S5E7 Matt Zachek | Medical Device Engineering Leaders 7
Matt Zachek, Senior Director of R&D at Werfen, discusses his career path in medical device engineering, emphasizing the importance of technical foundations, grit, and managing ambiguity. He explains how balancing sustaining products with new R&D efforts requires a strategic portfolio approach, often following a 70-10-10-10 rule. Zachek highlights key industry trends, including the integration of AI tools like Google Gemini for research acceleration and the convergence of consumer electronics with regulated medical devices. He also stresses the value of early manufacturing involvement and in-situ empathy to navigate the complex regulatory landscape of hemostasis and acute care diagnostics.