Being an Engineer

Send us a textMatt discusses his career path in medical device engineering and leadership insights. He shares how he developed a passion for understanding how things work from a young age and pursued biomedical engineering. Matt discusses developing grit and perseverance, managing stress and ambiguity in leadership roles, and balancing sustaining vs. new products.Main Topics:Engineering career pathLeadership skillsManaging stress and anxietyMedical device challengesInnovation strategiesBalancing existing vs. new productsIntegrating manufacturing earlier in design.About the guest: Matt Zachek holds a Bachelor’s degree and PhD in biomedical engineering and is currently the Sr Director of R&D at Werfen, leaders in specialized diagnostics in the areas of Hemostasis, Acute Care Diagnostics, Transfusion, Autoimmunity, and Transplant. Skilled in product roadmapping, stakeholder management, and product delivery in the medical device, pharmaceutical and diagnostic device spaces, Matt is a strategic thinker with a passion for bringing new ideas to life and a talent for fostering a culture of collaboration and creativity.Links:Matt Zachek - LinkedInAbout 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

Alex Anderson and Lilly Macaruso are engineers at Rivian, known for their innovative electric vehicles. They share thrilling tales from the 2022 Rebelle Rally, detailing the challenges of navigating 1,600 miles using just a map and compass. The duo discusses the engineering triumphs and trials of using EVs in rugged terrains, as well as the camaraderie and empowerment fostered in an all-women competition. Their passion for engineering shines through as they reflect on their unique experiences, teamwork, and the bond formed with their Rivian vehicles.

Send us a textTom Kress discusses his career path in medical device engineering and leadership. He shares insights on developing successful engineers and teams, challenges in the industry, and a vision for the future of medical devices with AI.Main Topics:Career paths and skills for engineersLeadership challenges and politics in the workplaceTrends in medical device manufacturing and the future of AITechnical skills and habits of top engineersAbout the guest: Tom Kress has been in the product design & development space for over 15 years. A creative and results-oriented Engineering leader, Tom’s contributions include problem-solving, analytical, and technical skills and a strong ability to lead cross-functional teams in medical and technical industries from concept to feasibility.Links:Tom Kress - LinkedInAbout 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 textWe discuss Mark's career journey and lessons learned from over two decades in leadership roles. He shares insights on problem-solving, industry trends, keys to success, and advice for career progression.Main TopicsProblem-solving skills and tools like DMAICTrends like outsourcing challenges and regulatory burdensKeys to success, such as collaboration and extra responsibilitiesCareer advice focusing on strong job fitsAbout the guest: Mark Ross has been leading operations and manufacturing teams for 20 years. His recent roles include manufacturing manager at Medtronic and director of manufacturing at Endologix, where he led, coached, problem-solved, and performed continuous improvement activities in hi-tech medical devices.Links:Mark Ross - LinkedInAbout 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 textGrace Park discusses her career journey in medical device engineering, managing challenges as an engineering leader, and her outlook on the future of the industry.Main Topics:Engineering problem-solving mindsetOvercoming imposter syndromeTrends in manufacturing and skills for engineersStrategies for self-care, and industry challengesAbout the guest: Grace Park holds a bachelor’s degree in materials science & engineering and a PhD in biomedical engineering. She is a passionate R&D leader and people developer with 17 years of medical device product development and lifecycle management expertise and has led global Research and Development teams and program management responsible for developing innovative and safe solutions for medication delivery.Link:Grace Park - LinkedInAbout 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 textTony shares his career journey from plant engineer to leadership roles and offers advice on developing soft skills, gaining diverse experience, and keeping highly skilled engineers motivated.Main Topics:Developing soft skills and emotional intelligenceGaining multi-disciplinary experience through various opportunitiesTrends in the medical device industry, like single-use devices and diagnosticsMacroeconomic challenges facing the industryTips for engineering leadership, like providing new challengesAbout the guest: Tony Dedeo is a mechanical engineer with over 20 years of experience in operational strategic planning, manufacturing, quality management, supply chain, and team leadership. Tony has held positions throughout his career, from consultant to director to VP as he has helped organizations drive improvement.Link:Tony Dedeo - LinkedInAbout 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 Moncur interviews Dora Boussias about her career journey and leadership approach, with a focus on how she leads with empathy, transparency, and inclusiveness.Main Topics:Data architecture roles and responsibilitiesCareer progression and leadership skillsEffective communication for engineersOvercoming imposter syndromePeople management challengesStaying competitive through continuous learning.About the guest: Dora Boussias, is a business data and technology leader with deep domain expertise in data, analytics, enterprise architecture, and digital transformation. She has been known throughout her career as a strategic thought leader with exceptional people skills, and this will be the primary focus of our conversation today as we learn how Dora leads with empathy, transparency, and inclusiveness.Link:Dora Boussias - LinkedInAbout 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 textTravis De Jong is Director of Technology development at CQ Medical where they are a global leader in patient radiotherapy positioning and healthcare innovations. Travis’s background includes expertise in Medical Devices, Product Development, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), SolidWorks, and Composites.Aaron Moncur, hostAbout 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 textDerek McKenney is the director of engineering at Puritan Medical Products where they manufacture medical swabs and related products. Derek is responsible for corporate and site level engineering in multiple facilities, including manufacturing support, capacity expansion, process validation, continuous improvement, and project management.Aaron Moncur, hostAbout 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 textPaul McEnroe is the primary inventor of the universal product code (UPC for short), or better known as the barcode. Paul is also the co-inventor of the handheld “pistol-grip” scanner that reads barcodes at a distance, as well as several other technologies following these.Aaron Moncur, hostAbout 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