Aesthetic design centered in sound engineering.

My name is Erik Blaser, a seasoned Mechanical Engineer with 8 years of experience, currently in the position of Principal Mechanical Engineer. Throughout my journey, I have passionately combined my love for industrial design with robust engineering principles, aiming to craft products that not only function seamlessly but also evoke excitement and smiles from users.

Starting from childhood dreams of sculpting the next Lamborghini bodywork,  then injecting an education in mechanical/aerospace engineering I have transcended those initial aspirations and now not only design compelling exteriors but also delve into the intricacies of some of the most cutting-edge products on the market today. What fuels my professional fire is the ability to transform ideas from whiteboard sketches to tangible products, surmounting challenges, navigating diverse personalities, and ultimately delivering awe-inspiring results.

My professional progression has been marked by leadership roles, starting with spearheading engineering validation on larger teams and evolving into ownership of both the engineering and management efforts for small projects. From that experience, I've seamlessly transitioned to taking charge of substantial portions of mechanical design in complex products such as drones, gimbals, and controllers. This journey lead to steering multi-disciplinary teams toward shared objectives while designing entire complex products.

My strengths extend to leading cross-disciplinary teams, thriving as an individual contributor, or even forging new paths without the support of a team. Over the course of 8 years at Freefly Systems, I've contributed to the launch of an impressive portfolio of 17 products, accounting for approximately 80% of the company's revenue.

In essence, I am driven by a passion for turning visions into reality, tackling the toughest problems, and consistently delivering outstanding products. I look forward to sharing more about my journey and the exciting projects I've been a part of in this portfolio.

MECHANICAL DESIGN

I bring a wealth of experience in mechanical engineering and technical leadership with a track record of shepherding over 16 products through the labyrinth of design, validation, and production. My approach, based in agile prototyping, solid fundamentals, and a comprehensive understanding of the entire product development process, facilitates rapid and deliberate iterations to surmount design obstacles and instill confidence in project outcomes. As a keen advocate for cutting-edge technologies, I champion their adoption, leveraging their advantages in high-reward, low-risk scenarios to optimize engineering efficiency and prepare my team for the future. I employ risk registers and intuition to ensure products undergo testing when overseeing validation periods with a balanced emphasis on speed and thoroughness, then efficiently triage and resolve failures. Additionally, I handle part sourcing and collaborate with international suppliers to meet timelines, quality benchmarks, and cost objectives, maintaining detailed costed Bills of Materials to streamline collaboration with supply chain teams. I am adept at designing production lines and refining manufacturing processes, overseeing line flow, work instructions, quality assurance protocols, and product traceability. I am proficient in orchestrating cross-functional collaboration,  and  I ensure mechanical designs harmonize seamlessly with electrical/systems counterparts, production needs, and sales objectives. Moreover, I offer dedicated support and mentorship to individual team members, nurturing their growth and ensuring their readiness to contribute meaningfully to current and future engineering endeavors.

PRODUCT MANAGEMENT

While not initially part of the vision I had for my career, technical product management captured my interest particularly in the fields of innovation and platform development. Through my involvement in this area, I have become adept at translating market insights into products that align with a company roadmaps. I have a proven track record of ideating, developing, and launching cutting-edge hardware platforms that redefine industry standards and drive business growth, all  while acting as product manager and individual technical contributor. Throughout my career, I have excelled in leading cross-functional teams, adeptly managing stakeholder needs, and swiftly resolving conflicts to ensure seamless project progression. I revel in navigating challenging scope decisions, carefully analyzing factors such as budget, risk, timeline, and customer experience impact. I believe in transparency and stakeholder engagement, establishing effective communication channels to provide updates and solicit feedback throughout the product life cycle. I excel at creating a clear product vision, grounded in market research, customer understanding, and a keen eye on the evolving technological landscape. I communicate this vision through various mediums, ranging from technical briefs to sketches and prototypes, both physical or virtual. I stay ahead of the curve by staying current on hardware trends, emerging technologies, and the requisite skills to remain a proactive leader in the field.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Over the last eight years, working in small teams has necessitated wearing many hats; this included numerous opportunities to manage projects, both big and small. Through this experience I now believe the role of project management extends beyond merely setting schedules, maintaining meetings, and following up with teams; it involves actively helping the team navigate challenges to meet timelines and project goals. My approach involves supporting team members in leveraging their strengths and fostering a collaborative environment that brings out the best in an engineering team. The time I have spent as an individual technical contributor has given me a significant advantage when it comes to project management. It allows me to offer support backed by insight gained through years of experience to team members facing complex issues, making me a valuable resource in navigating obstacles and pushing projects to completion.

PROBLEM SOLVING

Problem solving is one of the parts of being an engineer that gives me the most satisfaction. I love problem solving because of how it harmonizes two seemingly contradictory skills: the need for structured, diligent work and the freedom to be creative and flexible. To uncover the root of a complex issue, I rely on breaking down the problem, conducting tests, and employing a systematic approach. Once the core issue is identified, I shift from a structured mindset to a more creative one, allowing room for innovative solutions to surface. This ensures a thorough exploration of potential solutions, increasing the likelihood of resolving the issue with the optimal outcome. My affinity for problem-solving often leads me to be called upon for various projects, even in areas where my technical knowledge may be limited. My ability to ask the right questions helps in pinpointing the core issue, underscoring my role as a versatile problem-solver.