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

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2025-08-26
- Episode: 272
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-08-26-how-soft-skills-drive-high-impact-engineering-teams-w-aaron-moncur
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-95a04df9-a400-4906-be40-c4466b782458

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-08-26-how-soft-skills-drive-high-impact-engineering-teams-w-aaron-moncur#t=35) Introduction and Podcast Milestones
- [7:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-08-26-how-soft-skills-drive-high-impact-engineering-teams-w-aaron-moncur#t=440) The Importance of Soft Skills and Communication
- [13:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-08-26-how-soft-skills-drive-high-impact-engineering-teams-w-aaron-moncur#t=812) Managing by Invitation and Psychological Safety
- [24:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-08-26-how-soft-skills-drive-high-impact-engineering-teams-w-aaron-moncur#t=1464) Accelerating Engineering Speed: Communication and Prototyping
- [24:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-08-26-how-soft-skills-drive-high-impact-engineering-teams-w-aaron-moncur#t=1464) Removing Bureaucracy and Defining Requirements
- [34:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-08-26-how-soft-skills-drive-high-impact-engineering-teams-w-aaron-moncur#t=2049) Engineering Education and PDX Expo

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Creator business](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/creator-business)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)
- The Wave (product)
- PDX (product)
- Being an Engineer (product)
- CAD Club (product)
- Google (company)
- Amazon (company)
- Apple (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S7E9 Brad & Aaron | Top 5 Takeaways After Interviewing Over 300 Engineers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-02-27-s7e9-brad-aaron-top-5-takeaways-after-interviewing-over-300-engineers) (Being an Engineer)
- [S5E36 Callye Keen | How to Accelerate the Speed of Engineering, Episode 2](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-09-06-s5e36-callye-keen-how-to-accelerate-the-speed-of-engineering-episode-2) (Being an Engineer)
- [S7E18 Aaron Moncur | Building Pipeline, the Being An Engineer Podcast, and Engineering Communities](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-04-24-s7e18-aaron-moncur-building-pipeline-the-being-an-engineer-podcast-and-engineeri) (Being an Engineer)
- [S7E14 Brad & Aaron | How To Accelerate The Speed of Engineering (Episode 3 of 3)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-03-27-s7e14-brad-aaron-how-to-accelerate-the-speed-of-engineering-episode-3-of-3) (Being an Engineer)
- [S2E36 Shaking Things Up As We Get to Know Aaron Moncur](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-08-23-s2e36-shaking-things-up-as-we-get-to-know-aaron-moncur) (Being an Engineer)

## Citing this page

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