Being an Engineer

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Eron Flory has built a career around turning difficult engineering problems into real products—and, increasingly, around helping other engineers learn how to do the same. His background crosses custom automation, robotics, manufacturing equipment, medical-device R&D, process development, and engineering leadership. Before recently stepping away from full-time engineering, he spent more than six years at Medtronic working on steerable delivery systems for transcatheter mitral and tricuspid heart valve replacement while also mentoring and recruiting engineers and developing knowledge-sharing programs.  
His career before Medtronic included leadership roles at Merit Medical, Osseon, Direct Flow Medical, and Production Robotics. Across those organizations, Eron worked on everything from transcatheter heart valves and vertebral compression fracture devices to automated manufacturing equipment, test systems, Nitinol devices, and manufacturing process development. That breadth has given him an interesting perspective on the value of engineers bringing knowledge from one industry into another rather than spending an entire career inside a single technical silo.  
Eron's path into engineering was also highly hands-on. Before earning his mechanical engineering degree, he worked as an automotive technician and raced motorcycles, eventually becoming a national champion. He later earned a master's degree in robotics from the University of Texas at Austin. Today he still coaches high-performance drivers and has even worked with autonomous-vehicle engineers to help them understand vehicle dynamics and how skilled human drivers respond near the limits of a vehicle.  
Mentorship has become an especially important part of Eron's work. He teaches engineering at Santa Rosa Junior College, mentors its Baja SAE program, and has spent several seasons coaching students through FIRST Robotics. He has described FIRST as an environment where students can learn not only engineering, but also collaboration, communication, leadership, and decision-making under real deadlines—sometimes developing those abilities remarkably early in their careers.  
Now, through teaching, mentoring, and his consulting work with Eron Engineering, he's putting decades of engineering experience toward helping both companies and younger technical professionals succeed. His consulting work continues to draw on his experience in medical devices, automation, manufacturing, and solving unusual engineering problems. 
LINKS: 
Eron Flory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eron-flory-480a431/ 
Eron Engineering Website: https://eronengineering.com/services 
(Guest note: I am creating a website for my consulting, and you are welcome to use any photos you want from that site; product photos are under the "Services" link. These are not Eron Engineering products; these are examples of things that I designed and built) 
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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
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Dr. James Bryant, Ph.D., P.E., is a dynamic force in the engineering and leadership development arenas. With a robust background in civil engineering, James has spent over 20 years leading multimillion-dollar projects in the transportation sector, contributing to technical publications, and serving on national committees. His tenure at the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies saw him providing executive oversight for over 22 volunteer technical committees, showcasing his commitment to advancing the field. 
Transitioning from engineering to executive coaching, James founded Engineer Your Success LLC—a boutique firm dedicated to helping engineers and business owners align their professional ambitions with personal well-being. Holding certifications as a John Maxwell Leadership speaker and a Master Certified Professional Coach, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his clients, guiding them to achieve sustained growth and work-life harmony. 
James's philosophy centers on the belief that success in business should not come at the expense of personal fulfillment. Through his coaching programs, he empowers clients to clarify their values, set purposeful goals, and develop strategies that lead to a balanced and fulfilling life. His approach is encapsulated in his free resource, "The Engineer's Blueprint for a Balanced Life," which offers actionable insights for engineers seeking to thrive both professionally and personally. 
As the host of the Engineer Your Success podcast, James shares his insights and interviews with industry leaders, providing listeners with practical tools to navigate the challenges of engineering careers while maintaining personal well-being. His engaging style and depth of experience make him a sought-after speaker and coach for those aiming to excel in all facets of life. 

LINKS:
Dr. James Bryant LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbryant2/
Engineer Your Success LLC Website: https://www.engineeryoursuccessnow.com/
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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Elad Einav is a mechanical engineer, entrepreneur, and Co-Founder and CEO of Medibrane, a medical-device contract development and manufacturing organization specializing in polymer covers, membranes, coatings, and components for stents and other implantable devices. His work sits at the intersection of mechanical design, polymer science, manufacturing-process development, quality, and medical-device commercialization. 
Elad began his career as a mechanical engineer before moving deeper into medical-device R&D, where he designed implants and delivery systems and later managed multidisciplinary programs from concept through commercialization. Over the years, he has founded or co-founded several medical-device companies and has worked across engineering, clinical development, manufacturing scale-up, and business leadership. 
At Medibrane, Elad works on an engineering challenge most product developers never get the opportunity to see firsthand: how the polymer covering of a stent is actually created and attached to the metal frame. A particularly important decision is whether ePTFE is joined through sintering or through an adhesive-assisted lamination process. Both approaches can result in a covered stent, but the manufacturing choice can influence adhesion, polymer microstructure, permeability, stiffness, crimp profile, fatigue behavior, delamination risk, and even the regulatory strategy for the finished device. 
Elad's perspective is that these manufacturing decisions need to happen much earlier in product development. The way a stent is covered isn't simply something to hand off to manufacturing after the mechanical design is complete. It's part of the design itself. In this conversation, we'll explore those tradeoffs, look at what engineers can learn from real-world failures, and discuss how design teams can better connect material selection, manufacturing processes, testing, and regulatory requirements from the beginning. 

LINKS: 
 Elad Einav LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eladeinav/ 
Medibrane website: https://www.medibrane.com/ 
Book 20 minutes with one of our covering engineers: https://www.medibrane.com/booking-calendar/rsvp-your-consultation 
 
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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PDX 2026 starts October 20 in Phoenix, AZ. Practical training for growth-minded engineers. Learn more and register at https://pdexpo.engineer/ 
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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This episode of Being An Engineer takes a detour from engineering and onto the mats as Aaron sits down with Pipeline Design & Engineering Principal Controls Engineer and longtime Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner Matt Ketterer. 
With more than 20 years of BJJ experience and a second-degree black belt, Matt shares what initially drew him to the sport, the humbling experience of being a beginner, and how his approach to training has evolved over the years. Aaron and Matt discuss why technique can overcome strength, learning to stay calm in uncomfortable situations, dealing with injuries, narrowing your focus to accelerate learning, and the strong bonds that form between training partners. 
They also explore some of the bigger lessons that extend well beyond Jiu-Jitsu: checking your ego, becoming comfortable with struggle, focusing on what actually works, and continuing to learn even when you feel like you’re going backwards. Whether you train BJJ, are curious about martial arts, or simply enjoy conversations about mastery and personal growth, there’s plenty to take away from this one. 
LINKS: 
Matt Ketterer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewketterer/ 
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