# S7E24 Larry Copponi | The Most Important Skill To Get Hired As An Engineer

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2026-06-05
- Length: 42m
- Episode: 24
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-06-05-s7e24-larry-copponi-the-most-important-skill-to-get-hired-as-an-engineer

## Summary

Larry Copponi, VP of Staffing Solutions at Spanner Product Development, discusses the evolving landscape of engineering hiring, emphasizing that resourcefulness and strong soft skills are now the most critical attributes for getting hired. He explains how the advent of CAD and AI has allowed companies to do more with fewer resources, shifting the focus from volume to efficiency and requiring engineers to adapt their job search strategies. Copponi advises candidates to prioritize building robust LinkedIn profiles, networking directly with decision-makers, and demonstrating initiative, while warning hiring managers against the mistake of hiring too quickly without clear justification.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-06-05-s7e24-larry-copponi-the-most-important-skill-to-get-hired-as-an-engineer#t=0) Introduction: Larry Copponi and Spanner Product Development
- [4:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-06-05-s7e24-larry-copponi-the-most-important-skill-to-get-hired-as-an-engineer#t=298) The Evolution of Engineering Hiring: From Drafting Boards to CAD and AI
- [9:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-06-05-s7e24-larry-copponi-the-most-important-skill-to-get-hired-as-an-engineer#t=562) What Makes Companies Attract Great Engineering Talent
- [12:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-06-05-s7e24-larry-copponi-the-most-important-skill-to-get-hired-as-an-engineer#t=722) Common Hiring Mistakes: Hiring Too Quickly and Lack of Qualification
- [14:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-06-05-s7e24-larry-copponi-the-most-important-skill-to-get-hired-as-an-engineer#t=870) The Engineer's Job Search: LinkedIn, AI, and Resumes
- [20:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-06-05-s7e24-larry-copponi-the-most-important-skill-to-get-hired-as-an-engineer#t=1201) Advice for Young Engineers: Networking and Resourcefulness
- [24:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-06-05-s7e24-larry-copponi-the-most-important-skill-to-get-hired-as-an-engineer#t=1448) Coaching Candidates: Soft Skills, Listening, and Interview Etiquette
- [33:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-06-05-s7e24-larry-copponi-the-most-important-skill-to-get-hired-as-an-engineer#t=2013) Remote vs. In-Office Work and the Future of Engineering Culture

## Topics

- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Spanner Product Development (company)
- Pro Source Inc. (company)
- TriMech Solutions (company)
- LinkedIn (tool)
- Google (company)
- Meta (company)
- SolidWorks (tool)
- Pro Engineer (tool)
- Creo (tool)
- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [EP 135: Talking Semiconductor Recruiting](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-09-29-ep-135-talking-semiconductor-recruiting) (The Circuit)
- [The Robots Aren’t Coming For Your Jobs | Venture For America, Pittsburgh Robotics Network | Jenny Sharpe](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2026-09-16-the-robots-arent-coming-for-your-jobs-venture-for-america-pittsburgh-robotics-ne) (TRADEOFFS)
- [265: What's Your Superpower](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-10-26-265-whats-your-superpower) (Embedded.fm)
- [150: When Will We Actually Close the Skills Gap? Featuring Ann Wyatt](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-08-22-150-when-will-we-actually-close-the-skills-gap-featuring-ann-wyatt) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Building A Talent Pipeline](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-02-21-building-a-talent-pipeline) (The Manufacturing Executive)

## 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/2026-06-05-s7e24-larry-copponi-the-most-important-skill-to-get-hired-as-an-engineer. 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.