highly relevant perspective to the world of engineering career development: he started as an engineer, then built a second career helping engineers manage the wealth and financial complexity that can come with technical success. He earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University before working in chip design roles at IBM and Agilent Technologies. That early engineering background still shapes how Stanley approaches financial planning today. As a private wealth advisor and founder of Wisdom Pointe Wealth Advisors, he focuses on working with engineers and executives at high-tech companies, using what his Ameriprise profile describes as an analytical and process-driven approach to financial planning. His expertise includes areas that are especially relevant to technical professionals, such as concentrated stock positions, workplace benefits, retirement income planning, tax-aware strategies, and behavioral finance. Stanley is also the author of Engineering Your Finances: The Tech Professional’s Roadmap to Financial Success, a guide written specifically for high-earning technology professionals. The book draws from his own experience in the tech industry, including the volatility he witnessed firsthand after being laid off shortly after buying his first home — a moment that helped shape his understanding of risk, planning, and financial resilience. For the Being An Engineer audience, Stanley’s story opens up a practical and often under-discussed conversation: how engineers can apply the same discipline they use in product development, systems thinking, risk analysis, and optimization to their own financial lives. His career is also a compelling example of how technical training can translate into a completely different profession while still remaining central to the way someone thinks, solves problems, and serves others. LINKS: Stanley C. Leong LinkedIn: http...

S7E30 Steve Riley | Small Improvements, Big ROI: Lessons from the Factory Floor

Jul 17, 2026 37 min

Send us Fan Mail Steve Riley brings a unique perspective to Being An Engineer because he is not an engineer by title, but he has spent his career working directly in the environments where engineering, operations, manufacturing, and continuous improvement have to come together. His background spans plant leadership, program management, operations management, engineering management, injection molding, medical products, carbon fiber manufacturing, dental equipment, and Lean/5S implementation. Steve is currently Chief Organization Officer at Bespoke, a company that helps continuous improvement professionals achieve tool control through custom shadowboards and tool organization systems. Bespoke’s work is focused on making 5S and Lean practices easier to sustain in real production environments, where missing tools, unclear standards, and inconsistent follow-through can quietly erode productivity over time. Earlier in his career, Steve held leadership roles at Innovative Composite Engineering, Forest Dental Products, Freeport-McMoRan’s Kinetics Metal Injection Molding operation, GM Nameplate, Nypro, and Precision Laboratory Plastics. Across those roles, he has worked close to the factory floor in areas such as program launches, operations leadership, high-volume molding, medical device manufacturing support, and press-side automation. For this episode, Steve wants to focus on continuous improvement and ways to make projects deliver long-term ROI. That is a valuable angle for engineers because many technical projects succeed in the short term but fail to become part of the organization’s daily operating system. Steve’s perspective centers on leadership behavior, standards, team ownership, and practical systems that keep improvement alive after the excitement of the initial project has worn off. A recent Lean Solutions Podcast episode featuring Steve highlighted this exact theme: Lean breaks down when standards become optional, and leadership behavior often matters more...

PDX 2026 Tickets Are 50% Off August 3–7

Jul 16, 2026 1 min

Send us Fan Mail PDX 2026 is October 20-21 in Phoenix, AZ. Attendee tickets are 50% off August 3-7 only. Learn more and register at https://pdexpo.engineer/ Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday. The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.us Watch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus

S7E29 Heylands Lowry| Building an Engineering Culture of Continuous Improvement

Jul 10, 2026 38 min

Send us Fan Mail Heylands Lowry is a globally experienced continuous improvement and operational excellence leader with deep expertise in Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and organizational transformation. Over the course of his career, he has helped companies across medical devices, aerospace, and manufacturing build sustainable systems that improve efficiency while strengthening culture and employee engagement. Known for his ability to connect with people at every level of an organization, Heylands focuses not just on process improvement, but on creating lasting behavioral and cultural change. Most recently, Heylands served as Director of Continuous Improvement at Intuitive, where he developed and deployed company-wide Lean and Six Sigma training initiatives that reached hundreds of employees across multiple events and workshops. His work included embedding DMAIC methodologies and Lean principles into core business processes while mentoring cross-functional teams on strategic improvement initiatives. One notable achievement involved reducing a surgeon payment cycle from three months down to fewer than five business days. Prior to Intuitive, Heylands spent nearly fifteen years at Edwards Lifesciences, where he held leadership roles focused on business excellence and Lean deployment. During that time, he led numerous high-impact initiatives, including productivity improvements, throughput increases, inventory optimization, and multimillion-dollar Six Sigma projects. His contributions earned him repeated recognition as Top Talent within the organization, a distinction reserved for fewer than ten percent of employees. Earlier in his career, Heylands led process improvement initiatives at Panasonic Avionics Corporation and served as a Six Sigma Champion at ITT Industries, where he was selected as one of only 48 employees out of 9,000 for advanced Six Sigma leadership training. Across these roles, he helped organizations streamline operations, prioritize high-value...

S7E28 Justin Rittenhouse | What Engineering School Doesn’t Teach You About Industry

Jul 3, 2026 49 min

Send us Fan Mail Justin Rittenhouse is a mechanical engineer, educator, and industry leader whose career sits at the intersection of advanced engineering analysis, manufacturing innovation, and mentorship. With a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and degrees in Aerospace Engineering, Justin has built a strong technical foundation in structural mechanics, computational methods, and advanced simulation tools such as FEA and DEM. His academic journey is complemented by hands-on expertise in programming, material testing, and product development. Professionally, Justin has spent more than 11 years in industry, including roles with Fortune 500 companies, where he has led projects from early concept through commercialization. His experience spans designing custom cable assemblies for defense and commercial applications, developing automated testing systems using embedded hardware like Arduino, and leading the creation of high-efficiency manufacturing lines that significantly improved throughput. In addition to his industry work, Justin has a strong passion for teaching and mentorship. He has served as both an assistant professor and instructor of mechanical engineering, where he taught CAD, FEA, manufacturability, and material testing, while also leading senior design programs and advising student engineering teams. His ability to translate complex technical concepts into practical, real-world understanding has made him a valuable guide for aspiring engineers navigating their early careers. Justin is also the author of Secret Keys to a STEM Degree, where he shares actionable strategies for succeeding in demanding technical programs—focusing not just on studying harder, but on thinking differently, avoiding common pitfalls, and building the habits that lead to long-term success. Drawing from his own experiences, including overcoming personal challenges such as being born with a cleft lip and palate, Justin brings a deeply human perspective to engineering—one rooted in re...

