# S7E19 Ryan Schoonmaker | How to Take A Structured Approach to Solving Engineering Problems

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2026-05-01
- Length: 53m
- Episode: 19
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-01-s7e19-ryan-schoonmaker-how-to-take-a-structured-approach-to-solving-engineering

## Summary

Ryan Schoonmaker, founder of Tight Line Solutions and former Director of Mechanical Engineering at Beta Bionics, Dexcom, and BD, explains how to bring structure to chaotic product development. He emphasizes that successful execution requires clear requirements, robust assembly specifications, and early decisions on critical elements like component colors to avoid regulatory delays. Schoonmaker draws on his experience with the Dexcom G6 and G7 to illustrate how narrowing down system failures and managing technical debt differently at startups versus large enterprises leads to predictable outcomes.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-01-s7e19-ryan-schoonmaker-how-to-take-a-structured-approach-to-solving-engineering#t=0) Introduction: Ryan Schoonmaker and Tight Line Solutions
- [1:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-01-s7e19-ryan-schoonmaker-how-to-take-a-structured-approach-to-solving-engineering#t=101) Rapid Fire Q&A: Engineering Apprenticeship and Preferences
- [3:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-01-s7e19-ryan-schoonmaker-how-to-take-a-structured-approach-to-solving-engineering#t=226) Career Origins: Mechanical Engineering and Vibrotactile Feedback Thesis
- [11:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-01-s7e19-ryan-schoonmaker-how-to-take-a-structured-approach-to-solving-engineering#t=682) Execution vs. Ideas: The Importance of Assembly Specs and Requirements
- [19:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-01-s7e19-ryan-schoonmaker-how-to-take-a-structured-approach-to-solving-engineering#t=1170) Technical Debt: Startups vs. Large Enterprises (Dexcom, BD)
- [32:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-01-s7e19-ryan-schoonmaker-how-to-take-a-structured-approach-to-solving-engineering#t=1959) Building Teams: Clarity, Ownership, and Avoiding Speed Limiters
- [40:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-01-s7e19-ryan-schoonmaker-how-to-take-a-structured-approach-to-solving-engineering#t=2419) Tight Line Solutions: Audits, Coaching, and Objective Perspectives
- [44:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-01-s7e19-ryan-schoonmaker-how-to-take-a-structured-approach-to-solving-engineering#t=2649) Failure Analysis: Missing Specs and Narrowing Down System Issues

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Tight Line Solutions (company)
- Beta Bionics (company)
- Dexcom (company)
- Dexcom G6 (product)
- Dexcom G7 (product)
- BD (company)
- Helbling Precision Engineering (company)
- Safety Syringes (company)
- Tufts University (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [269: Ultra-Precise Death Ray (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-07-02-269-ultra-precise-death-ray-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [269: Ultra-Precise Death Ray](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-12-06-269-ultra-precise-death-ray) (Embedded.fm)
- [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)
- [216: 5 Key Tips For Starting Your Product Development Journey](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-03-11-216-5-key-tips-for-starting-your-product-development-journey) (Product Startup)
- [S2 E6: Complex System Development with Kristine Barnes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2024-02-06-s2-e6-complex-system-development-with-kristine-barnes) (The Builder Circle)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-01-s7e19-ryan-schoonmaker-how-to-take-a-structured-approach-to-solving-engineering. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Being an Engineer.