# Siloed Engineering with Leigh Brady

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2022-05-09
- Length: 1h 08m
- Episode: 588
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-05-09-siloed-engineering-with-leigh-brady
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/588-siloed-engineering-with-leigh-brady/

## Summary

Leigh Brady, an electrical engineer with experience in defense, medical, and optics industries, discusses the differences between working in large, specialized US defense contractors versus more generalist UK engineering environments. He details the rigorous systems engineering processes, such as the V-curve, required for safety-critical systems like nuclear weapons and medical devices, contrasting them with the faster-paced, less regulated startup world. The conversation highlights the trade-offs between deep specialization and broad generalist skills, the importance of mentorship in large organizations, and the specific technical challenges of designing for high-reliability environments, including the use of FPGAs and ASICs in space and defense applications.

## Chapters

- [0:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-05-09-siloed-engineering-with-leigh-brady#t=32) Introduction: Leigh Brady and Career Overview
- [4:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-05-09-siloed-engineering-with-leigh-brady#t=248) US vs UK Engineering: Specialization vs Generalism
- [12:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-05-09-siloed-engineering-with-leigh-brady#t=768) Systems Engineering and the V-Curve Process
- [19:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-05-09-siloed-engineering-with-leigh-brady#t=1174) Analog Design, FPGAs, and ASICs in Defense
- [26:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-05-09-siloed-engineering-with-leigh-brady#t=1578) FPGA Toolchains, Longevity, and Supply Chain Issues
- [32:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-05-09-siloed-engineering-with-leigh-brady#t=1945) Large Companies vs Startups: Mentorship and Resources
- [43:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-05-09-siloed-engineering-with-leigh-brady#t=2624) Nuclear Weapons Industry and Ethical Considerations
- [53:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-05-09-siloed-engineering-with-leigh-brady#t=3217) Optics, Medical Devices, and Regulatory Diligence

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Medical & health devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/medical-devices)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises, early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Luminar (company)
- Lockheed (company)
- Sandia National Labs (company)
- Xilinx (company)
- Wasatch Photonics (company)
- Phillips (company)
- SPARTAN 6 (chip)
- F-35 (product)
- Keithley (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [155: Foot-Seeking Bullet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-08-155-foot-seeking-bullet) (Embedded.fm)
- [305: Humans Have a Terrible Spec Sheet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-10-03-305-humans-have-a-terrible-spec-sheet) (Embedded.fm)
- [Systems Architecture with Maik Pfingsten](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2022-10-19-systems-architecture-with-maik-pfingsten) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)
- [203: Save My Board](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-06-08-203-save-my-board) (Embedded.fm)
- [S1E14 An Engineer’s Engineer | Robert Futch](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-06-19-s1e14-an-engineers-engineer-robert-futch) (Being an Engineer)

## Citing this page

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