S7E27 Daniel Kurnianto | The Engineering Journey Behind the World's First Electronic Coffee Tamper

Jun 26, 2026 49 min

Send us Fan Mail Daniel Kurnianto has built his career at the intersection of mechatronics, lab automation, product management, and hands-on mechanical design. With more than 19 years at Formulatrix, he has led and contributed to the development of high-precision life science instruments, including crystallography and liquid-handling platforms used in research and pharmaceutical environments. His experience spans full product lifecycle work: concept development, detailed engineering, injection-molded consumables, motion control, fluidics, manufacturing, assembly, field support, and global customer deployment. At Formulatrix, Daniel’s work has included products like the NT8 Drop Setter and the F.A.S.T. Liquid Handling Platform, where he has combined deep technical fluency with product and team leadership. His background includes micro-scale injection molding, positive displacement liquid handling, fluidic manifolds, precision mechanisms, embedded systems, and DFMEA/GD&T-driven design reviews. That combination gives him a rare perspective: he is not only thinking about whether a design works in CAD, but whether it can be manufactured, assembled, maintained, supported, demonstrated, and improved over time. Outside of Formulatrix, Daniel is the inventor and founder of BOSeTAMPER, a handheld automatic electronic espresso tamper designed and engineered in Boston. The product is described as compact, battery powered, portable, and designed to deliver consistent, repeatable tamping pressure without requiring baristas or home users to apply that force manually. BOSeTAMPER won a Red Dot Product Design Award in 2024, and the public BOSeTAMPER site now highlights the availability of the new 3rd Generation 58mm PRO model with wireless charging and a travel case. For this episode, Daniel will take us inside the engineering journey behind the new 3rd Generation BOSeTAMPER. Rather than just talking about the finished product, the conversation will explore what changed from ear...

S7E26 Paul Vizzio | From Prototype to Product: How Paul Vizzio Engineered RemieDog Into a Real Hardware Business

Jun 19, 2026 40 min

Send us Fan Mail Paul Vizzio is a seasoned hardware engineering leader with deep expertise in building complex electromechanical systems and scaling them from early prototypes to full production. Currently serving as Director of Hardware Engineering at Proteus Motion, Paul led the end-to-end development of a patented 3D resistance training system that has been deployed in more than 400 locations across the U.S. and Canada. His leadership spanned the full product lifecycle—from system architecture and CAD design to manufacturing, supply chain development, and field deployment—culminating in a dramatic cost reduction to approximately 20% of the original prototype while improving assembly efficiency and scalability. Paul’s career reflects a strong ability to operate at both the startup and production scale levels. He has built and led cross-functional teams, driven design-for-manufacturing initiatives, and delivered production-ready systems on aggressive timelines, including bringing initial production units to market in under a year. His work consistently focuses on simplifying complexity—whether through system architecture decisions, supplier strategy, or thoughtful engineering tradeoffs. In addition to his work at Proteus, Paul is the founder of RemieDog, a direct-to-consumer hardware brand, and Vizeng, a consultancy that helps startups accelerate product development from concept to production. Through these ventures, he has worked hands-on across prototyping, injection molding, supplier sourcing, and go-to-market strategy—giving him a well-rounded perspective on both engineering and business execution. Paul is also deeply committed to the broader engineering community. He co-organizes a New York–based hardware meetup with over 14,000 members, serves as a visiting lecturer at Cornell Tech, and has been recognized as one of ASME’s Top 25 Early Career Engineers. Across all his work, Paul brings a practical, execution-focused mindset to hardware development—bridgin...

S7E25 Yesenia Avellaneda | Engineering, Medicine, and Manufacturing Leadership

Jun 12, 2026 30 min

Send us Fan Mail Yesenia Avellaneda is an engineering leader whose career sits at the intersection of innovation, operations, and impact. Currently a Senior Project Engineer within Global Operations at Abbott, she has built a reputation for turning complex ideas into scalable, high-performing manufacturing systems. From leading New Product Introduction (NPI) efforts to executing international production transfers and launching entirely new facilities, Yesenia thrives where strategy meets execution. Her work has had measurable impact. She has led capital projects exceeding $5 million, driven production efficiency improvements, and implemented Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies to enhance quality and throughput. In one role, she helped boost line productivity by 200%, all while overseeing teams of 60+ personnel and ensuring compliance with rigorous FDA and regulatory standards . Her ability to align cross-functional teams—from product development to operations—has made her a key driver of successful product launches and operational excellence. Yesenia’s academic foundation reflects her human-centered approach to engineering. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Physiology from the University of Oregon and later completed a master’s in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Portland. This unique combination allows her to bridge the gap between clinical needs and engineering solutions—an essential skill in the medical device industry. Beyond her technical and leadership accomplishments, Yesenia is deeply committed to giving back. As Regional Vice President for SHPE Region 6 and a longtime advocate for underrepresented communities in STEM, she actively works to create inclusive pathways for future engineers. She’s also an experienced speaker, sharing insights on leadership, career growth, and navigating STEM as a first-generation professional. In this conversation, Yesenia brings a rare perspective—one that combines hands-on engineering, large...

