# S1E09 Engineering Starts With Why | Alex Kim

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2020-05-26
- Length: 48m
- Episode: 9
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-26-s1e09-engineering-starts-with-why-alex-kim

## Summary

Alex Kim, a mechanical engineer with experience at iRobot, Sensata, and Thermo Fisher, discusses his career path and the importance of understanding one's 'why' in engineering. He details his work on consumer robotics and medical devices, highlighting specific technologies like 3D printing (Formlabs, Markforged, Carbon 3D) and CAD software (SolidWorks, Creo). Kim shares a critical lesson from a COVID-19 testing project at Thermo Fisher, where a validation failure due to process control issues caused a three-day delay, emphasizing the balance between speed and rigorous engineering validation.

## Chapters

- [0:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-26-s1e09-engineering-starts-with-why-alex-kim#t=13) Introduction: Alex Kim and Engineering Philosophy
- [3:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-26-s1e09-engineering-starts-with-why-alex-kim#t=190) Career Path: iRobot, Sensata, and Thermo Fisher
- [9:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-26-s1e09-engineering-starts-with-why-alex-kim#t=564) 3D Printing Technologies: Formlabs, Markforged, and Carbon 3D
- [19:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-26-s1e09-engineering-starts-with-why-alex-kim#t=1148) Company Culture: iRobot vs. Large Multinationals
- [24:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-26-s1e09-engineering-starts-with-why-alex-kim#t=1478) Essential Skills: Communication, CAD, and Design Thinking
- [33:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-26-s1e09-engineering-starts-with-why-alex-kim#t=2028) The 'Magic Wand' and Documentation Challenges
- [38:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-26-s1e09-engineering-starts-with-why-alex-kim#t=2324) Case Study: Thermo Fisher COVID-19 Testing Machine Validation
- [44:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-05-26-s1e09-engineering-starts-with-why-alex-kim#t=2647) Future Goals: Starting a Company and Giving Back

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- iRobot (company)
- Roomba (product)
- Sensata (company)
- Thermo Fisher (company)
- Formlabs (company)
- Markforged (company)
- Carbon 3D (company)
- SolidWorks (tool)
- Creo (tool)
- Stratasys (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [305: Humans Have a Terrible Spec Sheet (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-04-28-305-humans-have-a-terrible-spec-sheet-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [Episode 203: So and So Johnson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2019-02-22-episode-203-so-and-so-johnson) (Making It)
- [T-25-009 : Sera Evcimen - Mechanical Engineer to Host of The Builder Circle™ Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2025-10-08-t-25-009-sera-evcimen-mechanical-engineer-to-host-of-the-builder-circletm-podcas) (TRADEOFFS)
- [119: Planning for the Unexpected in Product Design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-03-23-119-planning-for-the-unexpected-in-product-design) (Product Startup)
- [Ep 330: Hover Turtles, Dull Designs, and K'nex Computers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-07-25-ep-330-hover-turtles-dull-designs-and-knex-computers) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

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