Being an Engineer

Send us a textIn 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  About Being An Engineer The Being An Engineer podcast is a repository for industry knowledge and a tool through which engineers learn about and connect with relevant companies, technologies, people resources, and opportunities. We feature successful mechanical engineers and interview engineers who are passionate about their work and who made a great impact on the engineering community. 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 such as cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us on the web at www.teampipeline.us

Send us a textAaron 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, hostDownload the Essential Guide to Designing Test Fixtures: https://pipelinemedialab.beehiiv.com/test-fixtureAbout Being An Engineer The Being An Engineer podcast is a repository for industry knowledge and a tool through which engineers learn about and connect with relevant companies, technologies, people resources, and opportunities. We feature successful mechanical engineers and interview engineers who are passionate about their work and who made a great impact on the engineering community. 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 such as cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us on the web at www.teampipeline.us

Send us a textPresented by Mike Landis, Director of Engineering at Pipeline Design & Engineering In this PDX Webinar, Mike Landis shares the practical project management framework Pipeline uses to manage engineering development projects, balancing budget, schedule, scope, and risk. The session includes a walkthrough of Pipeline’s engineering project budget and schedule tracking spreadsheet, refined over 20 years of real-world use. Register for the webinar here: https://www.thewave.engineer/store/product/35-practical-project-management-for-engineering-teams-webinar-with-mike-landis/ About Being An Engineer The Being An Engineer podcast is a repository for industry knowledge and a tool through which engineers learn about and connect with relevant companies, technologies, people resources, and opportunities. We feature successful mechanical engineers and interview engineers who are passionate about their work and who made a great impact on the engineering community. 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 such as cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us on the web at www.teampipeline.us

Send us a textThis episode is a recording of a webinar with guest Chris Denney.Watch the recording for free on The Wave.Think your manufacturer keeps screwing up your circuit boards? The truth might be that the design itself is setting them up to fail.In this webinar, we uncover the most common PCB design mistakes that frustrate manufacturers — and how engineers can prevent them.This session is geared toward mechanical engineers who want to better understand how board layout and design choices impact manufacturability, communication, and cost. You’ll walk away knowing how to collaborate more effectively with your electrical counterparts and PCB manufacturers to avoid painful (and expensive) surprises down the line.Electrical engineers will also benefit from real-world DFM insights and practical takeaways they can apply immediately.Learn how to:Identify design choices that make PCB assembly harder than it needs to beCommunicate more effectively with PCB vendors and electrical teammatesDesign in a way that reduces rework, waste, and frustration for everyoneWatch the recording for free on The Wave.Download the Essential Guide to Designing Test Fixtures: https://pipelinemedialab.beehiiv.com/test-fixtureAbout Being An Engineer The Being An Engineer podcast is a repository for industry knowledge and a tool through which engineers learn about and connect with relevant companies, technologies, people resources, and opportunities. We feature successful mechanical engineers and interview engineers who are passionate about their work and who made a great impact on the engineering community. 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 such as cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us on the web at www.teampipeline.us

Send us a textThis episode is a rerun.Andrew and Lisa are Menlonians (team members at Menlo Innovations). They do things different there. And even though they develop software products, the processes they use are supremely applicable to developing hard goods products, as well. Join us as we discuss “the Menlo way” and paired work, kindergarten skills, storycards, and other methods of producing the right product, on budget, and on schedule.Download the Essential Guide to Designing Test Fixtures: https://pipelinemedialab.beehiiv.com/test-fixtureAbout Being An Engineer The Being An Engineer podcast is a repository for industry knowledge and a tool through which engineers learn about and connect with relevant companies, technologies, people resources, and opportunities. We feature successful mechanical engineers and interview engineers who are passionate about their work and who made a great impact on the engineering community. 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 such as cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us on the web at www.teampipeline.us

Send us a textThis episode is a rerun.Rob Donley has a deep understanding of how engineering works. Kicking off his engineering career from a young age building RC cars and model rockets, he has provided design and leadership capabilities for many companies over the years, and brings to the table not just the ability to design something, but to understand the many facets that accompany development of a new product such as manufacturing, supply chain, financial strategy, and project management. Download the Essential Guide to Designing Test Fixtures: https://pipelinemedialab.beehiiv.com/test-fixtureAbout Being An Engineer The Being An Engineer podcast is a repository for industry knowledge and a tool through which engineers learn about and connect with relevant companies, technologies, people resources, and opportunities. We feature successful mechanical engineers and interview engineers who are passionate about their work and who made a great impact on the engineering community. 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 such as cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us on the web at www.teampipeline.us

Join Eric Richins, a seasoned packaging engineer at Stryker with a decade of experience, as he dives into the fascinating world of packaging in the medical device industry. He explains the nuances of primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging, alongside sterilization methods like ethylene oxide and gamma. Eric shares insights on automating carton lines to boost efficiency and discusses the stringent regulatory demands that shape packaging changes. Highlighting the vital role packaging plays in product safety, he illuminates the unique skills required to succeed in this crucial field.

