Pipeline Design & Engineering, LLC

S6E47 Brogan Miller, PE | Being a Doula for Hardware Startups, Manufacturing in Asia, and How to Start Networking Listen to the full episode here 🎧: https://lnkd.in/egNtQ5Ae Brogan Miller, PE is a startup veteran, product engineer, and the founder of Doula Studios, a consultancy dedicated to helping early-stage hardware companies bring their ideas into reality. Calling himself a “doula for startups,” Brogan supports entrepreneurs as they navigate the often-chaotic birth of new products, offering hard-won wisdom, technical expertise, and a get-it-done mindset. Brogan’s career path has been anything but ordinary. He’s held pivotal roles as one of the earliest employees at several startups, including Sensel, AliveCor, Trove Foods, and Typhur, where he designed and launched everything from ultra-thin pressure sensors to a 200-pound electromechanical cooking system. As Head of Engineering at GaeaStar, he guided the company through critical product validation stages, building engineering infrastructure and supply chain resilience. His work has spanned continents, including a year living in Asia to shepherd product development on the ground. But Brogan’s story is more than just shipping products. He’s also deeply committed to education and community. As an adjunct lecturer at Stanford University, he has guided students in product design and engineering, while his earlier work in the Graduate School of Education led to the creation of seven open-sourced educational tools—one of which was acquired by Google. Beyond academia, he volunteers with organizations such as First Robotics and Youths of Africa Career Development, where he introduces Ugandan youth to engineering pathways and mentors the next generation of innovators. With a reputation as a jack of all trades and a master of one—getting things done—Brogan brings a unique lens on what it takes to turn bold ideas into successful products.

Why Every Engineer Needs a Simulation Mindset Rick James makes a strong case for bringing simulation into the core of your engineering process — and starting early. It’s not just about running virtual tests; it’s about capturing the essence of a product before it exists. The earlier you develop that mindset, the more naturally it becomes part of how you design, iterate, and innovate. ▶️ Watch the full episode: https://lnkd.in/g-nbp6_q 🎧 Listen to the full podcast: https://lnkd.in/gj-GDEM2 This clip is from the Being an Engineer podcast. #beinganengineer #engineeringpodcast #Simulation #ProductDevelopment #EngineeringDesign

Don’t Just Sign It — Understand It. Jeremy Jarrett offers a critical reminder for small business owners and engineers alike: when that big order from a major customer comes through, don’t let excitement override prudence. Large companies negotiate contracts all the time — they know what you’ll push back on and where they can flex. But too often, small businesses sign without fully understanding what they’ve agreed to. Slow down, ask questions, and protect your interests. ▶️ Watch the full episode: https://lnkd.in/g9FRK9CJ 🎧 Listen to the full podcast: https://lnkd.in/gDsiaRSP This clip is from the Being an Engineer podcast. #beinganengineer #engineeringpodcast #BusinessLeadership #Entrepreneurship #Contracts

Many startups don’t fail because of the idea — they fail because of overlooked legal details. In this episode, corporate attorney Jeremy Jarrett breaks down simple steps engineers can take to protect their business from day one: ownership, contracts, governance, and funding decisions. If you’re building something of your own, this conversation is worth your time. Listen to the full episode here 🎧: https://lnkd.in/egNtQ5Ae 

Thinking About Taking On a Business Partner? Read This First. Jeremy Jarrett shares an important lesson for any entrepreneur or engineer considering a partnership: it’s much easier to get into one than to get out of one. When times are good, everything feels aligned — but the true test of a partnership comes during hard times. Choose wisely, plan carefully, and protect your business before problems arise. ▶️ Watch the full episode: https://lnkd.in/g9FRK9CJ 🎧 Listen to the full podcast: https://lnkd.in/gDsiaRSP This clip is from the Being an Engineer podcast. #beinganengineer #engineeringpodcast #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #BusinessGrowth