S7E24 Larry Copponi | The Most Important Skill To Get Hired As An Engineer

Jun 5, 2026 41 min

Send us Fan Mail For more than 40 years, Larry Copponi has been working at the intersection of engineering talent and product innovation. Today, he serves as Vice President of Staffing Solutions at Spanner Product Development, where he helps companies across industries assemble the engineering teams they need to bring complex products to life. Larry’s work spans sectors including consumer electronics, robotics, renewable energy, life sciences, and medical devices. His team specializes in placing highly skilled professionals—mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, product designers, industrial designers, and quality engineers—into organizations that are racing to transform ideas into real-world products. By deeply understanding both the technical landscape and the people who power it, Larry plays a critical role in helping companies scale their engineering capabilities. Before joining Spanner, Larry spent more than 14 years as Division Manager at Pro Source Inc., supporting companies with contract engineering talent and CAD professionals to keep product development projects on schedule. Earlier in his career, he helped build recruiting and sales teams at TriMech Solutions, where he launched new recruiting initiatives focused on engineering and technical sales professionals. Across decades in the recruiting and staffing industry, Larry has built a reputation for understanding the real needs of engineering organizations—matching the right talent to the right challenges and helping companies deliver products to market faster. His career offers a rare vantage point on how engineering teams evolve, how companies compete for talent, and what separates organizations that build strong technical cultures from those that struggle to grow. In this conversation, Larry shares lessons from decades of working alongside engineering leaders, insights into the hiring challenges facing technical organizations today, and practical advice for both companies looking to build great...

S7E23 Jordan Kapitanoff | Screw Manufacturing, LEAN Processes, and Investing for Engineers

May 29, 2026 51 min

Send us Fan Mail Jordan Kapitanoff is a mechanical engineer by training and a transformation leader by practice. A graduate of Kettering University with a BSME and an MBA from Aurora University, Jordan built his career at the intersection of engineering, operations, and culture change. Over the years, he has consistently stepped into roles where systems, teams, and processes needed elevation — and delivered measurable results. At Bison Gear & Engineering, Jordan moved from Application Engineer to Innovator, and later to Supervisor of Quality Innovation and Sustainability Engineering Manager. There, he led initiatives grounded in A3 problem solving, DMAIC, and lean thinking — not just to fix problems, but to transform how teams approached quality and continuous improvement. He also launched a new innovation and product development consulting division inside the organization, demonstrating an entrepreneurial drive even within established companies. His leadership continued to evolve at G&W Electric and later at tmax Group, where he served in operations excellence and operations management roles. Across these organizations, Jordan focused on production management, lean process improvement, and aligning communication across departments — recognizing that operational excellence is just as much about people as it is about process. Today, Jordan is channeling that experience into entrepreneurship. As Co-Founder of CoForge Technologies LLC and Head Coach at Thinking Kap Personal and Career Coaching, he works at the convergence of operational performance and personal leadership development. With a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from Villanova University and service as a board member of The Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME), Jordan continues to advocate for systems thinking, continuous improvement, and empowering professionals to take ownership of their growth. LINKS: Jordan Kapitanoff LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-kapitanoff-5b821817/ CoForge W...

S7E22 Amelia Howe | Developing Medical Device Injectrodes for Pain Reduction, & Project Management Best Practices

May 22, 2026 51 min

Send us Fan Mail Amelia Howe is a biomedical engineer and R&D project manager whose career spans startups, research labs, and established medical device companies. She currently leads cross-functional development programs at COLTENE, where she coordinates teams across engineering, quality, regulatory, and manufacturing to bring new medical devices from concept to international launch. Amelia’s journey into engineering began with a pivotal shift early in her academic career. While studying at The University of Akron, she transitioned from nursing to biomedical engineering after discovering the field through biomechanics research. Working in Dr. Brian Davis’s lab, she contributed to innovative research on shear forces and biomechanics, helping analyze how human movement affects pressure and stress on the body. After graduating summa cum laude, Amelia joined Neuronoff, Inc. as its first employee. In the fast-moving startup environment, she wore nearly every hat imaginable—conducting research, developing prototypes, establishing quality systems, and contributing to core patents. She played a key role in the early development of the Injectrode neuromodulation technology while helping build the company’s quality management system toward ISO 13485 compliance. Over time, Amelia gravitated toward project leadership, recognizing that even highly talented engineers need structured coordination to ensure complex products make it through development. She moved into project management roles, overseeing multiple technical programs simultaneously and aligning engineering, regulatory, and business teams around clear timelines and milestones. Today, in addition to her role at COLTENE, Amelia is launching Chrysalis Business Consulting, where she provides project management and business development support to medical device startups. With both an engineering background and an MBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology, she brings a rare perspective that blends technical depth w...

S7E21 Rod Scholl | Pro Tips from 30-Year Analyst For Accurate Simulations (FEA & CFD)

May 15, 2026 47 min

Send us Fan Mail Rod Scholl is the Founder and Principal Analyst at Epsilon FEA, an engineering services company he launched in 2008 to specialize in advanced numerical analysis and simulation-driven problem solving. With nearly two decades at the helm, Rod has built Epsilon FEA into a trusted partner for companies tackling challenging structural, thermal, and dynamic performance problems across a wide range of industries. Before founding Epsilon FEA, Rod spent over a decade at PADT, Inc. as a Specialist Engineer in Analysis. There, he led and executed FEA projects using the ANSYS toolset, supporting everything from early-stage R&D concept exploration to highly regulated FAA and DOT-certified analyses. Rod not only delivered simulations — he helped organizations implement FEA strategically, advising on licensing, training, internal resource development, and competitive advantage through simulation. Earlier in his career, Rod worked at Honeywell Aerospace, where he analyzed and redesigned turbine engine components using closed-form calculations, ANSYS FEA, and life prediction tools. His work resulted in improved component life, material cost savings, and enhanced manufacturability — grounding his simulation expertise in real-world hardware performance. Rod holds a BSME in Engineering Mechanics from Arizona State University and has built his career around one central belief: simulation is most powerful when it’s applied with engineering judgment. Through Epsilon FEA, he continues to help engineering teams reduce risk, improve product performance, and make confident, data-backed decisions. LINKS: Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/epsilonfea/ Guest website: https://epsilonfea.com/ Aaron Moncur, host Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday. The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cyc...

