# S4E35 Shawn Patterson | Interferometers, Lasers, & Not Panicking

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2023-09-15
- Length: 55m
- Episode: 35
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-09-15-s4e35-shawn-patterson-interferometers-lasers-not-panicking
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/shawn-patterson-not-panicking/

## Summary

Shawn Patterson, an electro-optical engineer with experience at startups like Summit Technology, Phase Shift Technology, and Compound Photonics, discusses his career path from CAD drafting to laser system design. He explains the physics of solid-state lasers, the challenges of building interferometers for semiconductor metrology, and the critical importance of thermal management and precise alignment in optical systems. Patterson shares specific engineering failures, including a misaligned interferometer prototype and the difficulties of developing underwater fiber-optic laser arrays, while emphasizing the value of calm leadership and knowledge retention in engineering teams.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-09-15-s4e35-shawn-patterson-interferometers-lasers-not-panicking#t=0) Introduction and Career Origins
- [7:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-09-15-s4e35-shawn-patterson-interferometers-lasers-not-panicking#t=456) Optical Metrology and Interferometers
- [13:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-09-15-s4e35-shawn-patterson-interferometers-lasers-not-panicking#t=805) Laser Physics and Components
- [16:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-09-15-s4e35-shawn-patterson-interferometers-lasers-not-panicking#t=1018) Laser Weapons and Beam Quality
- [24:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-09-15-s4e35-shawn-patterson-interferometers-lasers-not-panicking#t=1440) Engineering Failures and Alignment
- [33:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-09-15-s4e35-shawn-patterson-interferometers-lasers-not-panicking#t=2031) Knowledge Retention and Leadership
- [38:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-09-15-s4e35-shawn-patterson-interferometers-lasers-not-panicking#t=2314) Underwater Laser Systems and Soldering
- [42:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-09-15-s4e35-shawn-patterson-interferometers-lasers-not-panicking#t=2546) Engineering Tools and Future Tech
- [44:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-09-15-s4e35-shawn-patterson-interferometers-lasers-not-panicking#t=2692) Music, Presentation, and Closing

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Test & measurement](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/test-and-measurement)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Summit Technology (company)
- Phase Shift Technology (company)
- Compound Photonics (company)
- NP Photonics (company)
- Texas Instruments (company)
- AutoCAD (tool)
- SolidWorks (tool)
- Fizbo (product)
- Rustic Rock Music (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [From Apple to OpenLight: Silicon Photonics and Integrated Lasers with Dr. Tom Mader](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2023-04-18-from-apple-to-openlight-silicon-photonics-and-integrated-lasers-with-dr-tom-made) (Moore's Lobby)
- [Project Management, Lasers & Robots - Staunch Specialty Sanctanimity](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-04-10-project-management-lasers-robots-staunch-specialty-sanctanimity) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Jonathan Ellis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-01-23-an-interview-with-jonathan-ellis) (The Amp Hour)
- [Interview with Alan Wolke - Undulating Utensil Utility](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-10-15-interview-with-alan-wolke-undulating-utensil-utility) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Mark Morin of Nufern](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-03-11-an-interview-with-mark-morin-of-nufern) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-09-15-s4e35-shawn-patterson-interferometers-lasers-not-panicking. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Being an Engineer.