# Michael Kubba | Working for Apple, Tesla, and Google

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2022-07-15
- Length: 59m
- Episode: 27
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-07-15-michael-kubba-working-for-apple-tesla-and-google
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/michael-kubba-working-for-tesla/

## Summary

Michael Kubba, COO at Fellow, discusses his career leading hardware teams at Apple, Tesla, and Google. He details the intense design and manufacturing challenges of the Apple TV remote, the vertical integration and mission-driven culture at Tesla, and the product definition struggles of Google Glass at Google X. Kubba emphasizes the importance of rapid prototyping, clear product development phases, and becoming a temporary expert in cross-functional areas to succeed in hardware engineering.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-07-15-michael-kubba-working-for-apple-tesla-and-google#t=0) Introduction and Career Overview
- [3:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-07-15-michael-kubba-working-for-apple-tesla-and-google#t=225) Getting Hired at Apple and the Apple TV Remote
- [31:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-07-15-michael-kubba-working-for-apple-tesla-and-google#t=1902) Prototyping Culture and Processes at Apple
- [40:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-07-15-michael-kubba-working-for-apple-tesla-and-google#t=2437) Vertical Integration and Culture at Tesla
- [47:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-07-15-michael-kubba-working-for-apple-tesla-and-google#t=2840) Google Glass and Product Definition at Google X
- [52:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-07-15-michael-kubba-working-for-apple-tesla-and-google#t=3140) Current Challenges at Fellow and Career Advice

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Apple (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Google (company)
- Fellow (company)
- Apple TV remote (product)
- Google Glass (product)
- Proto Labs (company)
- Fictive (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [47: Bridge of Toothpicks](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-16-47-bridge-of-toothpicks) (Embedded.fm)
- [T-24-004 : Tom George - Hardware Startup Engineer to Google Product Lead](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2024-11-13-t-24-004-tom-george-hardware-startup-engineer-to-google-product-lead) (TRADEOFFS)
- [Vellicate Videogame Vocation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-04-23-vellicate-videogame-vocation) (The Amp Hour)
- [Welcome to Go/No-Go](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2025-10-01-welcome-to-go-no-go) (Go/No-Go)
- [108: Hardware Design Tips from Apple & Intel Leader](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-01-05-108-hardware-design-tips-from-apple-intel-leader) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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