What does the future of engineering look like from the perspective of someone just entering the field? In this episode, Chad Jackson sits down with Ryan Botzbach — a final-year mechanical engineering student at UC Riverside with a computer science minor, a passion for aerospace and defense, and the kind of hands-on instincts that most companies spend years trying to cultivate.

Ryan brings a perspective that engineering leaders can't afford to ignore. He's the engineer rebuilding a Volvo five-cylinder engine in his garage, converting 1970s aerospace drawings into 3D models for a machine shop, and running a thousand-person car club — all while finishing his degree. He's not waiting to "get experience." He's already in it.

In this conversation, Ryan and Chad explore:

Whether you're trying to recruit the next generation of engineers, modernize your workflows, or simply understand how the field is evolving from the ground up — this episode offers a candid, unfiltered view from someone standing right at the threshold.

Ryan Botzbach is a graduating mechanical engineering student at UC Riverside and part-time team member at DNL Components, a supplier to aerospace, defense, and racing industries.