Hardware Podcasts

S4E44 Dave Jones | Music, NASA, and Napkin Sketches to Circuits

Being an Engineer · 17 Nov 2023 · 45m · Episode 44

What this episode covers

Dave Jones, founder of DE Design Works, explains how he transitioned from a NASA joint venture and a music career to building an engineering services firm that takes electronics from napkin sketches to production. He details the company's focus on embedded firmware, PCB design, and system architecture for diverse clients, including medical device manufacturers and agricultural drone developers. Jones emphasizes the importance of identifying customer pain points first, then selecting appropriate technologies like RF and power electronics, while maintaining a transparent, US-based team culture. He also discusses the challenges of scaling a small business, hiring for cultural fit, and balancing the demands of entrepreneurship with family life.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
DE Design Works, NASA, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Allen Bradley, xometry, Pipeline Design & Engineering
Products
Raspberry Pi, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LoRa, EtherCAT, PROFINET, CAN bus

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