S7E20 Mahantesh Hiremath | How to Influence Public Policy As An Engineer

May 8, 2026 51 min

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Mahantesh Hiremath has built a rare engineering career at the intersection of deep technical rigor, systems thinking, leadership, and service. Across more than three decades, he has worked in space, energy, transportation, and infrastructure, and is recognized as one of the few engineers to have designed and analyzed complex systems in four very different environments: deep underground, offshore, on-ground, and in space. His academic background includes M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from The Ohio State University, along with a certificate in systems engineering from Stanford University. Much of Mahantesh’s industry career has centered on high-consequence engineering, especially in aerospace and structural systems. He held senior roles at organizations including Space Systems Loral and SC Solutions, where his work spanned structural dynamics, verification and validation, mechanical testing, systems engineering, mission assurance, and cross-functional program leadership. Along the way, he developed a reputation for handling technically complex projects where reliability, safety, and execution discipline are non-negotiable. He is also widely known for his leadership in the engineering profession. Mahantesh served as the 140th President of ASME for the 2021–2022 term, following earlier service on the Board of Governors and years of volunteer leadership. ASME has noted that he was the first person of Indian and Asian descent nominated for that role, a milestone in the society’s history. During his presidency, he helped shape priorities around strategy, global engagement, and emerging technology areas including space and robotics. Beyond industry and professional leadership, Mahantesh has also invested heavily in teaching and mentoring. He serves on the faculty at Santa Clara University, where he teaches topics including dynamics, mechanical vibrations, and systems engineering. His stated focus on helping students not just succeed academically but also fi...

S7E19 Ryan Schoonmaker | How to Take A Structured Approach to Solving Engineering Problems

May 1, 2026 53 min

Send us Fan Mail Ryan Schoonmaker has spent roughly two decades in medical device product development, building a career around solving hard engineering problems in high-stakes environments. Today he is the founder of Tight Line Solutions, where he works with growth-stage product development teams to reduce chaos, improve execution, and build the kind of systems that make technical organizations more efficient and predictable. His messaging consistently emphasizes that innovation is not just about ideas, but about disciplined execution, sound principles, and the ability to lead teams through complexity. Before launching Tight Line Solutions in late 2025, Ryan served as Director of Mechanical Engineering at Beta Bionics. Prior to that, he held senior R&D leadership positions at BD and spent more than seven years at Dexcom, progressing from Staff Mechanical Engineer to Director of Mechanical R&D. His background also includes product development work at Safety Syringes and Helbling Precision Engineering, where he worked on drug delivery systems, insulin-related devices, infusion sets, and other life science technologies. That combination of consulting, hands-on engineering, and executive leadership gives him a rare view across the full arc of product development. One of the most compelling parts of Ryan’s story is that his work has touched products with enormous real-world impact. In his own words, helping bring the Dexcom G6 and G7 to market reinforced the lesson that meaningful innovation requires structure, rigor, and strong execution. Public patent records also show his name on multiple Dexcom-related design patents, reflecting direct involvement in device development. He pairs that technical depth with a strong focus on team culture, communication, and breaking large problems into manageable pieces—exactly the kind of perspective that resonates with engineers trying to grow into stronger technical leaders. Ryan also brings a strong academic foundation in mechani...

S7E18 Aaron Moncur | Building Pipeline, the Being An Engineer Podcast, and Engineering Communities

Apr 24, 2026 1 hr 1 min

Send us Fan Mail In this special role-reversal episode of the Being An Engineer podcast, longtime host Aaron Moncur steps into the guest seat while previous guest Mike Romance takes over as interviewer. Aaron shares the story behind his journey from a laid-back childhood growing up in Hawaii to becoming the founder of Pipeline Design & Engineering in Phoenix, Arizona. After being laid off during the 2009 recession, Aaron faced a moment of uncertainty that ultimately pushed him to start his own engineering business—learning sales, marketing, and leadership along the way. What began as a one-person consulting effort grew into a thriving engineering services company focused on automation, custom machines, fixtures, and product development. During the conversation, Aaron reflects on the early challenges of entrepreneurship—cold-calling for his first customers, figuring out how to quote complex engineering projects, and learning to build a team and culture from the ground up. He also shares one of his favorite Pipeline stories: rallying his team to design and deliver two complex automated test systems in just ten weeks—an effort that required nights, weekends, and a fully committed team. The discussion also explores Aaron’s broader mission: accelerating the speed of engineering by sharing knowledge across the industry. That vision led to the creation of the Being An Engineer podcast, the online engineering community The Wave, the PDX – Product Development Expo, and Pipeline’s CAD Club for middle and high school students. Together, these initiatives aim to highlight the often-unsung role engineers play in shaping the modern world. Along the way, Aaron and Mike dive into topics like engineering education versus real-world learning, the challenges of running an engineering services business, the importance of culture and leadership, and why engineers deserve more recognition for the impact they have on society. If you’ve ever wondered how Being An Engineer started—or wha...

S7E17 Joe Couitt | How to Design for Swiss Machining

Apr 17, 2026 43 min

Send us Fan Mail Joe Couitt is the founder of JMC Swiss Solutions, a Phoenix-based consulting firm dedicated to CNC Swiss applications and machining optimization. With more than a decade of hands-on experience in high-precision manufacturing, Joe has built a career grounded in programming, setup, prototyping, and department-level leadership. Joe began his machining career at Aerospace Contacts LLC, where he developed a strong foundation in precision manufacturing. From there, he advanced into CNC programming and screw machining roles, eventually becoming the head of the Screw Machine Department at Korral Kool. In that role, he led operations for multiple Citizen L20 Swiss machines — writing programs, performing setups, managing tooling and maintenance, scheduling jobs, and working closely with engineering teams to refine part designs and manufacturing strategies. His time as an Application Engineer at Adams Machinery expanded his perspective beyond a single shop environment. Supporting customers across different industries gave him insight into best practices, machine capabilities, and the common pitfalls shops encounter when adopting Swiss-type technology. Today, through JMC Swiss Solutions, Joe helps manufacturers unlock the full potential of their Swiss machines — whether that means optimizing cycle times, improving tool life, dialing in processes for tight-tolerance parts, or helping shops bridge the gap between design intent and manufacturability. His journey from machinist to consultant gives him credibility on the shop floor and in the conference room alike — and that combination is rare. LINKS: Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-couitt-ba189195/ Guest website: https://jmcswisssolutions.com/ Aaron Moncur, host Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday. The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need t...

