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Being an Engineer

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Rating
★★★★★
4.9
from
56 reviews
This podcast has
358 episodes
Language
English
Publisher
Aaron Moncur
Explicit
No
Date created
2020/04/15
Latest episode
2026/04/17
Average duration
41 min.
Release period
6 days

Description

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 [email protected]. Intro and Outro music by John Martell

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Check latest episodes from Being an Engineer podcast


S7E17 Joe Couitt | How to Design for Swiss Machining
2026/04/17
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 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 
S7E16 Chad Walters | Constraints, Iteration, & Industrial Design in Product Development
2026/04/10
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 product strategy. Chad holds a degree in Industrial Design from Auburn University and an associate’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Wallace Community College. His career reflects a rare blend of technical fluency, design leadership, and deep empathy for end users — all aimed at creating products that perform at the highest level while genuinely improving the human experience. LINKS: Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadwaltersid/ 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 
S7E15 Mustafa Poonawala | Diagnostic Clinical Trials, Prioritization, & Decision Latency in Engineering
2026/04/03
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: https://dynamillcro.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 
PDX Webinar Trailer, Engineering for Success: Making Product-Market Fit an Actionable Design Goal
2026/04/02
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)
2026/03/27
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.teampipeline.us Watch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus 
S7E13 Brad & Aaron | How To Accelerate The Speed of Engineering (Episode 2 of 3)
2026/03/20
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
2026/03/18
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)
2026/03/13
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 more effectively.  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 
Engineering Industry Evangelist
2026/03/10
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
2026/03/06
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-a6155237/ Guest website: https://www.edwards.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 
S7E9 Brad & Aaron | Top 5 Takeaways After Interviewing Over 300 Engineers
2026/02/27
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 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 
S7E8 Matt Ketterer | Professional Growth through Interdisciplinary Exploration
2026/02/20
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
2026/02/13
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 next. LINKS: Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeromance/ 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 
S7E6 Bob Hankins | Medical Device Engineering Leadership & Working With the FDA
2026/02/06
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 on what the next wave of medical-device manufacturing and design looks like—and how engineering leaders can foster a culture of excellence, empowerment and impact.   LINKS: Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rthankins/ Guest website: https://www.te.com/en/home.html   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 
S7E5 Scott Roberts | The Stainless Steel Hardening Process Most Engineers Don’t Know Exists
2026/01/30
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: https://www.bodycote.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 

Podcast reviews

Read Being an Engineer podcast reviews


4.9 out of 5
56 reviews
★★★★★
NJNR2024 2024/08/10
Excellent accounts of engineers
I was looking for a interview of Jon Hirsctick for an article and stumbled on a treasure trove of engineering stories. Never have I seen such a collec...
★★★★★
mikeanical endwardsineer 2022/08/15
For the love of Aaron and Raf
I’ve been listening to your podcast for a couple years now- every episode. It’s what got me to leave my dead end labor job and go back to school and f...
★★★★★
jekrnr779 2022/08/06
Raf and Aaron are Amazing Hosts
Raf and Aaron’s contrasting interviewing styles are perfect for the podcast and bring variety to the listeners. I like how they take turns interviewin...
★★★★★
Houston sexy rockets 2022/07/30
Valuable Insights for any Engineer
I am a young engineer working in design manufacturing and have found this podcast to be a great resource. The hosts, Aaron and Rafael, ask very good q...
★★★★★
Neil I Thompson 2022/07/27
If you’re an engineering student…
who wants some ideas on what to do when you graduate, this is an useful podcast to check out. There are a lot of jobs that aren’t well known. This pod...
★★★★★
__riley_k__ 2022/06/11
Exceeds Expectations
Top notch guests, humble and informed hosts, great mix if technical talk and life skills. Can’t wait to hear more.
★★★★★
97josephm 2022/05/13
A must hear Podcast for Engineers!
Amazing podcast with many great insights from other Engineers. I listen to this podcast almost daily to and from work. This podcast gives me a fresh o...
★★★★★
Datadive L 2022/03/10
Best engineering podcast
I was looking to learn more about engineering and found so much more! This podcast is great for engineers, aspiring engineers, product developers, pro...
★★★★★
BassettC 2022/02/18
I’ve learned so much!
As an engineering student, I have learned so much from the Being an Engineer podcast. The episodes are well structured and enjoyable. In addition, the...
★★★★★
MRS1999LES 2022/02/11
Great podcast!!
I am an engineering student. This podcast has given me a plethora of resources, connections, and knowledge as I continue my journey to becoming an eng...
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