About Ben
Senior Mechanical Design Engineer | San Ramon, CA
I am a results-driven mechanical engineer with a passion for precision design, fluid systems, and manufacturing innovation. With 10 years of experience spanning three distinct industries — fluid system components, semiconductor test equipment, and clean energy fuel cells — I bring a unique ability to adapt, innovate, and solve problems across domains.
Currently based in San Ramon, CA, I serve as a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer at Swagelok Northern California, where I design custom fluid system solutions for high-purity and industrial applications. I thrive at the intersection of creative problem-solving and engineering rigor — turning napkin sketches into production-ready designs.
I am actively pursuing my next challenge — targeting Principal Mechanical Engineer roles where I can lead complex projects, mentor teams, and drive technical excellence.
Professional Experience
Where I Have Made an Impact
2023 – Present
Senior Mechanical Design Engineer
Swagelok Northern California — San Ramon, CA
Design custom fluid system solutions for high-purity and industrial applications. Lead technical design reviews, develop 3D CAD models and detailed manufacturing drawings, and collaborate with clients to deliver turnkey fluid delivery systems.
Prior Role
Senior Mechanical Engineer
FormFactor Inc. — Livermore, CA
Designed precision mechanical systems for semiconductor wafer test equipment. Developed high-stiffness, thermally stable structures for advanced probe card technologies used by major chip manufacturers worldwide.
Prior Role
Staff NPI Manufacturing Engineer
Bloom Energy — Sunnyvale, CA
Led new product introduction for solid oxide fuel cell manufacturing. Developed assembly processes, tooling, and quality systems that scaled production from prototype to high-volume manufacturing for clean energy solutions.
Core Expertise
Technical Skills & Capabilities
- ✅ 3D CAD Modeling
- ✅ SolidWorks & Inventor
- ✅ GD&T (ASME Y14.5)
- ✅ FEA & Simulation
- ✅ Fluid System Design
- ✅ DFM / DFA
- ✅ NPI & Manufacturing
- ✅ Prototype to Production
- ✅ Project Leadership
- ✅ Vendor Management
- ✅ Cross-Functional Teams
- ✅ Technical Documentation
Manufacturing & Prototyping
Hands-On Fabrication Skills
Beyond CAD and engineering analysis, I bring practical, hands-on fabrication experience that bridges the gap between design and reality. I understand how parts are made because I have made them.
🔧 Machining
Experienced with both CNC and manual machining. Proficient in mill and lathe operation, toolpath programming, and fixture design. Hands-on knowledge of feeds, speeds, and material-specific strategies for aluminum, stainless steel, and engineering plastics. This direct machining experience informs every design I create — ensuring parts are not just theoretically sound, but truly manufacturable.
🔥 TIG Welding
Skilled in TIG (GTAW) welding of stainless steel and aluminum for fluid system components, structural assemblies, and precision fabrications. Experienced with orbital tube welding for high-purity applications, purge setups, and weld qualification. Understanding weld distortion, heat-affected zones, and joint design from firsthand experience means my designs account for real-world fabrication behavior.
🟧 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing
Proficient in FDM and SLA/resin 3D printing for rapid prototyping, functional testing, and end-use parts. Experienced with material selection (PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU, resin), print orientation optimization, support strategy, and post-processing techniques. Leverage 3D printing to accelerate design iterations — going from CAD to physical prototype within hours, not weeks.
⚡ Rapid Prototyping
End-to-end rapid prototyping workflow: concept sketching → 3D CAD modeling → 3D printing/machining → assembly → testing → design iteration. Comfortable moving at speed from rough concept to functional prototype using the right mix of additive and subtractive methods. This fast-feedback-loop mindset reduces development cycles and catches design issues early when they are cheapest to fix.
Ready to Work Together?
I am open to new opportunities. Let us discuss how my experience can contribute to your team.