S7E16 Chad Walters | Constraints, Iteration, & Industrial Design in Product Development

Apr 10, 2026 50 min

Send us Fan Mail Chad Walters is an experienced product design leader with more than two decades of experience developing complex products across healthcare, life sciences, aerospace, defense, and commercial markets. As the first industrial designer at a major engineering-focused design center in the Raleigh-Durham area, Chad helped establish and grow a strong user-centered design presence within an organization traditionally driven by engineering and manufacturing excellence. Throughout his career, Chad has led multidisciplinary teams in the development of products ranging from large-scale interactive vending systems like the Coca-Cola Freestyle to advanced surgical robotics platforms and handheld CPR coaching devices. His work goes far beyond surface-level aesthetics — focusing on defining product behavior, reducing usability risk, and ensuring that form, function, and brand identity work together to support both user needs and business outcomes. A passionate mentor, Chad has also served as a long-time Product Development Advisor to biomedical engineering and entrepreneurship students at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University. In this role, he guides multidisciplinary student teams through the realities of product development — helping them structure teams, build compelling business cases, refine investor pitches, and understand the importance of being the best storytellers in the room. Earlier in his career, Chad led design teams developing aftermarket performance components for Audi, Volkswagen, and Porsche vehicles at APR, LLC, where he combined engineering rigor with brand storytelling and public-facing product launches. He began his professional journey designing avionics control systems at Archangel Systems, Inc. and contributed to professional-grade kitchen equipment development at Viking Range, LLC — experiences that shaped his ability to bridge mechanical engineering, user interface design, and human-centered produ...

S7E15 Mustafa Poonawala | Diagnostic Clinical Trials, Prioritization, & Decision Latency in Engineering

Apr 3, 2026 41 min

Send us Fan Mail Mustafa Poonawala is a globally recognized leader in medical device and diagnostics innovation, known for his ability to translate strategy into execution across R&D, clinical operations, and portfolio management. Over a career spanning more than two decades, he has built and led world-class engineering and program teams, guided products from early development through regulatory approval, and driven large-scale organizational transformation in highly regulated environments. Currently, Mustafa is the CEO of DynaMill Research, a specialized Clinical Research Organization focused on helping diagnostics companies dramatically reduce cycle times and improve cost predictability. DynaMill’s approach blends agile program management, end-to-end digital clinical workflows, predictive enrollment strategies, and deep partnerships with multi-site clinical networks. The goal is simple but ambitious: help diagnostic innovations reach patients faster without sacrificing rigor or quality. In parallel, Mustafa is Managing Partner at Steps Program Management, where he has spent nearly a decade advising organizations on agile transformation, PMO maturity, and portfolio optimization—particularly within medical device R&D. His work emphasizes lean, value-driven processes, difficult prioritization, and delivery predictability, all grounded in real-world execution rather than theory. Previously, Mustafa held senior leadership roles at BD, Hospira, OBS Medical, and Boston Scientific. His experience spans implantable and disposable devices, complex electromechanical systems, software and cybersecurity for safety-critical systems, and large-scale diagnostics portfolios exceeding billions of dollars in revenue. With a PhD in Software Engineering focused on safety-critical systems, Mustafa brings a rare blend of deep technical rigor, business acumen, and servant leadership to every challenge he tackles. LINKS: Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mustafap Guest website:...

PDX Webinar Trailer, Engineering for Success: Making Product-Market Fit an Actionable Design Goal

Apr 2, 2026 1 min

Send us Fan Mail Watch the webinar here! Great engineering alone does not guarantee product success. Achieving product-market fit—ensuring that a product truly meets user needs and expectations—requires integrating market insights, usability considerations, and business goals into the development process. But how can engineers quantify something that often seems subjective? In this PDX Webinar, Arne Lang-Ree, Chief Design Officer and Cofounder at Spanner, will demonstrate how product-market fit can be transformed into a practical engineering objective. Drawing on real-world tools and frameworks developed at Spanner, this session will show how teams can systematically evaluate user needs, prioritize design trade-offs, and make decisions that improve the likelihood of market success. Topics covered include: • Why Product-Market Fit is an Engineering Challenge • Turning Market & User Needs into Engineering Constraints • Tools & Frameworks for Measuring Product Success • Interactive Q&A and Application to Your Projects This session is designed for engineers, product developers, and technical leaders involved in bringing new products to market. Watch the webinar here! Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday. The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.us Watch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus

S7E14 Brad & Aaron | How To Accelerate The Speed of Engineering (Episode 3 of 3)

Mar 27, 2026 52 min

Send us Fan Mail In this final episode of the three-part series on accelerating the speed of engineering, Aaron Moncur and Brad Hirayama zoom out to focus on the organizational and cultural levers that compound over time. While earlier episodes explored how individuals and teams can move faster, this conversation tackles the bigger picture—how companies structure their environments, decision-making, and culture to consistently deliver results. They break down practical strategies like vertically integrating key capabilities to reduce dependency on vendors, staying close to the production floor to improve decision-making, and building psychological safety so teams surface problems early instead of hiding them. The discussion also highlights the power of informal communication, mentorship in onboarding, and creating reusable systems that prevent engineers from solving the same problem twice. One of the most impactful themes centers around defining ROI early—and having the discipline to pivot or stop projects when the “juice isn’t worth the squeeze.” Through real-world examples, Aaron and Brad show how even well-intentioned engineering efforts can go off track without clear constraints and alignment. Perhaps the biggest takeaway? The fastest engineering teams aren’t just technically strong—they excel at communication, trust, and culture. If you’re looking to build a team that moves faster, makes better decisions, and delivers meaningful results, this episode brings together 21 actionable lessons from across the entire series into one powerful conclusion. Aaron Moncur, host Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday. The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampip...

