Joseph A.

Experience

• CEO, Owner Nizhoni Engineering · Self-employed Jan 2025 – Present 11 mos Denver, CO, United States Deliver end-to-end product lifecycles by directing concept creation, CAD modeling, additive manufacturing, materials testing, and functional prototyping for market-ready solutions. Ensure intellectual property and operational stability by establishing vendor partnerships, IP documentation systems, and workflows for multiple patentable concepts.
  Key Achievements:
  • Led organization’s engineering and product development activities specializing in concept design, prototyping, and low-volume production of interactive consumer and educational products
  • Launched Tangible Tales: Critters and Crops —an interactive children’s book blending sensory technology with physical storytelling—to enhance parent–child engagement and early learning outcomes
  • Introduced Tangible Tales: Critters and Crops—an interactive children’s book using sensory technology and physical storytelling—to support parent–child engagement and early learning
  • Enhanced manufacturability through application of DFM principles, verification/validation activities, and lifecycle documentation
  • Advanced consumer product development by producing three functional prototypes incorporating mechanical, electromechanical, and materials engineering elements
• Sr. Mechanical Design Engineer Orbital ATK · Full-time May 2009 – Dec 2025 16 yrs 7 mos Mesa, AZ, United States Led the mechanical design, integration, and validation of the M230LF 30 mm Link-Fed Chain Gun under a $5 M DoD program, directing detailed analysis and endurance testing in accordance with ASME Y14.5 and MIL-STD requirements. Managed cross-functional teams across design, procurement, and test operations while ensuring full ITAR compliance, secure data handling, and successful technical reviews with U.S. Army and program office representatives.
  Key Achievements:
  • Delivered performance improvements enhancing weapon reliability and reducing component fatigue
  • Authored verification test reports and work instructions supporting government acceptance
  • Created FMEA and fault-tree documentation ensuring safety and redundancy compliance
• Sr. Engineering Manager Terumo BCT · Full-time Nov 2022 – Sep 2024 1 yrs 10 mos Littleton, CO, United States Strengthened product reliability and compliance by directing systems engineering for complex medical device platforms through all phases of the design-control process. Ensured lifecycle consistency and traceability by coordinating engineering change orders and configuration management for released systems. Advanced engineering culture by promoting disciplined problem-solving methodologies and maintaining full traceability in technical documentation.
  Key Achievements:
  • Accelerated career track by receiving multiple promotions in recognition of delivering exceptional engineer solutions
  • Improved cross-functional integration by serving as technical liaison among R&D, Operations, Regulatory, and Marketing teams
  • Enhanced design integrity by managing multidisciplinary teams driving requirements definition, system architecture, verification, and validation activities
  • Boosted project continuity and cost control by orchestrating timelines, budget oversight, and resource allocation to maintain on-schedule and within-budget delivery
  • Increased documentation accuracy by overseeing design transfer, supplier qualification, and quality documentation control
  • Mitigated design and process risks by leading comprehensive DFMEA/PFMEA workshops and implementing corrective actions
  • Elevated device reliability and compliance to FDA/ISO 13485 standards by directing system architecture, integration, and verification activities across complex electromechanical medical platforms
  • Achieved design-transfer readiness and cut nonconformances by establishing disciplined requirements management and V&V frameworks to strengthen traceability and accelerate development maturity
  • Drove global therapy platform performance by coordinating clinical, manufacturing, and quality collaboration to advance safe, manufacturable, and robust product designs
• Hillman Group Principal Mechanical Engineer · Full-time Jun 2018 – Nov 2019 1 yrs 5 mos Boulder, CO, United States Engineered and integrated full mechanical systems for national-scale consumer hardware and automated retail platforms, while ensuring seamless fit, manufacturability, serviceability, and field performance
  Key Achievements:
  • Delivered rugged, high-volume commercial products deployed across leading U.S. retail chains, meeting demanding operational, environmental, cost, and lifecycle constraints
  • Drove design-for-reliability standards that cut failure rates and warranty events, improved consistency across production runs, and lowered long-term maintenance and replacement costs
• Principal Mechanical Engineer Machine Solutions · Full-time Dec 2011 – Oct 2018 6 yrs 10 mos Flagstaff, AZ, United States Strengthened RF and catheter manufacturing capabilities as the recognized internal Subject Matter Expert (SME) for RF heating and bonding process design. Optimized supplier performance by managing vendors for machined parts, automation assemblies, and electronic components. Ensured product compliance by supporting IQ/OQ/PQ validation activities and conducting customer training.
  Key Achievements:
  • Designed, built, and validated a fully automated contraceptive-ring manufacturing system comprising ~35,000 custom components—the most complex machine ever produced by the company
  • Ensured successful project delivery by managing concurrent programs and coordinating schedules, budgets, and resources
  • Delivered multiple $1M–$2M custom medical automation systems on schedule with zero post-installation failures
  • Increased design throughput by 30% through standardization of documentation, drawing conventions, and release workflows
  • Improved equipment uptime and maintainability by spearheading design-for-serviceability initiatives across product lines
  • Enhanced manufacturing precision by developing specialized tooling and fixturing for catheter production / bonding operations
  • Increased assembly accuracy and reliability through SolidWorks-based design of high-precision components with advanced GD&T and tolerance optimization
  • Elevated customer satisfaction by collaborating directly on risk assessments , FAT/SAT protocols , and validation deliverables