Being an Engineer

Ghulam Murtaza | Overcoming Adversity: An Inspiring Tale of Perseverance

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-ms/ Ghulam Murtaza website: https://gmurtaza57.github.io/TechSavvy.github.io/ 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

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Eron Flory | Toastmasters for Engineers, and FIRST Robotics

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 engineering, but also collaboration, communication, leadership, and decision-making under real deadlines—sometimes developing those abilities remarkably early in their careers. Now, through teaching, mentoring, and his consulting work with Eron Engineering, he's putting decades of engineering experience toward helping both companies and younger technical professionals succeed. His consulting work continues to draw on his experience in medical devices, automation, manufacturing, and solving unusual engineering problems. LINKS: Eron Flory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eron-flory-480a431/ Eron Engineering Website: https://eronengineering.com/services (Guest note: I am creating a website for my consulting, and you are welcome to use any photos you want from that site; product photos are under the "Services" link. These are not Eron Engineering products; these are examples of things that I designed and built) 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

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

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/ 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

Elad Einav | How To Engineer Covered Medical Device Stents

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 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eladeinav/ Medibrane website: https://www.medibrane.com/ Book 20 minutes with one of our covering engineers: https://www.medibrane.com/booking-calendar/rsvp-your-consultation 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

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PDX 2026 Starts Soon—Get Your Ticket Now

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

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

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

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://thinkmedtek.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: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus

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Elif Miskioglu | The Science of How to Build Engineering Intuition

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/ 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

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

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 without losing the qualities that made them effective engineers in the first place. LINKS: Nate Post LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-post/ Antonio “Tony” Valadez LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonio-valadez-946621356/ Guest website: https://nexcellence-engineering--91l1gak.gamma.site/ 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

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

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 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

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

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 engineering, Rob sees them as forces engineers can learn to understand and navigate. LINKS: Robert States LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/plasticpro/ Cormica Website: https://www.cormica.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: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus

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Michael Brooks | How BayCath Medical Is Rethinking Catheter Development

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 Area Networking LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/medtech-bay-area/ 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

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

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 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

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S7E33 Sam Thomason | The Black Magic of Nano-Machining

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 despite more than 30 seconds of video lag. That experience gives him a broad perspective on where automation is headed, from industrial robotics to ultra-precision machining. For this conversation, Sam wants to focus on non-traditional machining topics such as non-machining, diamond turning, and hard milling. His perspective should be especially valuable for engineers who want to understand where conventional manufacturing assumptions break down, when ultra-precision equipment changes the process equation, and how technologies like diamond turning and hard milling can open new possibilities in optics, tooling, molds, medical components, and advanced manufacturing. LINKS: Sam Thomason LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-thomason/ 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

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

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 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

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

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: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanleycleong/ Engineering Your Finances website: https://www.engineeringyourfinancesbook.com/ 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

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

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 than the tools themselves. LINKS: Steve Riley's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevejriley/ Bespoke website: https://bespoketooltrays.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: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus

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PDX 2026 Tickets Are 50% Off August 3–7

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

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 projects, and create scalable infrastructures for continuous improvement. In this conversation, we explore what it really takes to sustain continuous improvement efforts inside large organizations, why cultural buy-in matters more than most leaders realize, and how engineers and technical professionals can become more effective problem solvers, mentors, and change agents inside their teams. LINKS: Heylands Lowry LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heylands-lowry-64211a99/ Heylands Lowry website: https://www.intuitive.com/en-us 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

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

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 resilience, growth, and continuous improvement. Today, Justin is driven by a mission to help engineers better understand what the profession truly looks like, how to transition effectively from school to industry, and how to build confidence in the face of uncertainty. His work bridges theory and practice, offering practical insights that engineers can apply immediately to their careers. LINKS: Justin Rittenhouse LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-rittenhouse-phd/ Justin Rittenhouse website: https://justinrittenhousephd.com/ Buy Justin’s book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/04FtX62u 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

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