S6E45 Jeremy Jarrett | Legal Advice & Strategy for Starting An Engineering Business Listen to the full episode here 🎧: https://lnkd.in/egNtQ5Ae Our guest today is Jeremy Jarrett, an attorney at Sacks Tierney in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he focuses on corporate, securities, and finance law. Jeremy brings more than 10 years of experience advising businesses on complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs, recapitalizations, commercial lending, and equity and debt financings. His clients have ranged from early-stage startups to large public companies, spanning industries such as technology, oilfield services, agriculture, defense contracting, automotive, and manufacturing. In addition to representing venture capital-backed companies in financing transactions, Jeremy has played a key role in supporting Phoenix-area entrepreneurs and growth-minded businesses. His unique path to corporate law began in the sports industry, where he worked with NCAA and NBA organizations, sports agents, and management firms before transitioning to private practice. Jeremy holds a JD from Tulane University Law School, where he specialized in sports law, and a BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. With his diverse background, Jeremy offers engineers and technical leaders a unique perspective on how smart legal strategies can safeguard innovation, attract capital, and unlock growth opportunities.

Bridging the Expectation Gap in Product Development Ryan Stevenson explains one of the biggest challenges engineers face when working with clients — the expectation gap. Many inventors and startups underestimate how long it actually takes to bring a product to market. A garage prototype might be done in months, but true production can take years. Education and communication are key to closing that gap. ▶️ Watch the full episode: https://lnkd.in/gcn-eAs9 🎧 Listen to the full podcast: https://lnkd.in/gxnCdPqS This clip is from the Being an Engineer podcast. #beinganengineer #engineeringpodcast #ProductDevelopment #Manufacturing #EngineeringCommunication

The Freedom (and Trade-Offs) of Freelance Engineering Ryan Stevenson shares what it’s really like to live the freelancer life — the freedom to set your own schedule and choose your projects, balanced with the uncertainty of inconsistent income. He loves working with small to mid-sized companies that often need more guidance on product development — turning each project into both engineering work and education. ▶️ Watch the full episode: https://lnkd.in/gcn-eAs9 🎧 Listen to the full podcast: https://lnkd.in/gxnCdPqS This clip is from the Being an Engineer podcast. #beinganengineer #engineeringpodcast #FreelanceEngineering #Entrepreneurship #EngineeringCareers

S6E44 Ryan Stevenson | Working on Apple’s Vision Pro & Launching a Freelance Engineering Business Listen to the full episode here 🎧: https://lnkd.in/egNtQ5Ae Ryan Stevenson is a versatile mechanical engineer whose career spans high-profile tech companies, outdoor gear innovators, and entrepreneurial ventures. After earning his Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Boise State University, Ryan launched into product development roles that combined advanced CAD, manufacturing engineering, and user-focused design. He contributed to Apple’s Vision Products Group, where he helped shape the Vision Pro by developing complex surfaces and leading the design of components in the Light Seal system. Earlier, at Cascade Designs, Ryan worked on next-generation Thermarest products, applying his technical expertise to foam development and manufacturing challenges. At Werner Paddles, he engineered advanced composite paddles and tooling, bringing efficiency improvements to production while driving performance in outdoor equipment. Ryan’s entrepreneurial side came alive with Realtime Adventure Data, where he co-founded the company and led development of the Lyte Probe, a device designed to help backcountry skiers better assess avalanche risk. He thrives at the intersection of rapid prototyping, design for manufacturability, and customer-driven problem solving. Most recently, Ryan founded the Boise Hardware Meetup, building community for engineers, designers, and makers in Idaho. As a freelance engineer through Syzygy Design, he now partners with companies ranging from startups to established manufacturers, offering expertise in CAD modeling, mechanical architecture, DFM/DFA, and full product development cycles. His career reflects not only technical depth but also a passion for leadership, collaboration, and bridging the gap between industrial design and scalable manufacturing.

Gregory Mark, CEO of Backflip AI and founder of Markforged, joined us to talk about product reliability, AI-powered design, and the entrepreneurial mindset behind both companies. ✔ Markforged printers have powered real-world, high-stakes applications—from submarines to space ✔ Backflip is now using AI to automate and accelerate CAD workflows ✔ His biggest lessons: focus on critical features, stay relentless, and let market need guide innovation A powerful conversation on engineering, problem-solving, and what it takes to build products that actually make an impact. Listen to the full episode here 🎧: https://lnkd.in/egNtQ5Ae