About

I’m an experienced product design engineer with a focus in the development of medical and consumer products. I worked at design consultancies for over 16 years, focusing on all kinds of very challenging projects.. Although I could tell you I like making things that improve people’s lives (which is true), and I'm passionate about engineering... I feel that’s a bit cliche.

I decided to transition to freelance engineering because I know product development is challenging and complicated. I wanted to both make it more accessible to more people trying to get a product off the ground, as well as support teams when they are really in need of some help.

Check out my Website and Portfolio at catinella. com

Product development is hard work. Timelines are always tight, teams are always taxed, budgets can be thin, there are many late nights, and it can be very challenging to get a product launched. I wanted to directly help folks by providing some of my time, so they can get back some of theirs.

- I'm skilled in identifying user requirements, managing budgets
and schedules, conceptual engineering and feasibility, prototyping, testing, risk analysis, tolerance analysis, verification and validation, regulatory compliance, and new product launch.
- I've lead small 2-4 person teams to large multi-disciplinary 14-20+ person programs consisting of human factors specialists, industrial designers, mechanical, electrical, software, and quality engineers.
- I've developed a broad range of products from consumer and electronics products, to medical devices, to automation and robotics, to industrial processing systems.
- I've navigated challenging technical problems through a process of breaking the problem down, identifying risks, asking appropriate questions, and mitigating risks to acceptable levels for moving forward.

Some of my primary skills include:
Brainstorming/Ideation
Concept Sketching
Concept Synthesis
Project Management
Issue Identification
Risk Identification
FMEAs
Hazards and Risks Assessments
CAD Development
Drawings Development
Analysis/Simulations
Technology Research
IP Analysis
Prototyping
Test Planning
Requirements Definition
Component Selection
System Conceptualization
System Architecture Design
Cost Assessments
Component Selection
Electronics Integration
Early Supplier Involvement
Prototype Tooling
Qualification Testing
Low Volume Builds
High Volume Builds
Tolerance Analysis
Design Refinement
Supplier Selection
Design for Manufacture and Assembly
Cost Reduction
Verification Testing
Design Controls
Supply Chain Development
Assembly line setup
IQ/OQ/PQ
Build Instructions
Pilot Builds
Validation Testing
Change Management
Quality systems
Design Controls
ISO 9001 / 13485 / 14971

Experience

  • Principal Design Engineer Self-Employed · Freelance Jun 2022 – Present 2 yrs 6 mos Port Jefferson, NY, United States Providing remote and/or on-site product development and engineering consulting tailored to your business processes and needs. Ability to jump in at any point in the process and quickly add momentum to your product development project.
  • Operations Manager Fikst Product Development · Full-time Nov 2020 – Jun 2022 1 yrs 7 mos Wilmington, MA, United States Oversaw daily operations of the facility, including data management, inventory management, resource allocation, equipment installation and upkeep, IT, and generally supported the needs of the broader team to ensure they had the resources, tools, and training, they need to do their job effectively.
  • Senior Mechanical Engineer / Engineering Manager Radius Innovation and Development · Full-time Nov 2006 – Nov 2020 14 yrs Clinton, MA, United States As a Senior Engineer I was tasked the design of various consumer, medical, and industrial products. As a Manager I oversaw a team of engineers, responsible for the design, development, and manufacture of a multitude of products.

Education

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering 2002 – 2006