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Welcome to a special episode of the "Being an Engineer" podcast, marking the beginning of our new "Open to Work" series. Part of the stated purpose of the BAE podcast is to “connect with the companies, technologies, people, resources, and opportunities featured on our show.” In alignment with that purpose, my goal for this open to work series is to provide a platform for engineers who are currently seeking new opportunities, sharing their experiences and insights in an open and candid manner to connect these talented professionals with our community of listeners who may be able to offer support or job leads

Our first guest in this series is Erica Kahn, she is here to share her journey, discuss the challenges of being unexpectedly out of work, and provide valuable insights that can benefit engineers who may find themselves in a similar situation.

We are honored to have her kick off this important series. Through her candid discussion, we hope to provide not only a connection for Erica but also a source of inspiration and practical advice for our listeners.

Main Topics:

• Erica's work developing hydrogel technologies for eyecare
• Creativity in engineering
• Coping with job loss
• Leveraging her network
• Career development after being laid off

About the guest: Erica Kahn, is a highly accomplished biomedical engineer with a wealth of experience in the medical device industry. Erica previously worked for Ocular Therapeutix, where she made significant contributions to the development of innovative hydrogel technologies for ocular applications. 

Links:
Erica Kahn - LinkedIn
Email - [email protected] 

If your company helps engineers build better products, we should talk.

At PDX, companies don’t just exhibit — they teach practical training at their booth. Engineers gain useful skills, and exhibitors build real relationships.

PDX 2026 is October 20–21 in Phoenix. Booths are first-come, first-served, and many are already reserved.

To learn more about exhibiting, email [email protected]

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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In this episode, we delve into Dion's remarkable journey in medical device manufacturing. We explore his wealth of experience and expertise, spanning crucial aspects such as product development, regulatory submissions, and the implementation of various manufacturing technologies.

Main Topics:

• Pneumatic welding process challenges and qualifications
• Best practices for developing and optimizing nitinol welding processes  
• Experience overcoming a tough FDA regulatory hurdle
• Principles for mentorship, failure, and learning in engineering
• Evaluating and implementing new technologies
• Skills required for today's manufacturing engineers

About the guest: Dion Lopes is an accomplished engineering leader with a deep track record in the medical device industry. Dion's career highlights include key roles at several top organizations, such as Director of Manufacturing Engineering at Imperative Care, Senior Manager of Manufacturing and Production at Intersect ENT (now part of Medtronic), and various leadership positions at PneumRx and Ortho Clinical Diagnostics. 

Links:
Dion Lopes - LinkedIn
 

If your company helps engineers build better products, we should talk.

At PDX, companies don’t just exhibit — they teach practical training at their booth. Engineers gain useful skills, and exhibitors build real relationships.

PDX 2026 is October 20–21 in Phoenix. Booths are first-come, first-served, and many are already reserved.

To learn more about exhibiting, email [email protected]

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

Send a text

The episode discusses Jim Cuseo's engineering journey and lessons learned over his career. He shares insights on defining requirements, developing complex products, scaling operations, and leading large teams.

Main Topics:

• Defining clear product requirements
• Developing subsystems while considering broader context 
• Accelerating engineering through effective processes
• Common mistakes and how to avoid them
• Emerging technologies impacting design

About the guest: Jim Cuseo is a seasoned mechanical engineer whose remarkable career has spanned over two decades, influencing the design of some of the most iconic technology products. James's journey began at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology and led him through pivotal roles at Ford, Exponent, and MagCanica, where he honed his skills in the motorsport and aerospace sectors. Next, Jim spent over a decade at Apple, where he grew to Director of Mac Product Design, overseeing the development of groundbreaking products such as the 16” MacBook Pro and the iMac with Retina Displays. Currently, he offers his expertise to various companies through his consultancy, Jim Cuseo, LLC, aiding them in scaling operations and enhancing product designs. 

Links:
James Cuseo - LinkedIn

If your company helps engineers build better products, we should talk.

