I have over 50 years of experience in mechanical systems design, product development, commercialization, and field support across commercial and governmental sectors. I work hands-on with CAD modeling for machine and mechanism design, tool design, plastic molding, and composites, and I have helped develop more than 150 products and systems—from medical devices to toys and from industrial automation to aerospace hardware. I have been designing and developing products using 3D printing since the beginning in 1987 and am familiar with most current technologies in use today. In my current role at Johns Hopkins University is winding down to 1/2 time. I lead a new Systems Engineering Design Services effort to provide system-level engineering for researchers and students to mitigate risk, shorten time to startup, and improve final output quality. Since 2010 I have also served as the university’s Laser Safety Officer, helping cultivate a culture of safety while enabling high-quality research, and I coordinate UAV operations to ensure FAA compliance and policy alignment. My career is defined by delivering robust, practical engineering solutions that advance research and keep people safe. I am researching gig jobs to keep myself active as a mechanical designer and product developer.

Nathaniel J. "Niel" Leon

I have over 50 years of experience in mechanical systems design, product development, commercialization, and field support across commercial and governmental sectors. I work hands-on with CAD modeling for machine and mechanism design, tool design, plastic molding, and composites, and I have helped develop more than 150 products and systems—from medical devices to toys and from industrial automation to aerospace hardware. I have been designing and developing products using 3D printing since the beginning in 1987 and am familiar with most current technologies in use today. In my current role at Johns Hopkins University is winding down to 1/2 time. I lead a new Systems Engineering Design Services effort to provide system-level engineering for researchers and students to mitigate risk, shorten time to startup, and improve final output quality. Since 2010 I have also served as the university’s Laser Safety Officer, helping cultivate a culture of safety while enabling high-quality research, and I coordinate UAV operations to ensure FAA compliance and policy alignment. My career is defined by delivering robust, practical engineering solutions that advance research and keep people safe. I am researching gig jobs to keep myself active as a mechanical designer and product developer.

Available to hire

I have over 50 years of experience in mechanical systems design, product development, commercialization, and field support across commercial and governmental sectors. I work hands-on with CAD modeling for machine and mechanism design, tool design, plastic molding, and composites, and I have helped develop more than 150 products and systems—from medical devices to toys and from industrial automation to aerospace hardware. I have been designing and developing products using 3D printing since the beginning in 1987 and am familiar with most current technologies in use today.

In my current role at Johns Hopkins University is winding down to 1/2 time. I lead a new Systems Engineering Design Services effort to provide system-level engineering for researchers and students to mitigate risk, shorten time to startup, and improve final output quality. Since 2010 I have also served as the university’s Laser Safety Officer, helping cultivate a culture of safety while enabling high-quality research, and I coordinate UAV operations to ensure FAA compliance and policy alignment. My career is defined by delivering robust, practical engineering solutions that advance research and keep people safe.

I am researching gig jobs to keep myself active as a mechanical designer and product developer.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Senior Staff Engineer for WSE-ORT at The Johns Hopkins University
July 1, 2024 - Present
Developing a Systems Engineering Design Services program to provide systems-level engineering to researchers and students, mitigate risk, shorten time to startup, and improve output quality; supports Hopkins' effort to be a leading research institution delivering socially worthy resolutions.
Laser Safety Officer / Safety Advocate at The Johns Hopkins University - Homewood Campus
December 1, 2010 - June 1, 2024
Led the laser safety program (established 2012) to optimize research quality while maximizing safety for students, faculty, and staff. Also served as UAV coordinator, ensuring FAA compliance and adherence to the university drone policy.
Principal Technologist at Unicorn Technical Services
March 1, 1993 - December 31, 2021
Restarted independent consulting; provided mechanical design and manufacturing support across medical, aerospace, industrial, and governmental projects; contributed to 150+ products and systems.
Chief Engineer and Technical Leader at Pulse Needle Free Systems, Inc. (Felton International Inc.)
September 1, 1997 - December 1, 2006
Led a multi-disciplinary, multi-national design team for needle-free injection systems; managed budgets (> $500k/year), schedules, SOPs, purchasing, and external vendors; secured five U.S. utility patents and two FDA 510(k) clearances.
Mechanical Engineer at Environmental Technology Group, Inc.
January 1, 1991 - March 1, 1993
Designed chemical detection systems for commercial and government customers; led proposal effort for a rapid deployment mobile meteorological system resulting in a $5M contract; performed structural and dynamic analyses and materials selection for chemical/biological systems.
Senior Manufacturing Engineer at H. L. Yoh Co.
February 1, 1988 - September 1, 1990
Manufacturing engineering role focused on production processes and efficiency improvements.
Design Engineer at ILC Dover, Inc.
June 1, 1981 - February 1, 1988
Design engineer working with composites and soft goods.
Mechanical Engineer in Production Engineering at Exxon Office Systems Co.
August 1, 1979 - June 1, 1981
Mechanical engineering role in production engineering.

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University
January 11, 2030 - May 1, 1978
Cooperative Education Certification at NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL
January 11, 2030 - March 8, 2026

Qualifications

FDA 510(k) clearances for human injector system
January 11, 2030 - March 8, 2026
U.S. Utility patents (5)
January 11, 2030 - March 8, 2026
Patents pending (International and U.S.)
January 11, 2030 - March 8, 2026

Industry Experience

Manufacturing, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Government, Professional Services, Education, Other
    uniE621 Knee Crunch Machine
    This is a knee exercise machine that uses elastomeric bands or bars of different sizes to allow a person lying prone to exercise their knees. The height and orientation can be adjusted so that the pads are at the correct level, properly contacting the lower leg, and used in extension or retraction. A similar design is not shown using constant force springs. This is available upon request.
    uniE621 Coffee Table
    This was done as a quick personal project. I have an antique Persian Tray I inherited from my maternal grandfather. I wanted to turn it into a coffee table for my home. This is the result. It is currently sitting in my great room
    uniE621 Wine Chiller Dispenser
    This chiller dispenser is set to work with 1-3 liter box wines. It is shown with 3-liter boxes. One of the spaces has the cover in phantom to show the box in place. To cool white wines, Peltzer chillers are included. Their heat sinks are shown at the bottom. This system is designed to work with standard wine glasses.
    paper Coffee Mug with removable handle
    This mug is designed to facilitate cleaning while providing a handle that can be changed out for different configurations based on the client's//end-user's needs and desires. The mug body would be made from glass; it too could be customized.
    paper Microscope Camera Bag
    Working for a company that made specialty visualization tools, I designed a soft goods bag to hold one of their student camera microscope systems. This bag had storage space for all components and secured the microscope camera so it could be safely transported.
    paper Back Pain Needle Waldo
    I designed, commissioned the prototype fabrication including having several 3-D printed parts done in fiberglass nylon prototypes for testing and evaluation. Unfortunately, the client ran out of money before we could go beyond the prototyping stage. We did prove the functionality and validated the consumable molds for the disposable components. See Head for Back Pain Needle Waldo