Adam Jeffries spent enough time as an engineer in a large corporate setting to know it wasn’t where he could maximize his potential. Sure, there’s obviously a need for big engineering firms, but for Jeffries, the experience led him to do some soul-searching.
“I was frustrated with the corporate environment,” said Jeffries, a Leawood, Kansas native who graduated from the University of Kansas with a mechanical engineering degree in 2013. “I wanted an opportunity to work for a smaller company and to be involved more intimately.”
By the summer of 2022, that soul searching landed Jeffries a position as a project engineer at the Finite Engineering, only minutes from his hometown.
Jeffries quickly realized that he fit in perfectly with the diverse background of engineers at Finite, all of whom contribute a different skill set. While engineers apply practical reasoning and a deep understanding of science and math to problem-solving, there is value in the ability to be creative and improvise, and that’s something Jeffries embraces.
“I like to think my strongest suit is having my head in the clouds,” he said. “I enjoy the challenge of finding a new solution that someone wasn’t thinking about before. Figuring out the answer to a problem someone else was struggling with is probably the most rewarding aspect of the job.”
Every team member brings a unique perspective and background, which Jeffries considers a positive combination as they work together toward solutions.
“We’re not afraid to challenge each other,” Jeffries said. “We’re willing to embrace conflict and not run away, which is important for a company. Our biggest strength is our flexibility. We can say ‘yes’ to anything and figure it out – we’re innovative.”
From reverse engineering tasks to being part of a program that engineered a piece of equipment the size of a tank used to essentially mow down trees, Jeffries has played a role in many unique projects in his time at Finite. Each has allowed him to do what he does best – pursue his desire to understand how things work, develop the mechanics behind solutions and “get to see the ‘why’ behind so many aspects of engineering.”
Finite Engineering is the perfect fit for a lot of projects that may be too big or too small for other companies. Finite bridges the gap between small-scale engineering firms and the 5,000-member teams working for a corporation. On a daily basis, he can see how his efforts impact the company and more importantly, the clients.
“I feel like I’m recognized as a person for my diverse background and the unique skills I bring to the table,” he said. “A lot of those things get lost when you’re in a larger company.”
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