Fun part

Eleven and a half years as a Sr CAD Designer at my previous company, year after year 3D modeling to fit the new device features into the existing case architecture while incorporating improvements to both the design and CAD infrastructure… the most rewarding thing was being part of the amazing team in charge of developing the most challenging solutions that involved waterproofing, hazardous environments and commercial solutions. My amazing coworkers and managers were always supportive and cheerful even after all this time.

Not so fun part

Very cool, but 11 years of the same was starting to get old, still a “CAD Designer” with no career progression and capped salary. My duties, responsibilities and achievements greatly surpassed the expectations of a “Senior CAD Designer” but discussions about salary and title always came down to the company wants for the position and “middle market value” of it. Yeah, after all my contributions, I was worth middle market value to them, salary cap on a middle market value is still middle market value! Company “restructuring” almost on a yearly basis was keeping us on the edge, the company was doing good but the constant push to reduce expenses meant that everything that made working for the company great, was being reduced or eliminated year after year, events, celebrations, custom merchandise, the “buckets”, little things like biweekly office bagels, etc. A lot of time and resources invested in “CAD templates” where it was pointed out several times that they were not feasible because they became obsolete the moment the current project was finished, with no maintenance plan that addressed expected device changes and incorporating manufacturing improvements. But the part where mayor company-changing contributions are attributed to others is the hardest.

Why so long?

Well, everything started with LifeProof, the ONLY true waterproof phone case that allowed all device features to be fully functional, no compromises, a brand that was everywhere from the local San Diego surfing events to humongous X-Games and RedBull Rampage sponsorships, then being acquired by a brand that had more than half of the market for device protection, it was hard not to feel some pride to see the products you personally modeled in all the phone carrier stores, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, etc.

Also, company benefits were top tier, being a CAD Designer meant that I could fulfill my duties working from home which happened for 4 years, I was very comfortable and became very complacent.

At last, but not least, my coworkers and managers, after all this time you get to know them, and they get to know you so well that asking for time flexibility on both ends is no issue as both trust that each will manage their expectations. That is something that you can only build with time.

Welcome Mechanical Designer, finally!

Not to confuse with a Mechanical Engineer, a designer will quickly bring the vision into a realistic and manufacturable virtual representation utilizing their hand sketching/CAD expertise and their manufacturing backgrounds, often working in conjunction with an Engineer or within a team leveraging and complementing each other’s strengths to bring a solution to life.

I’ve started a Sr Mechanical Designer position at a product design and engineering firm, small enough that feels like a startup but backed by over 10 years of experience working with big and small brands, local and international, developing new and or improved solutions over several markets.

Now I’m creating diverse solutions, my vast CAD experience lets me quickly whip up efficient preliminary designs while incorporating my immense plastic injection molding experience, recalling my extensive sheet metal experience, utilizing my growing additive manufacturing experience and then standing up from my desk and creating physical representations of the screen concepts via the different manufacturing capabilities including SLA and FDM 3D printing and assembling, yes, I’m finally utilizing my nice hoarded tools to their potential.

It feels nice to have a proper reason to stand up from the desk/screen (besides health), grab your tools, pick up the manufactured/delivered parts, build and test/inspect/review looking forward to having fulfilled the client’s requests.

I can now properly call myself a Mechanical Designer. Señor Mechanical Designer.

Gracias totales.