Talent Spotlight: Adam Smith, Senior Mechanical Engineer
Talent Spotlight is a regular feature profiling Product Creation Studio’s talented team members. Are you interested in joining our team? View our open positions!
In this Talent Spotlight, we’re excited to feature Adam Smith, Senior Mechanical Engineer. Adam is an experienced Mechanical Engineer with a demonstrated history of working in the robotics and medical device industries. He enjoys working with clients to bring their innovative visions to life.
What led you to a career in product development?
I have always been exposed to some kind of development projects. Working on custom homes with my Dad in grade school. Writing video games for the Commodore Vic-20 and building my first 386 computer in junior high. Creating sound and light mixing boards from scratch in high school. Designing and building aerospace robotics out of college. Teaching thousands of engineers the latest and greatest CAD, CAM, and CAE software. It was only natural that I end up in product development.
What excites you most about your job?
The most exciting thing about my job is having the opportunity to create products on a daily basis. Whether we are developing a complex robotic medical device, or an elegantly simple golf bag, the continuous flow of creativity keeps me going.
Describe your most rewarding work experience to date.
All of our product development experiences are rewarding, however, the most fulfilling experiences are those that most positively impact the lives of others. Supporting the development of the first waterproof wearable cochlear implant processor for Advanced Bionics in Sylmar California continues to be one of the most rewarding projects. We knew the goal of being able to hear while swimming or bathing would improve the quality of life for cochlear implant users, but even years later we are learning of additional benefits of having an air-tight enclosure. Bakers, woodworkers, artists, etc. are no longer required to remove their processors while being exposed to very fine dust or particles.
What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
Even outside of my “day job” I enjoy creating. I can be quite particular about the things I want, and when I can’t find exactly what I’m looking for, I build it. Furniture, robotics, even our home. I also enjoy trail riding on my KTM450, cruising with my wife in her 32’ Ford, and going on summer vacations with my wife and 6 year old daughter.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned in the last five years?
I learn something new every day and do my best to forget as little as possible. The most important thing I have learned in the last five years is to minimize attachment to our expectations. I have learned that most of the conflicts, disappointments, and perceived negative feelings in product development and in day to day life are caused by deviations from our expectations. I have learned to simply broaden the scope of my expectations and accept that most things do not go exactly as planned.
