# S1E56 The Benefits of Building a Long Term Career in Engineering | Paul Schaffner

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2020-12-11
- Length: 47m
- Episode: 56
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-11-s1e56-the-benefits-of-building-a-long-term-career-in-engineering-paul-schaffner

## Summary

Paul Schaffner, Director of Test Development at Benchmark Electronics, discusses his 30-year career and the benefits of long-term employment in engineering. He details the evolution of Benchmark's test development team, highlighting the creation of standardized platforms like the Edge, Target, and Step One testers to improve efficiency and customer confidence. Schaffner also shares insights on hiring generalist engineers with diverse backgrounds, managing cross-functional teams, and the importance of autonomy and empowerment in retaining talent.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-11-s1e56-the-benefits-of-building-a-long-term-career-in-engineering-paul-schaffner#t=0) Introduction: Paul Schaffner and Benchmark Electronics
- [1:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-11-s1e56-the-benefits-of-building-a-long-term-career-in-engineering-paul-schaffner#t=100) Schaffner's Early Career and Physics Background
- [5:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-11-s1e56-the-benefits-of-building-a-long-term-career-in-engineering-paul-schaffner#t=351) Reasons for Staying at Benchmark for 30 Years
- [10:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-11-s1e56-the-benefits-of-building-a-long-term-career-in-engineering-paul-schaffner#t=654) Developing Standard Test Platforms (Edge, Target, Step One)
- [15:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-11-s1e56-the-benefits-of-building-a-long-term-career-in-engineering-paul-schaffner#t=902) Defining Manufacturing Test vs. DVT/EBT
- [21:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-11-s1e56-the-benefits-of-building-a-long-term-career-in-engineering-paul-schaffner#t=1285) Hiring Strategies and Generalist Engineers
- [26:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-11-s1e56-the-benefits-of-building-a-long-term-career-in-engineering-paul-schaffner#t=1612) The Appeal of Test Development and Variety
- [31:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-11-s1e56-the-benefits-of-building-a-long-term-career-in-engineering-paul-schaffner#t=1868) University Partnerships and Capstone Projects
- [35:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-11-s1e56-the-benefits-of-building-a-long-term-career-in-engineering-paul-schaffner#t=2156) Personal Habits: To-Do Lists as Journals
- [40:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-11-s1e56-the-benefits-of-building-a-long-term-career-in-engineering-paul-schaffner#t=2427) Project Management and Phase Gates

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Benchmark Electronics (company)
- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)
- Winona State University (other)
- Fermilab (other)
- LabVIEW (tool)
- TestStand (tool)
- Adaptive (tool)
- OneNote (tool)
- Airtable (tool)
- Google Docs (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [151: Captain Stochastic](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-05-11-151-captain-stochastic) (Embedded.fm)
- [84: You Can't Make Money Taking Tests](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-14-84-you-cant-make-money-taking-tests) (Embedded.fm)
- [Globetrotting, Apprenticeships, and Data-Driven Panel Design with EPLAN’s Sean Mulherrin](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-03-28-globetrotting-apprenticeships-and-data-driven-panel-design-with-eplans-sean-mulh) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Focus, Dammit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-10-25-focus-dammit) (The Amp Hour)
- [47: Bridge of Toothpicks](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-16-47-bridge-of-toothpicks) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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