S7E13 Brad & Aaron | How To Accelerate The Speed of Engineering (Episode 2 of 3)

Mar 20, 2026 52 min

Send us Fan Mail In part two of this three-part series on accelerating the speed of engineering, Aaron Moncur and Brad Hirayama shift the focus from individual habits to team workflows. Drawing from patterns that have surfaced across 300+ Being An Engineer interviews, they explore how better systems can help teams move faster from idea to hardware to validation. Brad and Aaron dig into practical ways to reduce wasted time and avoid preventable mistakes: defining requirements clearly, validating what actually matters, prototyping early, running strong design reviews, using checklists, testing options in parallel, involving manufacturing sooner, and centralizing project data so engineers can spend less time searching and more time building. Along the way, they share real stories from quoting automated equipment, catching costly design flaws, improving drawing quality, and avoiding production headaches. This episode is packed with actionable insight for engineers, engineering leaders, and product teams who want to streamline development without sacrificing quality. If you care about building better products faster, this conversation offers a clear playbook for improving the workflow behind the work. Aaron Moncur, host Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday. The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.us Watch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus

S7E12 Flash Training: Design for Assembly: Why Fewer Screw Lengths Makes Everything Easier

Mar 18, 2026 4 min

Send us Fan Mail Watch this flash training here: https://youtu.be/QCy9i4TB2b4 When engineers design parts in isolation, it’s easy to unintentionally introduce dozens of slightly different fastener lengths into an assembly. That might not seem like a big deal during CAD, but it becomes a real problem on the shop floor. In this short engineering pro tip, Pipeline automation engineer Mark Blakey explains a simple strategy he uses in SOLIDWORKS to standardize screw lengths across an assembly. By adjusting counterbore features and editing the Hole Wizard sketch dimensions, engineers can design parts so the same bolt length works across multiple locations. The result: fewer fastener types, simpler purchasing, faster assembly, and fewer mistakes during build. Mark also explains why this matters in critical applications where proper thread engagement, torque requirements, and thermal cycling all depend on using the correct bolt length. If you’ve ever assembled a machine and had to hunt through bins for slightly different screws, this tip is for you. Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday. The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.us Watch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus

S7E11 Brad & Aaron | How To Accelerate The Speed of Engineering (Episode 1 of 3)

Mar 13, 2026 48 min

Send us Fan Mail In this special kickoff to a three-part miniseries, Aaron Moncur and Brad Hirayama explore one of the most important—and often overlooked—skills in engineering: how to accelerate the speed of engineering work without sacrificing quality. Drawing insights from more than 300 episodes of the Being An Engineer podcast, Aaron has distilled recurring lessons from experienced engineers into 21 practical best practices. In this first episode, Aaron and Brad break down the first seven strategies that help engineers move faster, solve problems more effectively, and create more value for their teams and companies. The conversation focuses largely on what individual engineers can do today to work more efficiently—from choosing the right communication method and asking for help sooner, to troubleshooting systems more intelligently and leveraging off-the-shelf solutions instead of reinventing the wheel. Along the way, Aaron and Brad share real stories from engineering projects, lessons from early-career mistakes, and insights into how small improvements compound over time. They also discuss the broader impact of engineering speed: why moving faster doesn’t just benefit businesses—it helps bring better technologies and solutions to the world sooner. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why picking up the phone can accelerate projects faster than email • How asking for help early prevents costly rabbit holes • A simple method for troubleshooting complex systems • Why basic experiments and data beat gut feelings in engineering decisions • When it’s smarter to buy components instead of designing them • How off-the-shelf products can dramatically speed up prototyping • Why intentional extra effort and continuous improvement compound over time This is Part 1 of a 3-part series on accelerating engineering speed. In the next episode, Aaron and Brad continue the conversation with seven more best practices to help engineers and teams move faster and deliver results...

Engineering Industry Evangelist

Mar 10, 2026 2 min

Send us Fan Mail Pipeline Design & Engineering About Pipeline Pipeline solves difficult manufacturing problems through automation, custom equipment, fixtures, and product development. We also build community through PDX, the Being An Engineer podcast, CAD Club, meetups, webinars, and The Wave. The Role We’re hiring a relationship-first Business Development leader. This is not a transactional sales role. We’re looking for someone who can build trust with engineering leaders and manufacturing teams, spot opportunity, and turn relationships into partnerships. What Makes It Different You won’t sell from a script. You’ll tell a real story about a team doing meaningful work, backed by tools most BD professionals don’t have: a respected brand, a podcast, an engineering expo, and a growing community. Who You Are You’re energized by people, comfortable talking with engineers, and motivated by long-term relationships more than short-term wins. Travel Frequent travel within the Phoenix metro area and occasional out-of-state travel. Phoenix-based preferred, but we’ll consider the right fit elsewhere. How to Reach Us If this role resonates, don’t just send a résumé. Start a conversation. Use a connection, send a thoughtful note, or engage with something in our world—PDX, the podcast, The Wave, CAD Club, or a meetup. Show us how you’d do the job. If you’re right for this role, you’ll know how to get our attention. https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4374086463 Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday. The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.us Watch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus

S7E10 Daniel Gledhill | How to Win at People-Centered Leadership in Engineering Teams

Mar 6, 2026 54 min

Send us Fan Mail Daniel Gledhill is a seasoned manufacturing and engineering leader whose career bridges high-risk industrial operations and precision-driven medical device manufacturing. Daniel leads engineering teams responsible for multiple production areas supporting transcatheter heart valve delivery systems—products where quality, reliability, and patient safety are absolutely critical. Daniel’s journey to medical devices began in heavy industry, where he worked as a process, chemical, and metallurgical engineer at Rio Tinto, including leadership roles at copper smelters overseeing sulfuric acid plants, powerhouses, and byproduct operations. These early roles shaped his systems-level thinking, comfort with complex processes, and respect for disciplined operations—skills that would later translate powerfully into regulated medical manufacturing environments. Over nearly ten years at Edwards Lifesciences, Daniel has progressed from manufacturing management into senior engineering leadership, guiding teams through scale-up, process improvement, cross-functional collaboration, and organizational change. His work sits at the intersection of engineering, manufacturing, quality, and leadership—where decisions directly impact both operational performance and patient outcomes. Daniel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Utah, along with an MBA from the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business. This combination of technical and business education informs his balanced approach to leadership—one that values data, people, and long-term system health over short-term wins. In this conversation, we explore what it really means to lead engineering teams in medical device manufacturing, how leadership expectations evolve as engineers move into management, and what lessons from heavy industry can sharpen execution in highly regulated, patient-critical environments. LINKS: Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-gledhill...

