# Zach Zupancic

> let’s get to the good stuff, sooner - together

Location: Mill Valley, California, United States
Profile: https://flows.cv/zachzupancic

My name is Zach Zupancic, and I am driven by an insatiable urge to develop systems that minimize effort to maximize individual excellence and collective output. 

The interest was sparked as a child through a combination of LEGOs, NES, and "helping" fix and build things things around the house. The interest became a passion once I started taking technical drawing and architecture classes, modifying cars, and teaching myself AutoCAD & SolidWorks as a teen. That passion for design and modification never waivered, it transformed and grew as I explored various industries throughout my life. While I still get giddy spinning CAD around and seeing those first parts off of tool, I have found a deeper joy in developing holistic systems that gives that feeling to more people with significantly less effort. 

Thank you kindly, and let’s get to the good stuff, sooner - together

## Work Experience
### Mechanical CAD Team Lead @ Astranis Space Technologies
Jan 2024 – Present | San Francisco, California, United States

### Senior CAD Designer 2 @ Astranis Space Technologies
Jan 2023 – Jan 2024 | San Francisco, California, United States
Manages configuration and design infrastructure of top-level spacecraft, and production assemblies.
Manages programs and procedures that govern how CAD interacts with PDM and PLM. 
Develop, document, teach, and improve others best practices in design and drawing methodology.
Model and review components, system-wide assemblies, and engineering drawings.

### Sr. CAD Architect @ Ember Technologies, Inc.
Jan 2021 – Jan 2023 | San Diego, California, United States
Responsible for the direction, development, and deployment of the engineering design framework at scale, SolidWorks, PDM, as well as supporting the project engineering team. Provides technical leadership, education, and guidance in all things related to engineering design and structure. Works cross-functionally to obtain requirements, understand and set priorities, and develop solutions that minimize effort and maximize output.

### CAD Architect @ Otter Products
Jan 2020 – Jan 2021 | San Diego, California, United States
The CAD Architect supports engineering and is responsible for the direction, development, and deployment of the engineering design framework as well as all applicable series templates. They provide technical leadership and guidance, and educates staff in template design and overall design best practices. They seek out forward-looking approaches and work with the team to drive design efficiency.  They have a deep understanding of parametric design, complex file structures, and an understanding of both plastics design and Design for Manufacturability (DFM) rules at different technologies. They also collaborate cross-functionally to obtain requirements, understand and set priorities, and develop solutions that minimize effort and maximize output.

### Senior CAD Designer @ LifeProof
Jan 2015 – Jan 2020 | San Diego, California
-Coordinate and collaborate with engineers to create new and/or modify existing technical drawings.
-Supervise other drafters and engineers on large drawing projects to ensure consistency and cohesiveness throughout all engineering packages.
-Generate complete detail and assembly drawings in Solidworks.
-CAD Design:  Using best engineering practices, design parts and assemblies in SolidWorks for Plastic Injection Molded parts and converted/die cut materials. 
Documentation:  Produce CAD drawings from self-generated or existing models to ISO/ANSI/ASME, departmental, and discipline standards. 
-Design Check & Review:  Participate in engineering and manufacturing design reviews to evaluate design concepts and make recommendation

### Product Designer @ Octopus CADDE
Jan 2010 – Jan 2018 | Oceanside, CA
Further develop client’s ideas and products. Dealing with all design oriented projects from ethanol plant design to aquaponic green houses to cell phone cases.

### Product Designer @ Weiland Sliding Doors and Windows
Jan 2011 – Jan 2015 | Oceanside, CA
Lead designer for the research and development of all products and units. Converted and consolidated entire part library from paper & physical components to 3D parts/extrusions to reduce guesswork & aid in R&D. Helped develop software to speed up and improve production documentation, and give the company a better overall cost analysis of all systems. Lead design department in the creation and modification of customer projects.

### Design Engineer @ OSE Product Development
Jan 2010 – Jan 2011
Turning client's ideas, inventions, and concepts into 3D working parts and assemblies for prototyping and mass production

### Mechanical Engineer @ MSW Consulting
Jan 2009 – Jan 2009
Used SolidWorks and AutoCAD to redesign tanks, heat
exchangers, distillation columns, as well as crate Process Flow
Diagrams and Process Identification Drawings for future and
current applications in ethanol plants throughout the world.

### Design Drafter @ Pursuit Dynamics Inc.
Jan 2008 – Jan 2009
Integrated our unit into existing ethanol plants by using
SolidWorks and AutoCAD to create; piping layouts, tank
locations, structure drawings, and redesigns of our unit to
increase output as well as ease of installations.

### CADD Engineer @ Teldata
Jan 2008 – Jan 2008
Ran a one man department overseeing all aspects of CAD
production for the sales and operations departments.
Responsible for working with sales department to create RFPs,
designing and drafting telecom closets, data centers, and
proposed jack locations for commercial companies; such as
Pfizer, LPL Financial, Liberty Mutual, and Intuit, for use by the
sales departments. Completed as-builds from the red-line
prints returned from the Cable Technicians, ensuring timely
completion of work so that project stays both on time and
within budget. Managed warranties process between our four
main fiber & cable partners which includes monitoring test
results and completing appropriate paperwork with the
vendors and clients.

### Guitar Salesman & Technician @ Guitar Center
Jan 2007 – Jan 2008
Worked as a Sales person in the guitar department for
Guitar Center, reached my A-Level certification in guitars. Met
and exceeded my quota each month, increased the sales of
primarily hollow-bodies by 2 fold. Coordinated with follow
employees to merchandise and set-up for events, as well as
set up deal days.

### Drafter @ Tabco Optical
Jan 2007 – Jan 2007
Created working and moving 3D models of the unit that he
created, also reverse-engineering products to put into
production

### Drafter and Technician @ Salcor
Jan 2005 – Jan 2005
Worked with a national business to piece together a UV-
light assembly to properly disinfect waste from sewage plants.
Also I was assigned the task to transfer our product to a 3D-
CAD drawing, so that if we decide to make any changes the
designs could be sent out and the parts re-manufactured.

### CAD Designer @ Red Rocket Salesgroup
Jan 2002 – Jan 2004
Used SolidWorks to create manufacturing plans from actual
parts.


## Education
### Mechanical Engineering
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona


## Contact & Social
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/zachzupancic
- Portfolio: https://www.zachzupancic.com

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Source: https://flows.cv/zachzupancic
JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/zachzupancic/resume.json
Last updated: 2026-04-13