# S5E28 Aaron Gebauer | Solidworks PDM, Finding A New Job, Managing Uncertainty

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2024-07-12
- Length: 1h 00m
- Episode: 28
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-07-12-s5e28-aaron-gebauer-solidworks-pdm-finding-a-new-job-managing-uncertainty
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/aaron-gebauer-solidworks-pdm/

## Summary

Aaron Gebauer, a mechanical design engineer and project manager with 27 years of experience, discusses his career transitions, including his time at FreeWire, Orbio, and Ouster. He details the implementation of SolidWorks PDM at Ouster to manage CAD data and version control, contrasting it with his failed attempt at Pipeline Design & Engineering. Gebauer also shares insights on managing job uncertainty, the importance of networking, and accelerating engineering through collaboration and rapid prototyping.

## Chapters

- [0:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-07-12-s5e28-aaron-gebauer-solidworks-pdm-finding-a-new-job-managing-uncertainty#t=30) Introduction and Career Background
- [8:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-07-12-s5e28-aaron-gebauer-solidworks-pdm-finding-a-new-job-managing-uncertainty#t=494) Lessons from FreeWire and Startup Instability
- [17:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-07-12-s5e28-aaron-gebauer-solidworks-pdm-finding-a-new-job-managing-uncertainty#t=1071) Implementing SolidWorks PDM at Ouster
- [25:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-07-12-s5e28-aaron-gebauer-solidworks-pdm-finding-a-new-job-managing-uncertainty#t=1517) Pipeline's PDM Failure and File Management Workarounds
- [37:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-07-12-s5e28-aaron-gebauer-solidworks-pdm-finding-a-new-job-managing-uncertainty#t=2225) Managing Job Transitions and Networking
- [46:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-07-12-s5e28-aaron-gebauer-solidworks-pdm-finding-a-new-job-managing-uncertainty#t=2793) Self-Care and Mental Health During Uncertainty
- [55:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-07-12-s5e28-aaron-gebauer-solidworks-pdm-finding-a-new-job-managing-uncertainty#t=3309) Accelerating Engineering Through Collaboration

## Topics

- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up, early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- FreeWire (company)
- Ouster (company)
- Orbio (company)
- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)
- OneDrive (tool)
- Dropbox (tool)
- Onshape (tool)
- Creo (tool)
- Windchill (tool)
- Informa (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [An Interview with Matt Berggren](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-16-an-interview-with-matt-berggren) (The Amp Hour)
- [Catalyzing Change Agents](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-07-08-catalyzing-change-agents) (The Amp Hour)
- [510: My Office is a Mess, My Head is a Mess… Everything’s a Mess](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-01-09-510-my-office-is-a-mess-my-head-is-a-mess-everythings-a-mess) (Making It)
- [#062 - How a hardware SaaS company wants to help you not get lost in your data during product development, with Michael Corr of Duro Labs, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2018-09-26-062-how-a-hardware-saas-company-wants-to-help-you-not-get-lost-in-your-data-duri) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [21: The Tent Is Flat and Everyone Is Wet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-10-02-21-the-tent-is-flat-and-everyone-is-wet) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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