Guill Tool & Engineering

R&D Engineer

I began at Guill Tool & Engineering as a Design Engineer, developing custom extrusion dies that met precise customer requirements. My work spanned the full lifecycle of each project, interpreting purchase orders, modeling and drafting in SolidWorks, validating designs through CFD, coordinating manufacturing with machinists, and supporting customers during implementation. Managing many projects at once strengthened my organization and documentation habits, and I quickly became a trusted resource for both sales and manufacturing teams. As I grew into the role, I took ownership of Tooling Cell, an internal rapid‑turnaround program offering five‑day lead times for specialty tooling. This experience sharpened my ability to balance speed, quality, and cross‑functional communication. After eight months, I transitioned into the R&D department to support a DOE‑funded SBIR Phase I project exploring a novel extrusion process with the potential to reshape annular product manufacturing.

In R&D, I contributed across the entire effort: running and documenting extrusion trials, comparing results to simulation, designing auxiliary equipment, and supporting the technical reporting submitted to the DOE. The project concluded with a validated process across multiple polymers, which positioned us strongly for a Phase II continuation. We were awarded the grant based on compelling Phase I results, parallel‑industry research, and strong industry support.

During Phase II, I helped design and refine a next‑generation extrusion die, conducting iterative flow testing and coordinating both machined and additively manufactured components. When early 3D‑printed parts showed significant variation, I led the development of a standardized finishing workflow that produced consistent, high‑quality components accepted by all stakeholders. As the project progressed, I continued to play a critical role by maintaining detailed records of every extrusion trial and coordinating with external vendors to develop a comprehensive testing plan for the resulting samples.

Alongside the technical work, I facilitated customer outreach during Phase Shift, a commercialization program for SBIR recipients. I contacted over 200 industry professionals and conducted 20 in‑depth conversations to identify high‑value problems our technology could address. While no immediate “hair‑on‑fire” problem emerged, the process sparked new ideas including a potential additive manufacturing application and established early interest from a medical device manufacturer pending Phase II results. I continue to apply these customer‑discovery strategies during site visits and production‑floor interactions.

Like many engineers in a small company, I wear multiple hats. I support extrusion operations, develop specialty dies that reduce downstream processing, rapidly prototype complex profiles, and assist customers evaluating our novel process. My combined experience as a design engineer, R&D engineer, project manager, record keeper, facilities contributor, and customer‑facing problem solver has shaped me into a versatile engineer who thrives at the intersection of creativity, technical rigor, and hands‑on experimentation.