Meet Andrew Ma, Product Engineer
We’re pleased to highlight Andrew Ma, Product Engineer at IXRF Systems as the February Employee of the Month. Andrew’s commitment to excellence, technical proficiency, and problem-solving abilities have significantly contributed to our product development endeavors. His attention to design detail and collaborative approach make him an indispensable member of our team. We had the opportunity to interview Andrew recently and learn more about him professionally and personally.
What is your role at IXRF?
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- As a Product Engineer my role is to support every aspect of production leading to a satisfied customer experience with our machines. Being in a dynamic environment such as IXRF, my daily tasks are wide ranging from guiding our manufacturing team on the Atlas product line, designing on new and exciting products, and supporting customer experience in the field.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
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- I studied Mechanical Engineering for my degree but I also have a strong interest in art and design, which I pursue through my side hobbies. I love dipping my toes in industrial design by sketching concept consumer products and furniture, and similarly I love exploring the world of art by utilizing styles like graffiti and calligraphy in my pieces. I think most people are surprised to hear that I started my own brand of women’s shoes despite not having any fashion experience! Shoes have always been a medium of self-expression for me and through my years of dabbling in art and design, I’ve discovered how creatively engaging, daring and diverse women’s fashion is compared to men’s. The designs I explore allow me to express my love of architecture, sculpture and bold colors and textures, which at the end of the day makes me proud to be able to engage both my technical and creative brain!
What are your professional goals?
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- I love to expand my knowledge and skills in the field of robotics, we hear all the time how AI and automation are bringing rapid changes to the manufacturing, scientific and tech industries and IXRF holds a key position at the crossroads of these fields. From our research and development projects we can predict and see the incredible innovations that machine vision and automation can bring to the table, and our excitement is even echoed by some of our customer whenever we discuss ways to further optimize the data collection process of our machines.
How does IXRF help you achieve those goals?
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- IXRF gives me the opportunity to design and interact with mechatronic systems on a daily basis which is one of the essential foundations of robotics. I also get to work hand-in-hand with our software team which gives me insight on the programming that’s necessary for controlling every aspect of our machines from linear actuators to data acquisition equipment and to safety sensors. The exposure I receive from my job is great for furthering my own knowledge which I hope to use in turn to enrich the capabilities here at IXRF.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
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- I’ve loved my time living here in Austin as this is a city that offers such a multifaceted lifestyle from all the nature activities and water sports, to the weird, creative, artistic energies and to the diversity of the food and music. It’s awesome to experience a culture here that is as diverse as my own interests and I am fortunate to get to explore something new every weekend whether it’s taking Latin dancing classes, to going paddle-boarding with friends or checking out new food spots
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