MECHANICAL ENGINEERING · DESIGN · PROTOTYPING · LEADERSHIP

Good ideas.
Built to work.

I’m Shaunt, an engineering and people leader who turns design intent into working hardware through mechanical design, rapid prototyping, and testing—and builds the teams that make it happen.

From medical devices and surgical systems to certified aircraft seating.
My passion for exceptional design keeps me hands-on at work and at home, including my love of audio, cars, and technology.

Professional Work Leadership Personal Projects

Download portfolio PDF ↗

Shaunt AvanessianENGINEERING & DESIGN

14+years developing hardware

7engineering direct reports

11product launchesContributions across medical devices
and aerospace.

100%team engagementMultiple consecutive years,
anonymous direct-report surveys.

01 / PROFESSIONAL WORK

From complexity
to a clear solution.

Engineering and operations leadership, followed by selected product development in medical devices and aerospace. Explore the challenge and my contribution to each program.

11 product launches I contributed to

Implant Direct

DIRECTguide guided surgery system
Simply Iconic Implant System
DIRECTscan digital scan bodies
DIRECTarch full arch abutments
DLC (diamond-like carbon) surgical drills
Drill Stopper surgical kits
IgniteKit surgical kits
Simply Iconic product line extensions
SMARTbase abutments

Embraer / Aero Seating Technologies

Phenom 300 seating system
E190-E2 seating system

Medical DevicesDIRECTguide · Simply Iconic · DIRECTarch

IMPLANT DIRECT · GUIDED SURGERY

DIRECTguide™

A simpler path from digital planning to physical execution.

A fully guided, keyless surgical system that combines tooling, guide sleeves, and a streamlined clinical workflow.

My contribution

Led development through market release as part of Implant Direct’s product portfolio, aligning engineering, clinical, quality, operations, and supply chain teams. Our team used 3D-printed prototypes to gather user feedback before progressing to the final physical prototype and production.

User feedbackInstrumentationDesign to production

Final DIRECTguide surgical kit design render showing an open case with instruments and a color-coded tray — DIRECTguide™ / Final design render

Explore the engineering story

Official product information ↗

CAD / PROTOTYPING / USER FEEDBACK / PRODUCTION

From CAD layouts to production.

Layout studies explored how instruments and drill sequences fit within the tray. We then used 3D-printed prototypes to gather user feedback before progressing to the final physical prototype and production.

Exploring the tray layout

The tray layout evolved through three CAD iterations to the final instrument arrangement.

A plate layout exploring instrument positions, drill groupings, and color-coded paths. — **CAD layout 1**

An instrument-layout alternative with drill lengths across the tray and the ratchet along the lower edge. — **CAD layout 2**

An alternative grouping site preparation, osteotomy drills, and tools, with the ratchet at the right. — **CAD layout 3**

A detailed arrangement with site preparation at left, a drill matrix in the center, and drivers at right. — **Final CAD layout**

Physical feedback and production

A 3D-printed tray prototype used to gather user feedback. — **3D-printed tray mockup**

An assembled prototype with instruments and a labeled tray layout, used for user feedback. — **Assembled feedback prototype**

The final physical DIRECTguide prototype with its instrument arrangement and color-coded layout. — **Final physical prototype**

Multiple DIRECTguide trays during mass production. — **Mass production**

Gathering clinical feedback

Hands-on user testing with clinical professionals to gather feedback on DIRECTguide’s instruments and guided-surgery workflow.

Participants evaluate DIRECTguide instruments on a dental model during a user-testing session. — Gathering clinical feedback

Close-up of guided drilling on a dental model with the DIRECTguide instrument kit nearby. — Hands-on workflow evaluation

PRODUCT COMMUNICATION

Explaining the product I helped build.

My work extended into the product marketing videos: I wrote the scripts, presented on camera, and directed the filming.

PRODUCT COMMUNICATIONBehind the scenes
Shaunt Avanessian on set filming the DIRECTguide product demonstration.

Scriptwriting
On-camera performance
Directing

The DIRECTguide product demonstration, published by Implant Direct.