At PDX, companies don’t just exhibit — they teach practical training at their booth. Engineers gain useful skills, and exhibitors build real relationships.

PDX 2026 is October 20–21 in Phoenix. Booths are first-come, first-served, and many are already reserved.

To learn more about exhibiting, email [email protected]

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

Send a text

Welcome to another episode of the Being An Engineer podcast. Today, we're excited to host James Trevelyan. James shares insights from his extensive research and experience on effective collaboration, cultural differences in engineering practice, value creation, and accelerating engineering development through experimentation. 

Main Topics:

• Engineering collaboration skills
• Communication vs email
• Cultural impacts on innovation
• Project failures due to collaboration issues
• Improving listening skills
• Training priorities
• Creating value for clients.

About the guest: James Trevelyan, is a renowned engineer whose career spans significant contributions to both academia and industry. James's work has profoundly impacted practical engineering applications and education, notably in areas of robotics and automation. His extensive research and development projects have pioneered technological advancements and provided critical insights into engineering practice. With a focus on enhancing the utility of engineering work and its recognition in society, James offers invaluable perspectives on navigating and succeeding in the engineering world.

Links:
James Trevelyan LinkedIn
Website
Book

If your company helps engineers build better products, we should talk.

At PDX, companies don’t just exhibit — they teach practical training at their booth. Engineers gain useful skills, and exhibitors build real relationships.

PDX 2026 is October 20–21 in Phoenix. Booths are first-come, first-served, and many are already reserved.

To learn more about exhibiting, email [email protected]

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

Send a text

Chris shares his invaluable insights and experiences from his remarkable 35+ year career in medical device innovation. He discusses how he got into engineering without a formal degree, his early career path working at startups in Silicon Valley, and advice for others looking to get into engineering.

Main Topics:

• How Chris got into engineering through curiosity and building things rather than deciding on it as a career
• His early challenges in math but passion for science and technology
• His first medical device job at a startup building test equipment
• Advice for getting into engineering without a degree by learning on the job.  

About the guest: Chris is an accomplished leader in the field of engineering, boasting a robust background in project management and development within the medical devices sector. His impressive career includes roles at notable companies where he has led teams through complex projects, pushing the boundaries of innovation and efficiency. As someone who's navigated the fast-evolving terrain of medical technologies, Chris brings a treasure trove of insights on career acceleration, leadership, and adapting to the technological shifts in engineering.

Links:
Chris Julian - LinkedIn
Chris’ Websites

If your company helps engineers build better products, we should talk.

At PDX, companies don’t just exhibit — they teach practical training at their booth. Engineers gain useful skills, and exhibitors build real relationships.

PDX 2026 is October 20–21 in Phoenix. Booths are first-come, first-served, and many are already reserved.

To learn more about exhibiting, email [email protected]

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

Send a text

Francis shares his journey from software engineer to engineering manager to coach. He discusses strategies for balancing product development and organizational growth when scaling teams quickly. Listeners will greatly benefit from Francis's insights on accelerating their careers, enhancing productivity, and adopting best technical and leadership practices. Join us as we delve into the wisdom and experiences of a coach who has been instrumental in shaping the success of numerous engineering leaders and teams across the industry.

Main Topics:

• Defining and onboarding new team members to a strong engineering culture to prevent cultural dilution when scaling.
• Maintaining high performance through accountability and focus on results.
• Fostering a collaborative and supportive culture.

About the guest: Francis Lacoste, a distinguished VPE and CTO coach, known for his exceptional ability to guide engineering leaders and teams toward achieving remarkable growth, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture. With a wealth of experience in addressing the unique challenges faced by fast-scaling tech startups, Francis has mastered the art of balancing product development with organizational development, all while maintaining a strong focus on emotional intelligence and effective leadership.

Links:
Francis Lacoste - LinkedIn
VPE and CTO coach Website

If your company helps engineers build better products, we should talk.

At PDX, companies don’t just exhibit — they teach practical training at their booth. Engineers gain useful skills, and exhibitors build real relationships.

