In this episode of The Blue Room, host Lorraine Ladd sits down with Grant McNeill, Associate Director in alliant’s Research & Development practice. With over nine years at alliant, Grant shares how he transitioned from engineering to consulting, what makes R&D work so dynamic, and how his team leverages AI to boost quality and efficiency.

They dive into:

• What a day in R&D consulting really looks like (race car parts in the morning, breweries in the afternoon!)
• The importance of learning, teamwork, and “friendly competition”
• Overcoming the shift from engineering’s step-by-step mindset to big-picture problem solving
• Rapid-fire fun: coffee vs. energy drinks, tacos vs. pizza, and more
• Advice for career changers: don’t be limited by your past experience
• Who thrives on the R&D team: grit, drive, and flexibility

We’re hiring! If you’re a motivated problem-solver who adapts quickly and loves learning, consider joining our R&D practice (R&D Consultants and R&D Associates).