Hi, I'm Ian Cleary, a Senior RF Systems Engineer based in Phoenix. For more than a decade, I've worked in radio-frequency (RF) communications, focused on products that are functional, cost-effective, and manufacturable. My path started at the University of Michigan, where I earned a degree in Electrical Engineering. It was there that I discovered my interest in space at the Michigan Exploration Laboratory (MXL) while doing an independent study on a 1U CubeSat. Since then, I've honed my skills, strengthened my principles, and continued to push my work and the field forward.
My Engineering Philosophy
My engineering philosophy is rooted in empathy and problem-solving. I believe good design starts with understanding the "why": what came before, what constraints shaped it, and what pain points the design was meant to solve. I use research, iterative prototyping, and lab testing to make sure the systems I build are effective. I try to make decisions from clear principles, stay accurate before defending an answer, and learn quickly enough to keep the design moving forward.
What Drives Me
What keeps me excited about this work is the constant learning and the challenge of translating complex ideas into simple, reliable systems. There's nothing more rewarding than seeing a design come to life during initial bring-up, knowing how much work went into that moment, and then using the results to improve the next iteration. That feedback loop is what keeps me engaged in this field.
Outside Work
When I'm not working on RF systems or coding tools, you might find me exploring Phoenix's restaurants, hiking nearby trails, or contributing to open-source projects. Thanks for stopping by. Feel free to browse my projects or get in touch if you'd like to collaborate!