PDX 2026 is October 20–21 in Phoenix. Booths are first-come, first-served, and many are already reserved.

To learn more about exhibiting, email [email protected]

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

Send a text

Aaron Moncur interviews Krishna Raichur about his journey, Krishna shares his insights into simulation technologies, the evolution of engineering tools, and the impact of digital twins and AI/ML algorithms on the industry. 

Main Topics:

• Krishna's background and journey to simulation engineering
• Benefits and challenges of simulation implementation  
• Case study on simulating blood flow in an artificial heart design
• Static vs dynamic simulation, material properties and limitations
• Costs of simulation software, ROI considerations and future developments

About the guest: Krishna Raichur is a Principal Engineer at SimuTech Group and an Ansys Certified Elite Channel Partner. With a robust career spanning over three decades, Krishna has made significant contributions to the field of engineering simulation, technical support, and techno-marketing. His expertise in ANSYS products and his passion for educating others make him a distinguished figure in the engineering community.

Links:
Krishna Raichur - LinkedIn
SimuTech Group Website

If your company helps engineers build better products, we should talk.

At PDX, companies don’t just exhibit — they teach practical training at their booth. Engineers gain useful skills, and exhibitors build real relationships.

PDX 2026 is October 20–21 in Phoenix. Booths are first-come, first-served, and many are already reserved.

To learn more about exhibiting, email [email protected]

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

Send a text

PDX offers a dynamic bootcamp-style experience tailored exclusively for engineers engaged in the design and development of hard goods products. Unlike conventional conference presentations, our interactive event fosters direct engagement between the industry’s highest-performing subject matter experts and ambitious engineers, facilitating the transfer of practical skills and knowledge across the PDX community.

Participants not only benefit from invaluable insights shared by seasoned professionals but also gain access to a vibrant community of like-minded peers committed to mutual support, advancement, and inspiration. Whether you specialize in designing consumer products, developing medical devices, or creating automated machinery, the expertise and camaraderie cultivated at PDX yield tangible, real-world solutions that drive both personal career growth and substantial company success.

Learn more at https://www.thewave.engineer/product-development-expo/pdx2024info/.

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

Send a text

Joe Moak shares his experience with the podcast working at high-profile companies such as Apple & Sonos, and also gives us a glimpse into “the best place he has ever worked” (Maestro PD). Companies are always looking for those elusive “A” players to join their teams, and it is very clear that Joe qualifies under that definition.

Joe Moak earned his mechanical engineering degree at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.

To sum up, Listen to this episode to learn all these!

Main Topics:

• Working at Apple
• Designing for manufacturing tolerance
• Product development challenges
• Interviewing techniques
• Design processes,
• Project management best practices

About the guest: Joe Moak, founder and chief engineer at Maestro PD, a product design and engineering firm. Joe also worked at Apple, Sonos, St. Jude Medical, and other companies.

Links:
Joe Moak - LinkedIn
Maestro PD

If your company helps engineers build better products, we should talk.

At PDX, companies don’t just exhibit — they teach practical training at their booth. Engineers gain useful skills, and exhibitors build real relationships.

PDX 2026 is October 20–21 in Phoenix. Booths are first-come, first-served, and many are already reserved.

To learn more about exhibiting, email [email protected]

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

Send a text

PDX offers a dynamic bootcamp-style experience tailored exclusively for engineers engaged in the design and development of hard goods products. Unlike conventional conference presentations, our interactive event fosters direct engagement between the industry’s highest-performing subject matter experts and ambitious engineers, facilitating the transfer of practical skills and knowledge across the PDX community.

Participants not only benefit from invaluable insights shared by seasoned professionals but also gain access to a vibrant community of like-minded peers committed to mutual support, advancement, and inspiration. Whether you specialize in designing consumer products, developing medical devices, or creating automated machinery, the expertise and camaraderie cultivated at PDX yield tangible, real-world solutions that drive both personal career growth and substantial company success.

Learn more at https://www.thewave.engineer/product-development-expo/pdx2024info/.

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