S7E9 Brad & Aaron | Top 5 Takeaways After Interviewing Over 300 Engineers

Feb 27, 2026 57 min

Send us Fan Mail After more than 300 episodes of conversations with engineers, founders, and technical leaders, certain patterns start to emerge. In this special retrospective episode of Being An Engineer, Aaron Moncur and Brad Hirayama flip the mic around to distill the biggest lessons learned from six years of interviews. Instead of focusing on any single quote or guest, they zoom out and identify the recurring themes that consistently show up in the careers of high-performing engineers. Surprisingly, none of the top takeaways are about mastering CAD tools or memorizing GD&T standards. They explore why understanding the business—not just the engineering—can dramatically accelerate your career. They unpack why soft skills and communication are non-negotiable if you want to move beyond being “just” a technical contributor. They discuss the transformational impact of mentors and coaches, and how simple habits like lunch conversations and honest feedback can change your trajectory. Aaron and Brad also dive into what it really means to “do more than you’re paid for”—not by working longer hours, but by focusing on high-impact contributions that move the business forward. And they explain why establishing repeatable processes, checklists, and systems is one of the most overlooked drivers of engineering success. Finally, they introduce a new three-part mini-series on accelerating the speed of engineering, previewing practical tactics like hacking prototypes from off-the-shelf products and building psychological safety so teams surface problems early. If you want to grow faster, lead better, and think beyond the technical, this episode delivers a clear blueprint drawn from hundreds of real-world engineering stories. LINKS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pipelinedesign/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradhirayama/ https://pipelinemedialab.beehiiv.com/ https://teampipeline.us/ Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday. The Being An E...

S7E8 Matt Ketterer | Professional Growth through Interdisciplinary Exploration

Feb 20, 2026 47 min

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we join Matt Ketterer, a seasoned engineer, at Pipeline Media Studio's inaugural session. Matt shares his career journey, from his initial foray into mechanical engineering to his pivotal shift towards controls and software engineering. He discusses his early days at a medical device company, his methodical approach to learning and applying new skills, and the importance of reading technical manuals, which aided his transition into controls engineering. Matt also offers insights into balancing mechanics and software, fostering curiosity, and the holistic thinking required for successful engineering projects. Ideal for engineers considering a shift in disciplines or those interested in comprehensive system design, Matt's story is both inspirational and instructive. LINKS: Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewketterer/ Aaron Moncur, host Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday. The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.us Watch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus

S7E7 Mike Romance | Industry 4.0, Production Transfers, & People-Centric Leadership

Feb 13, 2026 56 min

Send us Fan Mail Mike Romance has spent nearly two decades operating at the intersection of manufacturing engineering, automation, validation, and operations leadership within the life-sciences ecosystem. His career spans startups and established organizations alike, with hands-on experience taking products from early development through GMP-ready, high-volume production. Across roles in process development, automation, quality systems, and manufacturing strategy, Mike has built a reputation for combining technical rigor with pragmatic execution. Most recently at Quantum-Si, Mike played a central role in scaling operations to support the commercialization of the Platinum protein sequencing platform while laying the groundwork for next-generation technologies like the Proteus platform. Working within a lean and highly agile leadership team, he helped establish scalable manufacturing foundations spanning CM-managed instrument supply, internal reagent kit production, and advanced silicon-based consumables—while navigating the realities of fast-moving product roadmaps and constrained resources. Earlier in his career, Mike held engineering and leadership roles at organizations including Illumina, Dexcom, GenMark Diagnostics, Truvian, and Encodia. Along the way, he’s led pilot-line development, automation strategy, equipment qualification, validation programs, and process controls—often in environments where the path forward wasn’t clearly defined. What sets Mike apart is not just his command of acronyms—GAMP, CQV, QbD, DFSS, FMEA—but his philosophy that systems only work when people do. He actively practices emotionally intelligent leadership, prioritizing trust, clarity, and psychological safety while still holding teams to high technical and operational standards. As Mike explores his next chapter, this conversation focuses on the lessons he’s learned building resilient manufacturing systems—and the kind of organizations where he believes he can make the biggest impact...

S7E6 Bob Hankins | Medical Device Engineering Leadership & Working With the FDA

Feb 6, 2026 41 min

Send us Fan Mail Bob Hankins brings over 20 years of dedicated experience in the medical-device industry, spanning engineering leadership, product development, process improvement and strategic technical oversight. As Director of Engineering at TE Connectivity, he leads a global team of engineers and scientists focused on designing, developing and delivering innovative customer-centric medical device solutions—particularly complex machined, extruded and laser-cut components. In this role he ensures design for manufacturing and quality within ISO 13485-compliant systems, marrying deep technical understanding with regulatory-driven manufacturing discipline. Before his current role Bob led Research & Product Development Engineering at Nordson Medical and has held key leadership positions at several medical-device companies, including overseeing product development platforms, multi-site engineering operations, manufacturing automation and system launches. Throughout his career he has honed core competencies in manufacturing process improvement, continuous improvement (including Six Sigma/Lean methodologies), design for manufacturing/assembly, regulatory compliance (ISO 13485, ISO 14971, FDA), and product R&D for the health-care market. Bob’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Irvine, and an Executive MBA from the Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University. This combination of technical and business education supports his ability to lead engineering organizations in bridging innovation with operational execution, customer development and quality. In this episode we’ll dive into how Bob thinks about leading engineering teams in the regulated medical-device space, how he drives design and process improvements globally, how he balances innovation with manufacturing rigor, and what advice he has for engineers growing into leadership roles in healthcare technology. We’ll also explore his views o...