Send us a textIn this special format-breaking episode of the Being An Engineer podcast, Aaron and Brad sit down together—no guest, no script—to talk through an issue almost every engineer has bumped into at some point: the slow erosion of professional communication.The conversation starts with a LinkedIn post Brad wrote after experiencing repeated ghosting during his job search—even after multi-hour onsite interviews and commitments from hiring managers. That sparks a broader discussion about the shifting expectations around communication in today’s workforce, how different generations approach feedback and follow-through, and what’s driving the breakdown of mutual respect between candidates, companies, vendors, and customers.Aaron shares stories from his 16 years running Pipeline Design & Engineering, including how silence from prospective clients affects small engineering firms and why reciprocity is essential for trust in any business relationship. The two also talk openly about dealing with ambiguity, stress, and the pressure for instant answers in a world where patience is becoming rare.This episode explores:·         Why ghosting is becoming normalized—and why it shouldn’t be·         How feedback and clarity can drastically change hiring experiences·         The role of generational differences in communication styles·         How ambiguity affects engineers and leaders at every level·         Practical frameworks for reducing stress and strengthening trust·         Why “say what you’re going to do, then do it” still matters·         A challenge to listeners to help rebuild professional respect, one small action at a timeAaron and Brad wrap up with a call to action: if you’re ever in a position to choose—whether selecting candidates, vendors, or partners—take the minute to close the loop. Be the change you want to see in the industry.Let us know what you think of this new conversational format, what topics you’d like us to tackle next, or whether we should stick to the classic interview style. Drop us a note on LinkedIn, on The Wave, or at info@teampipeline.us. LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/company/pipeline-media-lab/https://www.linkedin.com/in/pipelinedesign/https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradhirayama/ Aaron Moncur, hostDownload the Essential Guide to Designing Test Fixtures: https://pipelinemedialab.beehiiv.com/test-fixtureAbout Being An Engineer The Being An Engineer podcast is a repository for industry knowledge and a tool through which engineers learn about and connect with relevant companies, technologies, people resources, and opportunities. We feature successful mechanical engineers and interview engineers who are passionate about their work and who made a great impact on the engineering community. 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 such as cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us on the web at www.teampipeline.us

Send us a textIn this special episode, Aaron and Brad introduce Pipeline Media Lab (PML) — a new initiative built for engineers, by engineers.We talk about why we’re creating PML: engineers don’t need more ads, they need education, practical insights, and real stories from people solving hard problems. PML brings all of that into one ecosystem—podcasts, events, webinars, community, and more—to help engineers learn, grow, and stay connected to what’s happening across the engineering world.We share the vision behind PML, what it means for the Being An Engineer podcast, and how it supports the broader engineering community. You’ll hear how PML came from years of conversations with engineers, lessons from PDX, and the belief that engineering knowledge should be accessible, useful, and presented without hype.The episode covers:Why engineers ignore ads but engage deeply with good educationHow PML will spotlight real engineering work—projects, processes, peopleWhat new content, events, and experiences are coming for the communityHow this launch strengthens the podcast you already listen toBehind-the-scenes thinking on building something meaningful for engineersIf you’re an engineer who likes learning from other engineers, seeing cool projects, or getting better at your craft, you’re going to like where PML is heading. LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradhirayama/https://www.linkedin.com/in/pipelinedesign/ https://pml.engineerhttps://thewave.engineerSubscribe to the PML newsletter: https://pipelinemedialab.beehiiv.com/ Download the Essential Guide to Designing Test Fixtures: https://pipelinemedialab.beehiiv.com/test-fixtureAbout Being An Engineer The Being An Engineer podcast is a repository for industry knowledge and a tool through which engineers learn about and connect with relevant companies, technologies, people resources, and opportunities. We feature successful mechanical engineers and interview engineers who are passionate about their work and who made a great impact on the engineering community. 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 such as cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us on the web at www.teampipeline.us

Send us a textFew people enter the MedTech world because of a personal experience with the technology itself—but for Brent Lavin, that’s exactly where it began. At just 23 years old, a CT scan that revealed an urgent medical issue also sparked a lifelong passion for medical technology and its power to save lives. That moment became the foundation of a career devoted to driving innovation in healthcare.Brent’s early engineering work revealed an exceptional talent for connecting technical possibility with human need. Over the next two decades, he would lead cross-functional teams through more than 20 successful product launches, three mergers and acquisitions, and hundreds of millions of dollars in portfolio growth. His leadership—marked by curiosity, clarity, and conviction—has earned him accolades such as BD’s Director of the Year and the CEO Excellence Award.Today, as Director of Strategic Growth at BD, Brent is responsible for identifying high-impact opportunities for both organic development and targeted acquisitions. Previously, he served as Director of Marketing and Product Management, where he led global teams across multiple disease states to record-breaking revenue growth, even in the face of pandemic-era supply chain challenges.Before joining BD, Brent spent years at GE Healthcare, where he honed his product management and global commercialization expertise, launching next-generation ultrasound systems that achieved over 200% year-over-year growth. His career reflects a rare blend of technical grounding, marketing strategy, and human-centered leadership—built on a mission to deliver meaningful innovation to clinicians and patients worldwide.Beyond the numbers, Brent is known for building high-performing teams and mentoring leaders who thrive in complex environments. Whether he’s shaping go-to-market strategies, integrating newly acquired companies, or guiding engineers toward greater clarity and impact, his approach is grounded in purpose: to help people and teams reach their full potential while bringing life-changing technologies to market. LINKS:Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-lavin/ Aaron Moncur, hostDownload the Essential Guide to Designing Test Fixtures: https://pipelinemedialab.beehiiv.com/test-fixtureAbout Being An Engineer The Being An Engineer podcast is a repository for industry knowledge and a tool through which engineers learn about and connect with relevant companies, technologies, people resources, and opportunities. We feature successful mechanical engineers and interview engineers who are passionate about their work and who made a great impact on the engineering community. 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 such as cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us on the web at www.teampipeline.us