Watch the DIRECTguide demonstration ↗

IMPLANT DIRECT · PROSTHETICS

DIRECTarch™

Full-arch hardware designed as part of a connected implant, abutment, tooling, and restorative workflow.

My contribution

Directed development through market release within the Implant Direct portfolio, driving cross-functional alignment from design through manufacturing readiness.

Details & public sources

Watch on YouTube ↗
Official product information ↗

IMPLANT DIRECT · IMPLANT SYSTEMS

Simply Iconic™

An implant system that brings together a conical connection, restorative platform strategy, and inclusive packaging.

My contribution

Directed development through market release as part of the major product launches delivered by my engineering team.

Details & public sources

Watch on YouTube ↗
Official product information ↗
Simply Iconic product & packaging videos ↗

Explore more product launches

Additional Implant Direct launches I contributed to, spanning restorative components and surgical instrumentation.

Gold and pink SMARTbase TiBase abutment with fixation screw

RESTORATIVE COMPONENTS

SMARTbase™ Abutments

TiBase abutments for digital restorative workflows, with dual-hue anodization, engaging and non-engaging options, and angled screw-channel flexibility.

Product details at Implant Direct ↗

Watch on YouTube ↗

Implant Direct diamond-like carbon coated surgical drill with depth markings

SURGICAL INSTRUMENTATION

DLC Surgical Drills

Diamond-like carbon coated surgical drills combining wear resistance with high-contrast depth markings for osteotomy preparation.

Product details at Implant Direct ↗

Watch on YouTube ↗

Open Implant Direct IGNITEKIT-ICONIC tray with organized surgical instruments

SURGICAL KITS

IGNITEkits™

Organized surgical instrumentation with drills, drivers, paralleling tools, and a torque wrench in an autoclavable tray that supports the implant drilling sequence.

Product details at Implant Direct ↗

Watch on YouTube ↗

Product imagery and videos: Implant Direct.

AerospacePhenom 300 & E190-E2 seating · Aero Seating Technologies

Seat development for the Phenom 300 and E190-E2 programs, connecting mechanical design, engineering drawings, physical prototypes, and structural validation under FAA requirements.

Embraer Phenom 300 aircraft in flight — Phenom 300

Brown upholstered Phenom 300 seat prototype with headrest and armrests — Physical seat prototype

EMBRAER / AERO SEATING TECHNOLOGIES · EXECUTIVE AVIATION

Phenom 300 seating

From digital assembly to a physical seat.

My contribution

Contributed CAD models, engineering drawings, and crash-test validation to the Phenom 300 seating system, helping move the design from development through launch.

CAD & drawingsPrototypingCrash testing

Explore the engineering story

Worked through component geometry and assembly interfaces in CAD and engineering drawings. Physical prototypes connected the digital definition to the seat hardware, while crash testing supported structural validation for certification.

Side view of the upholstered Phenom 300 seat prototype with armrest and base mechanism — Physical prototype — side view

Transparent CAD assembly showing the Phenom 300 seat structure and internal components — Seat assembly and component integration

CAD model of the Phenom 300 seat-back assembly — Seat-back CAD development

Embraer E190-E2 aircraft on the ground — E190-E2

CAD model of the E190-E2 paired-seat assembly showing frames, seat backs, and component integration — Paired seat assembly CAD

EMBRAER / AERO SEATING TECHNOLOGIES · COMMERCIAL AVIATION

E190-E2 seat structure

Designing the structure behind the seat.

My contribution

Designed and tested the E190-E2 seat structure, developing the structural geometry in CAD and validating the design through testing as part of the seating-system launch.

Structural designCAD developmentValidation testing

Explore the engineering story

Developed structural components within the seat assembly and tested the design against its engineering requirements. The assembly model and component view show how the structural design fits into the complete seat.

CAD model of the E190-E2 seat structural component designed and tested by Shaunt — Structural component I designed and tested

Instrumented crash-test dummies seated in the prepared aircraft-seat test assembly before testing — Seat and instrumented dummies prepared for crash testing

CRASH-TEST VALIDATION

From CAD to dynamic testing.

My seat-development work included crash-test validation in support of certification. Crash-test footage shows the seat and instrumented dummy during a test run; the accompanying photo captures the team’s post-test inspection.