S7E5 Scott Roberts | The Stainless Steel Hardening Process Most Engineers Don’t Know Exists

Jan 30, 2026 38 min

Send us Fan Mail Scott Roberts is the North American Regional Sales Manager for Bodycote’s S³P technologies, where he oversees the sales team and rep network responsible for bringing one of the most unique surface hardening processes to manufacturers across the country. The S³P family of treatments—including Kolsterising—uses low-temperature carbon diffusion to create exceptionally hard, wear-resistant surfaces while preserving the corrosion resistance that stainless steels and cobalt-chromium alloys are valued for. Scott didn’t begin his career in materials science or engineering, yet he has built deep expertise in helping engineers and manufacturers solve hard problems related to wear, galling, friction, and component longevity. Through roles ranging from business development to market management, he has spent nearly 10 years guiding customers through when and why processes like Kolsterising offer a major performance advantage—and how they differ from more traditional hardening methods that can cause distortion, cracking, or loss of corrosion resistance. Before joining Bodycote, Scott worked in metals sales for aerospace customers such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and GKN, giving him early insight into how demanding applications push material limits. He has since combined that application-level understanding with extensive real-world customer consulting, helping companies in medical devices, industrial equipment, energy, and beyond adopt surface-engineering solutions that extend component life and reduce failure rates. Today Scott is a key voice in the growing conversation around advanced diffusion-based hardening technologies. His passion is teaching engineers what these processes can (and cannot) do, clarifying common misconceptions, and helping teams make smarter decisions about material selection and treatment—especially when performance requirements are mission-critical. LINKS: Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-roberts-574aa94/ Guest website:...

S7E4 Scott Heimendinger | Developing the World’s First Home-Kitchen Ultrasonic Chef’s Knife

Jan 23, 2026 58 min

Send us Fan Mail Scott Heimendinger is an engineer and inventor whose career spans business intelligence at Microsoft and IBM, to cutting-edge food-tech innovation. Early in his career he served as a program manager at Microsoft, then pivoted into culinary science, co-founding the pioneering sous-vide company Sansaire, which raised over $823 K via Kickstarter to make sous-vide accessible to home cooks. He then moved into roles of increasing technical depth: at Modernist Cuisine he developed robotics, motion-control systems, microscopy, visual engineering and more; at Anova he led the development of the Anova Precision Oven — a home-focused combi-oven blending steam, air-flow and sensors. Today, with Seattle Ultrasonics, he’s tackling the humble chef’s knife: by embedding ultrasonic vibrations (over 40,000 Hz) and rigorous testing (including a robot-arm slicing experiment producing 100,000 data points) he’s redefining what it means to “cut better” in the kitchen. For this episode we’ll dive into Scott’s journey bridging engineering and food, the technical story behind the ultrasonic knife (including prototyping, testing, failures and design iterations), and how a leader like him shepherds innovation from concept through to product launch. For engineers interested in product development, instrumentation, design-for-manufacturing and the crossover into consumer goods — this is one you won’t want to miss. LINKS: Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottheimendinger/ Guest website: https://seattleultrasonics.com/ Aaron Moncur, host Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday. The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.us Watch the show on YouTube:...

Custom Machined Parts: High Quality, Low Cost, Fast Turnaround

Jan 20, 2026 3 min

Send us Fan Mail In this short trailer, Pipeline Design & Engineering announces a new service we quietly piloted in 2025—and are officially opening up in 2026. Pipeline is a team of engineers who design and build custom machines, fixtures, and automation systems for manufacturers working on complex, real-world problems. Like most engineering teams, we rely heavily on custom machined parts—and over the years, we’ve developed a trusted overseas manufacturing supply chain to support our own work. This episode tells the story of how a single difficult-to-manufacture part led us to test that supply chain for select customers, how carefully we validated quality and lead times, and why we’re now confident offering this capability more broadly. What’s being announced: Turnkey procurement of custom machined parts at pricing that significantly outperforms typical domestic shops Strong quality, including tight-tolerance and difficult parts Typical ~2-week lead times, with expedited options available case-by-case Engineering-led DFM review, quality checks, and a single domestic point of contact If you’re sourcing custom machined parts and feeling pressure from pricing, lead times, or supplier reliability, this episode explains why Pipeline built this service—and who it’s best suited for. To learn more or see if your parts are a fit, reach out to Pipeline directly at teampipeline.us Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday. The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.us Watch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus

S7E3 Aaron Eden | How Engineers Can Use AI Today

Jan 16, 2026 54 min

Send us Fan Mail Aaron Eden brings more than three decades of building, testing, and shipping practical innovation. At Intuit, he focuses on AI-driven process automation; partnering with product, operations, and analyst communities to eliminate manual toil and design customer-centric solutions at scale. His posts highlight ongoing hiring and growth around intelligent automation and a practitioner’s mindset toward measurable impact. Before Intuit, Aaron co-founded Moves the Needle, where he helped Fortune-scale organizations adopt lean startup and design thinking behaviors. Through executive mentoring and enterprise programs, he guided leaders to shorten time-to-market and increase employee engagement while staying grounded in customer outcomes. He’s also held multiple roles inside Intuit’s broader innovation ecosystem, including Design for Delight leadership and talent initiatives aimed at spreading experimentation across the company. Outside of the enterprise, Aaron’s entrepreneurial streak shows up in community and advisory work. He co-leads the Artificial Intelligence Trailblazers meetup—an open community designed to make modern AI approachable—and frequently speaks on translating buzz into business results. He also mentors founders through Startup Tucson and participates in local panels like the University of Arizona’s “Technology for Good,” where he advocates for responsible, accessible AI. If you’re an engineer or technical leader, you’ll appreciate Aaron’s bias toward running small, smart experiments, measuring what matters, and shipping value fast—principles he’s applied from customer care analytics to RPA/AI platforms. Expect a conversation rich with playbooks for automating high-variance processes, empowering analysts, and building an innovation culture that sticks. LINKS: Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaroneden/ Guest website: https://www.brainbridge.app/ Guest NPO: https://www.aitrailblazers.io/ Aaron Moncur, host Subscribe to the sho...

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Podcast details

Created by: Aaron Moncur
Status: Active
Latest episode: Nov 13, 2026
Episodes: 390
Release period: Weekly
Avg. episode length: 44 min
Explicit: No
Language: English

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