My Past Life as an Engineer
Where I came from and how these experiences continue to provide value in my professional life
Alfonso: The Engineer
Despite graduating high school with a high interest in Graphic Design, I faced pressure from my family to pursue a career in Science, Law, Medicine, or Business. A combination of technical interests and familial pressure led to studying Mechanical Engineering. I received a Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington and a Master’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan. I’ve worked as a Vehicle Development Engineer at Chrysler, an Interior Design Engineer at Kenworth, a Tooling and Equipment Engineer at Boeing, and lastly as a Boeing Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer. While I have since transitioned to Product and UX Design—a field that truly makes me happy—I am grateful for my engineering experiences and the skills I developed, which continue to be valuable in my professional life.
Flight Test Instrumentation Engineering
My last engineering position (duration: ~7 years) was in Flight Test Instrumentation at Boeing. In this role, I designed, set up, operated, and troubleshot data acquisition systems. Albeit more technical, the type of work that I did had parallels with Product & UX Design. The majority of our customers were Internal Analysis Engineers, responsible for various portions of the plane. My team and I translated their goals into data systems and visual interfaces, ensuring that their data needs were thoroughly captured. Additionally, to execute successful flight test missions, side-by-side collaboration with fellow engineers, mechanics, pilots, safety stewards, project managers, and test coordinators was required. Some notable metrics from this job include:
• Translated hundreds of customer goals into robust data system designs that supported 1000+ test hours
• Solved complex technical problems with data-driven decision-making in collaboration with 10+ cross-functional roles across different teams and locations to ensure data requirements were met during test flight missions
• 95% execution rate of on-time flight and ground tests
• 30% increase in efficiency of calibrated fuel flow meter drawing release process
• Support for functional checkout of 950+ measurement data system: analog, digital, & associated equipment
• Equipment focal for 1500+ component data system: coordination of installation, removal, calibration, tracking
• Backup team lead for 737-9 MAX test aircraft
How This Experience is Useful
Bridging Diverse Perspectives to Drive Success
My experiences as an engineer have made me an excellent cross-functional collaborator, adept at working with diverse teams to achieve common goals. In roles at Chrysler, Kenworth, and Boeing, I frequently collaborated with a wide range of individuals: upper management, project managers, mechanics, electricians, internal and external customers, fellow engineers, stylists, and more. These experiences have honed my ability to work effectively with different perspectives. The skills developed during these experiences have seamlessly transferred to my roles as a Designer, where collaboration with product managers, developers, and stakeholders is essential. My engineering background has helped me bridge technical and design considerations.
Alignment Through Clear, Tailored, Communication
Much of my success as an engineer depended on effective communication. Keeping the right people informed was crucial for completing projects and avoiding conflicts. It was important to tailor the complexity of my explanations to the audience; for example, my manager didn’t need to know how to wire a pressure sensor, but my mechanic did. I also became comfortable explaining the reasoning behind my decisions, as this was a frequent part of my work. Being able to articulate my thoughts, keep people updated, and communicate at the appropriate level remains a valuable skill in the design world.
Taking a Mature, Bigger Picture Approach
My professional experiences have honed my business acumen and deepened my understanding of contributing to larger goals. I recognize that success isn’t about individual achievements but about supporting the broader objectives of the team and organization. This perspective ensures that I remain focused on what’s best for overall goals rather than making self-centered decisions. This has proven to be continually important. Additionally, having ‘lived life,’ I am able to approach situations with the maturity and calmness that comes with life experience.
