Hi, my name is Nick Santos, I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and have been working as a project, applications, design, manufacturing and quality engineer since 2017. I started my journey as a project / applications engineer intern the summer before my senior year in college and was offered a part-time job during my senior year. I was then offered a full-time position pending my graduation. In the role, I got some crash courses; hands-on engineering experience with skills that you can’t obtain inside a classroom. These skills I use on a daily basis, almost 9 years later. Skills such as DFM/DFA, tolerance stack ups, engineering best practices; GD&T and Fit, Form, and Function. I also obtained knowledge on different types of stresses you need to consider, not just external loads, but chemical stresses, internal stresses and other environmental stresses; such as thermal stresses, which is not typically covered in an average Mechanical Engineering curriculum. During my time with my first opportunity they introduced skills beyond Design Engineering, even though my title at the time was Project/Applications Engineer, I was willing to learn as much as I could. That was when I was shown Quality Principles as well, such as, the 5 Whys, Pareto Diagrams, Corrective/Preventative Actions and Failure Modes Effects Analysis (FMEA).Most importantly during this time I got my first true exposure to the Toyota Principles and the TPS. I gained knowledge about Gemba, I was also taught about Kaizens and the importances of how tiny improvements can lead to massive change down the road, and most importantly the Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle, where along with the Kaizen mindset, is the best tool in any Engineer’s Toolbox.

After learning the importance of being an Engineer and gaining the skills that make me stand out from other Mechanical Engineers I decided to move west. I wanted something that Connecticut was missing, I missed Vermont (where I attended University) and I needed a place where there was a population center large enough to support and industry. I found my footing in beautiful Colorado, still wanting the spoils of modern life but also indulging in what Colorado has to offer, which is the beautiful landscapes and great outdoors. I can now proudly state that Colorado has been my home for 5 + Years now.

I was able to find a job with a small company just north of Denver, and this is where I started as a Design Quality Engineer. During my time at this job, I was able to put all the skills and knowledge I have learned to the test, while also getting to dust off the knowledge I learned during college. This was where I felt like I got to be a true Engineer, I was able to design parts that needed to be made through all different manufacturing methods, while also doing load and stress analysis to figure where, when and how these designs would fail. This company was a great way to understand a business model that was ran under an Engineer turned businessman. This inspired me to start considering my future opportunities and being able to see how to successfully run a company. I was able to learn and understand where the product was sourced and the main question, why. I also got to look at the COGS, the overhead and taxes, gaining new skills and understandings of how a business is ran.

This is where the idea of NJSE formed, doing Real Deal Engineering for you and running a business the way it should be ran, taking inspirations from the amazing companies I was once a part of.

Together we can build the next best thing, be sure to give me a call or send an email, to achieve the dreams you are wanting to make a reality.