Hello!
I’m a different kind of Engineer.
Looking back, it’s hard to believe that becoming an Engineer wasn’t an obvious choice. I’ve always had a “knack” for taking things apart, building them, and trying to understand how they work. For example, when I was little, my Dad brought home computers from the garbage, and I put together a few working ones from junk with zero prior knowledge.
For a while though, I grew out of the fixing and building phase and went the more entrepreneurial route. I started my own computer business when I was still in high school. I taught myself HTML, CSS, PHP, and more just to build my own website. This however, was right at the collapse of the economy. I then ended up with a very meandering career path due to the unstable economy. This ranged from driving a truck, to being a heavy equipment mechanic.
Through my diverse experience, my car “hobby,” and my home project adventures, I not only learned a great deal of skills, but I also found a recurring theme – I love making things work. Engineering then presents a pretty obvious choice. It’s unfortunate it took this long to figure that out, but it makes me a better engineer – because now I have understanding and experience on all sides of the isle. I’ve done a lot of diverse projects – retrofitted a V8 turbo diesel into an old FJ40 (which has no been swapped for an LS), fixed & flipped over 50 cars, built a full off-grid power system, completed a full remodel, and countless other things . All these things mean I understand the struggles of technicians, manufacturing, and end users alike. I know how things work together, and come together. This allows me to be an exceptional Engineer, one who understands that ease of manufacturing, quality, and ease of maintenance can be critical to designing a good part or system. I think of all the things most Engineers don’t, because I’ve been on the other side of the table.
Some of things I most often engine-nerd out over would include aerospace, power generation, and of course being a car guy, new car related tech. Large, meaningful or bold projects interest me the most, and I believe making a positive change for our planet and civilization is important. If I could apply my knowledge, skills, and passion toward something here, I wouldn’t really be working.