About me.

I’m a Mexico City born and raised Mechanical Engineer with a creative mind, a passion for machines and a strong bias for a user-centered design approach. I live for designing clever mechanical solutions to complex technical problems, like a highly reliable, long-life shear wire cutter that is powered by existing actuators without modifying the architecture, that can apply kNs of force, and that is fully packaged inside a 10mm steel shaft. I currently live in Somerville and work at Formlabs, where I design and build SLS 3D printers and their accessories, and where I’ve had the opportunity to take the role of the technical champion for Fuse 1+ and for the Fuse Blast, leading teams of over 70 engineers of all disciplines.

Previously I worked at Pensa where, as the Principal engineer, I lead the engineering efforts for all of our client-based projects, managed client relationships, requirements and communications, and where I was also the technical lead for the DIWire family of products.

Going back in time, previous to Pensa, I worked at Unilife where I designed and developed groundbreaking, safe, comfortable, and usable reconstitution syringes and mechanical auto injectors, I ran human factors studies, and I even built my own force sensors. Before that I built big robots for the moon and small robots to help autistic kids improve their social skills; I got a master’s degree in Product Development at Carnegie Mellon University after founding a startup in Mexico City; I consulted inventors and companies on how to patent and protect their inventions; and defined the location of a new refinery. I created and managed the maintenance department of an adventure park in Baja; I designed components for Chrysler cars; and rotated around all the departments of a major industrial brewery in Mexico City to make sure beer kept always flowing.

What I know

I got my BS in Mechanical Engineering at a school that really valued and promoted hands-on experience as a learning tool, which enabled me to get involved with a couple of professors that really propelled me in my understanding of materials, machines and manufacturing processes.

Thanks to these friendships and my innate curiosity, I graduated in 2006 with more than 1000 hours of shop and lab time under my belt. The skills and knowledge I developed and gathered during all those hours have served me well in several professional opportunities and have turned me into an avid maker.

I learned to think about the users when I designed my first backpack and learned several methods to understand them when I got my Masters. Now I am committed to the users and make sure I start each project by understanding who they are and what their needs truly are. I believe there is no point on doing it otherwise.

At work

I value hard work, teamwork and commitment over many other things. I am way more prolific when I work on projects I believe on, and with people with whom I share my beliefs. I don’t mind putting long hours for a project as long as we’re all on it together, and I thrive in diverse and agile environments in which ideas can be bounced and where the information flow is free of red tapes.

I’m good at prioritizing when I have a clear (and realistic) deadline, and I can juggle many projects at the same time. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy calm and well-organized projects, but the thrill of an upcoming deadline gets me going.

Outside Work

I love to tinker and experiment with physical things by strapping them to Arduinos. Thanks to my professor Nick Durrant I learned to appreciate the beauty of the physicality of things and that things can be augmented by digital information and vice-versa. So, half of my apartment is filled with bits and pieces of ongoing projects, including a weighted backpack for long hiking training, a portable energy generator and a smart coffeemaker.

I love baking bread and cooking my Mexican food, and if you’re around me for long enough you’ll get to try them both. I don’t follow sports, but I do love to hike, Parkour and martial arts. I love to be in the outdoors, and I need to be in motion.

I love reading cyberpunk and space novels. I got hooked when I read my first Asimov book and I found it visionary. I enjoy stories that are accurate and fantastic at the same time, and I love to see when some of those far-out ideas actually come to life some decades later (space travel, anyone?).

My interests

I realize that the future that I dream of is only going to happen if I get my hands into it, so I’m looking forward to working in projects, companies or industries where I can have a direct and visible impact in the way we live our lives, especially in the fields of manufacturing, exploration and transportation. I want to help create the robots, machines, vehicles, tools and gear that will enable us to take the next big step.

Get in touch!

Please don’t hesitate to send me a note if you’d like to learn more about me or about my projects. I’m always happy to talk.