S6E2 Derek Pietz | Industrial Automation, Losing A Million Dollars, & Successful Startups

Being an Engineer

Content provided by Aaron Moncur. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Aaron Moncur or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

4M ago 37:23

MP3•Episode home

Send us a text

This episode is a re-run.

Derek Pietz shares his journey into engineering, his experiences founding and leading a startup called Lab to Fab, and the challenges and successes he's faced in the automation industry. He discusses the importance of teamwork, communication, and adaptability in engineering. Derek also provides insights into the trends and future of automation, as well as advice for aspiring engineers.

Main Topics:

Derek's path to becoming an engineer and his early entrepreneurial ventures
The founding and growth of Lab to Fab, including a dramatic week of highs and lows
Balancing career and personal life during the startup phase
Insights on engineering processes, teamwork, and overcoming challenges
Derek's current role at Intuitive and the world of robotic-assisted surgery
Trends and future of automation, including the impact of AI-powered vision-guided robots
Sharing success stories and lessons learned from failures in engineering

About the guest: Derek Pietz is the Director of Automation Equipment and Test Engineering at Intuitive, a trailblazing company at the forefront of robotic-assisted surgery. Prior to his role at Intuitive, Derek has been a part of four start-up ventures including one as a co-founder. He has built and led engineering and operations teams, designed machines, run a P/L, pitched investors, obsessed over supply chain, developed sales strategies, taught robots to make pizza and fixed customer problems.

Links:
Derek Pietz LinkedIn
Intuitive - Website

🚀 Join Us at PDX 2025! 🚀

PDX 2025 is the Product Development Expo designed for engineers who want hands-on training from industry experts. PDX focuses on practical skill-building, cutting-edge tools, and real-world solutions.

📅 October 21-22, 2025
📍 Mesa Convention Center, AZ
🔗 https://reg.eventmobi.com/product-development-expo-2025

About Being An Engineer

The Being An Engineer podcast is a repository for industry knowledge and a tool through which engineers learn about and connect with relevant companies, technologies, people resources, and opportunities. We feature successful mechanical engineers and interview engineers who are passionate about their work and who made a great impact on the engineering community.

The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment such as cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us on the web at www.teampipeline.us

Chapters

1. S6E2 Derek Pietz | Industrial Automation, Losing A Million Dollars, & Successful Startups (00:00:00)

2. Derek Pietz's Journey to Becoming an Engineer (00:00:01)

3. Early Entrepreneurial Ventures and Lab to Fab (LTF) (00:03:36)

4. Challenges and Successes at LTF (00:05:36)

5. Balancing Career and Personal Life (00:13:06)

6. Insights on Engineering and Automation (00:17:33)

7. Current Role at Intuitive and Robotic Surgery (00:20:49)

8. Trends and Future of Automation (00:25:32)

9. Successes and Failures in Engineering (00:27:30)

10. Advice for Aspiring Engineers (00:31:50)

11. Future Tools for Engineering Productivity (00:32:44)

12. Final Thoughts and Contact Information (00:34:31)

298 episodes

#Aaron Moncur #Mechanical Engineering #Self Improvement For Engineers #Medical Device Engineering #Medical Device Test Fixtures #Engineering Education #Engineering Soft Skills #Product Development #Product Design #Science #Tech #Careers #Engineering #Business #Industries #Mechanism Design #SOLIDWORKS #CAD