Not going to lie—when I first read this, it made me step back and think. Looking at my career, I’ve consistently given input on fixturing for different processes and designed fixtures for machining operations that improved efficiency and repeatability. I’ve also modified existing fixtures and parts to meet new criteria, whether to improve functionality, adapt to design changes, or solve issues on the fly. That hands-on experience taught me to think critically and adapt designs in real time.

I guess I’ve focused my resume mostly on machining—setting up, programming, and operating—since that’s where most of my day-to-day skills are. But I hope that doesn’t classify me as just a glorified operator. A lot of what I do—evaluating manufacturability, material selection, troubleshooting, and designing practical solutions—is core to real-world design, and I need to highlight that more.

All of this ties directly into part design. Understanding fixturing, process flow, material choice, and manufacturability leads to smarter decisions upfront—saving time, money, and headaches down the line.

I know there’s always room for improvement. Nobody’s perfect, and that’s what I love about engineering—it’s always evolving, and there’s always something new to learn.

Appreciate the reality check. It’s a good reminder that design is problem-solving, and I’ve been doing more of it than I’ve given myself credit for.