# S5E18 Joe Moak | Working at Apple, Premium Products, & Superior Project Management

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2024-05-03
- Length: 55m
- Episode: 18
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-05-03-s5e18-joe-moak-working-at-apple-premium-products-superior-project-management
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/joe-moak-premium-products/

## Summary

Joe Moak, founder and chief engineer at Maestro PD, discusses his tenure at Apple, Sonos, and St. Jude Medical, emphasizing the importance of designing for manufacturing tolerances and managing cross-functional teams. He details how Apple’s rigorous design process, particularly regarding the first-generation Apple TV, prioritized customer touchpoints and fit-and-finish over mere feature sets. Moak explains his consultancy’s approach to premium hardware, which involves rigorous tolerance analysis and design reviews to prevent assembly failures in high-volume production. He also shares insights on building effective engineering teams, highlighting the critical role of project managers in mitigating risk and the dangers of mistaking activity for progress.

## Chapters

- [0:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-05-03-s5e18-joe-moak-working-at-apple-premium-products-superior-project-management#t=5) Introduction: PDX Expo and Joe Moak's Background
- [2:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-05-03-s5e18-joe-moak-working-at-apple-premium-products-superior-project-management#t=164) Joe Moak's Early Inspiration: Sony Handycam and Cal Poly
- [7:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-05-03-s5e18-joe-moak-working-at-apple-premium-products-superior-project-management#t=474) Defining Premium Hardware and Apple TV Design Details
- [14:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-05-03-s5e18-joe-moak-working-at-apple-premium-products-superior-project-management#t=841) Working at Apple: Culture, Leadership, and Technical Rigor
- [22:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-05-03-s5e18-joe-moak-working-at-apple-premium-products-superior-project-management#t=1366) Design for Manufacturing: Tolerance Analysis and CAD Strategies
- [29:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-05-03-s5e18-joe-moak-working-at-apple-premium-products-superior-project-management#t=1782) Building Maestro PD: Team Structure, Office Layout, and Tools
- [35:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-05-03-s5e18-joe-moak-working-at-apple-premium-products-superior-project-management#t=2102) Hiring, Interviewing, and Avoiding 'Busy' Work
- [41:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-05-03-s5e18-joe-moak-working-at-apple-premium-products-superior-project-management#t=2500) Critical Habits: Tolerance Analysis and Design Reviews
- [45:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-05-03-s5e18-joe-moak-working-at-apple-premium-products-superior-project-management#t=2724) Design Process, Team Sizes, and Project Management Best Practices

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Apple (company)
- Sonos (company)
- St. Jude Medical (company)
- Maestro PD (company)
- Sony sports handycam (product)
- Apple TV (product)
- iMac (product)
- iPad (product)
- iPhone (product)
- AirPods (product)
- AirTags (product)
- Mac mini (product)
- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [An Interview with Chrissy Meyer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-04-08-an-interview-with-chrissy-meyer) (The Amp Hour)
- [A First-Generation Product Master Class with Milo Werner, Recorded LIVE at "Build Better 2022" (hosted by Instrumental Inc.)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-04-05-a-first-generation-product-master-class-with-milo-werner-recorded-live-at-build) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [082: Smooth Product Flow from Visual Design to Engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-06-30-082-smooth-product-flow-from-visual-design-to-engineering) (Product Startup)
- [111: With Great Power](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2024-05-01-111-with-great-power) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [114: Designing an MVP for a New Consumer Product](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-02-16-114-designing-an-mvp-for-a-new-consumer-product) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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