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

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2023-11-17
- Length: 45m
- Episode: 44
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-11-17-s4e44-dave-jones-music-nasa-and-napkin-sketches-to-circuits
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/dave-jones-circuits/

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-11-17-s4e44-dave-jones-music-nasa-and-napkin-sketches-to-circuits#t=48) Introduction: Dave Jones and DE Design Works
- [1:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-11-17-s4e44-dave-jones-music-nasa-and-napkin-sketches-to-circuits#t=105) Dave's Background: Music, NASA, and Engineering
- [5:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-11-17-s4e44-dave-jones-music-nasa-and-napkin-sketches-to-circuits#t=304) Building DE Design Works: Team Culture and Project Execution
- [11:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-11-17-s4e44-dave-jones-music-nasa-and-napkin-sketches-to-circuits#t=693) NASA Joint Venture Experience: Shuttle and ISS Support
- [15:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-11-17-s4e44-dave-jones-music-nasa-and-napkin-sketches-to-circuits#t=955) Starting the Business: From Basement to 26 Employees
- [20:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-11-17-s4e44-dave-jones-music-nasa-and-napkin-sketches-to-circuits#t=1204) Engineering Approach: Solving Pain Points and Architecture
- [24:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-11-17-s4e44-dave-jones-music-nasa-and-napkin-sketches-to-circuits#t=1492) Competing with Overseas Firms and AI in Software
- [28:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-11-17-s4e44-dave-jones-music-nasa-and-napkin-sketches-to-circuits#t=1696) University Curriculum: Embedded Firmware and Business Finance
- [30:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-11-17-s4e44-dave-jones-music-nasa-and-napkin-sketches-to-circuits#t=1832) Hiring Strategy: Co-ops, Interns, and Cultural Fit
- [33:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-11-17-s4e44-dave-jones-music-nasa-and-napkin-sketches-to-circuits#t=2013) Business Challenges, COVID, and Work-Life Balance
- [35:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-11-17-s4e44-dave-jones-music-nasa-and-napkin-sketches-to-circuits#t=2134) Industry Trends: Miniaturization, RF, and Connectivity

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- DE Design Works (company)
- NASA (company)
- Boeing (company)
- Lockheed Martin (company)
- Allen Bradley (company)
- xometry (company)
- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)
- Raspberry Pi (product)
- Bluetooth (product)
- Wi-Fi (product)
- LoRa (product)
- EtherCAT (product)
- PROFINET (product)
- CAN bus (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Scaling an Electronics Design Business: Insights from Jordan Danko](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-04-22-scaling-an-electronics-design-business-insights-from-jordan-danko) (OnTrack)
- [Hipster Fodder](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-08-25-hipster-fodder) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview With Dave Young](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-07-01-an-interview-with-dave-young) (The Amp Hour)
- [Hardware Development with No Prior Experience with Kris Christopher of Grow Nanny](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-01-07-hardware-development-with-no-prior-experience-with-kris-christopher-of-grow-nann) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [An Interview with Kerry Scharfglass](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-04-06-an-interview-with-kerry-scharfglass) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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