# S4E49 Derek McKenney | Medical Device Engineering Leadership

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2023-12-22
- Length: 40m
- Episode: 49
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-12-22-s4e49-derek-mckenney-medical-device-engineering-leadership
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/derek-mckenney-medical-device-engineering/

## Summary

Derek McKenney, Director of Engineering at Puritan Medical Products, discusses the transition from technical engineering to leadership, emphasizing collaboration and overcoming imposter syndrome. He details industry trends in medical device manufacturing, specifically the shift toward compact, at-home testing devices and the need for flexible automation platforms. McKenney highlights significant challenges, including sourcing engineering talent in Maine and managing the rising costs of global regulatory compliance for Class I devices. He concludes by advocating for structured problem-solving skills in young engineers and the importance of team cohesion in achieving complex engineering goals.

## Chapters

- [0:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-12-22-s4e49-derek-mckenney-medical-device-engineering-leadership#t=44) Introduction: Derek McKenney and Puritan Medical Products
- [1:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-12-22-s4e49-derek-mckenney-medical-device-engineering-leadership#t=107) McKenney's Engineering Origins and Leadership Philosophy
- [8:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-12-22-s4e49-derek-mckenney-medical-device-engineering-leadership#t=534) Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Perfectionism
- [13:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-12-22-s4e49-derek-mckenney-medical-device-engineering-leadership#t=826) Medical Device Trends: At-Home Testing and Flexible Automation
- [19:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-12-22-s4e49-derek-mckenney-medical-device-engineering-leadership#t=1184) Challenges: Sourcing Talent in Maine and Regulatory Compliance
- [25:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-12-22-s4e49-derek-mckenney-medical-device-engineering-leadership#t=1511) The Documentation Burden and Ideal Tools
- [29:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-12-22-s4e49-derek-mckenney-medical-device-engineering-leadership#t=1798) Future of Medical Devices: Compactness and Retail Integration
- [31:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-12-22-s4e49-derek-mckenney-medical-device-engineering-leadership#t=1894) Success Traits: Structured Problem Solving and Team Dynamics

## Topics

- [Medical & health devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/medical-devices)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Puritan Medical Products (company)
- Xometry (company)
- Becton Dickinson (company)
- Northeastern University (company)
- FDA (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Shaking Things Up: What's Next for the Global Medical Device Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2021-12-16-shaking-things-up-whats-next-for-the-global-medical-device-podcast) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [Bringing Medical Devices into the Home](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2022-05-18-bringing-medical-devices-into-the-home) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [193 - Bioengineering Grads: Here’s What Recruiters Actually Want to See in 2025](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2025-06-18-193-bioengineering-grads-heres-what-recruiters-actually-want-to-see-in-2025) (Let's Combinate)
- [156 - Combination Product Governance, Big Pharma to Medical Device Startups, Risk Management, Scale Up Challenges, Drug Delivery Innovations, and Home Administration with Laxman Halleppanavar](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2024-10-02-156-combination-product-governance-big-pharma-to-medical-device-startups-risk-ma) (Let's Combinate)
- [Return of the Trade Show Jedi](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-04-11-return-of-the-trade-show-jedi) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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