Hardware Podcasts

S7E11 Brad & Aaron | How To Accelerate The Speed of Engineering (Episode 1 of 3)

Being an Engineer · 13 Mar 2026 · 49m · Episode 11

What this episode covers

Aaron Moncur, founder of Pipeline Design & Engineering, and guest Brad Hirayama discuss seven strategies to accelerate engineering speed without sacrificing quality. They emphasize using direct communication for urgent issues, asking for help early to avoid rabbit holes, and troubleshooting by isolating components. The hosts also advocate for using simple data-driven experiments, buying off-the-shelf components instead of building custom ones, and leveraging existing products for rapid prototyping. Finally, they discuss the compounding value of intentional extra effort and continuous 1% improvements in engineering practice.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Pipeline Design & Engineering, IDEO
Also
McMaster, Amazon, PDX (Product Development Expo)

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Manufacturing Executive

    How Soft Skills Drive High-Impact Engineering Teams w/ Aaron Moncur

    Aaron Moncur, founder of Pipeline Design & Engineering, discusses how soft skills like communication and psychological safety drive high-performing engineering teams. He shares specific management strategies, such as 'managing by invitation' and removing bureaucratic barriers to accelerate engineering speed, including the strategic use of 3D printing. Moncur also highlights the evolving landscape of engineering education, promoting his platform The Wave and the PDX expo as alternatives to traditional degree requirements.

    Careers & educationLeadership, teams & culture
    6 chapters

  • Making It · 1h 07m

    452: I Wish I’d Thought of That

    David Picciuto, Bob Clagett, and Jimmy Diresta discuss pivoting on the fly, with David remaking a vintage calculator using a Bambu Lab 3D printer and Bob building a custom camera stand to replace an expensive commercial product. The hosts also mourn the loss of community member Dave Gagné and reflect on how tight deadlines and external commitments, like a BetterHelp ad, force creative decisions and simplify complex projects like Jimmy's barn doors. They explore the psychology of making, arguing that building imperfect prototypes and iterating is more valuable than paralysis by analysis, and share tips on managing distractions and finding inspiration in maker communities.

    Prototyping & iterationMaterials & manufacturing processes
    7 chapters

  • Making It · 1h 05m

    Episode 274: Fold time back on itself

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss overcoming the intimidation of learning new skills by focusing on small, manageable steps. Bob details his process for scaling the production of 55 Woody Trailers by refining the CNC design and splitting the order with other fabricators to manage time and cost. David shares his approach to building Bluetooth speakers by prioritizing fun over acoustic science, while Jimmy reflects on his R2-D2 display box and the importance of having a project buffer.

    Scaling productionPrototyping & iteration
    9 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 12m

    Interview with Eric Ries - Transorted Testing Tachydidaxy

    Eric Ries, author of The Lean Startup, discusses applying lean manufacturing principles to product development, emphasizing rapid experimentation and the Minimum Viable Product (MVP). He explains how hardware companies can use mockups, soft tooling, and service contracts to iterate quickly and validate customer demand before committing to expensive hard tooling. Ries argues that internal risks and bureaucratic silos are the primary barriers to speed, not technical constraints, and that companies must pivot their management systems to handle uncertainty.

    Validation & product-market fitPrototyping & iteration
    8 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 42m

    Work on it for 10 years...

    Eliseo White and Chris White of Embedded.fm join Chris Gammell of Contextual Electronics to discuss skill improvement, the importance of deliberate practice, and the challenges of learning electronics and programming. They debate the best ways to teach engineering fundamentals, the limitations of prototyping platforms like MicroPython and Arduino, and the transition from hobbyist projects to manufacturable products. The conversation also covers their personal interests, including 3D printing, VR, and solar energy, while highlighting the gap between building a prototype and shipping a reliable product.

    Careers & educationPrototyping & iteration
    10 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Being an Engineer. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.