Crash-test footage · AS17D-06 · Left view

Team examining the test seat assembly and instrumented dummies after the crash-test run — Post-test inspection of the seat assembly

Instrumented dummy seated on the test sled during the early crash-test frame

Crash-test dummy moving forward under dynamic loading during the test

Later crash-test frame showing forward movement of the instrumented dummy and seat assembly

Product demonstrations are published by Implant Direct or its media partners. Engineering contributions reflect my own experience; product names and media belong to their respective owners.

02 / LEADERSHIP & EXPERIENCE

Build the capability.
Then build the product.

I lead engineers, operators, and colleagues across disciplines with clarity, trust, and a shared sense of purpose. I stay close to the work and make room for the camaraderie that helps teams enjoy doing it well.

Shaunt sharing a lighthearted moment with colleagues on the manufacturing floor — Leading across roles. Having fun doing great work.

Engineers, one shared direction

Lead seven direct reports and coordinate programs with global partner teams. Own the development lifecycle across implants, prosthetics, and instrumentation.

100%

Employee engagement

Consecutive years of 100% engagement scores in anonymous direct-report surveys. Coaching and technical direction are central to how I lead.

$2–3M

Engineering budget ownership

Manage a $2–3M engineering budget, aligning resources with product development priorities and team needs.

Engineering process improvements

50% faster change-order turnaround
Revamped the engineering change-control process to improve the flow of product updates through documentation and approvals. The work formed part of a broader effort to establish consistent engineering practices across the portfolio.
20% reduction in machining cycle time
Re-engineered machining processes to improve production efficiency. Connected engineering process development with manufacturability, cost, and the requirements of regulated hardware.

ENGINEERING & CLINICAL COLLABORATION

Leading through the work.

I lead engineers and work with clinical professionals to connect product decisions with user needs. Team workshops and technical discussions help bring those perspectives together.

**Leading a team workshop**
Leading a team discussion with a customer-journey board as a shared reference.

**Engineering and clinical collaboration**
Working with team members during an engineering and clinical workshop.

2012–2017

Aerospace foundations

Aero Seating Technologies / Embraer
Mechanical design, structural analysis, FAA validation.

2017–PRESENT

Products and engineering teams

Implant Direct
Design Engineer → Sr. Manager, Design Engineering.

2026

Broader operating responsibility

Implant Direct
Interim Director of Operations during a leadership transition.

Education

MSc, Motorsport Engineering
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford, United Kingdom
Designed and validated chassis and suspension systems through simulation and real-world testing.
Explore Oxford Brookes motorsport work
Chassis simulation
Suspension simulation
Physical test setup
B.S., Mechanical Engineering
California State University, Northridge
Northridge, California
Responsible for Formula SAE chassis design, simulation, prototyping, and fabrication.
Explore CSUN Formula SAE work
Chassis CAD
Structural simulation
Vehicle integration CAD
Chassis prototype
Cockpit prototype
Completed Formula SAE car

03 / PERSONAL PROJECTS

What I build
outside work.

Independent projects in design, engineering, and fabrication. A place to explore an idea, work through the details, and build it myself.

Completed home theater with projection screen, tower speakers, center channel, subwoofer, and media cabinet

AUDIO · SOLIDWORKS · FABRICATION

5.1.2 Atmos listening room

A home theater and Hi-Fi environment developed through room modeling, speaker placement, and custom acoustic treatment.

My contribution

Created a 3D SolidWorks room model accurate to within 1/8 inch of real-world dimensions. Mapped acoustic reflection points to inform panel positioning, then designed and fabricated the panels.

Front-left channel frequency response before and after room correction

Room correction: before & afterFrequency-response plots for all 8 channels.View speaker results

Explore the room design & build

Applied mechanical design skills to an audio experience: room geometry, placement constraints, aiming angles, materials, panel construction, and installation. The project connects spatial modeling and treatment planning with physical fabrication and room integration.

Acoustic reflection modelingHands-on fabricationAudio systems

DESIGN / BUILD / INTEGRATE

From a room to a listening environment.

A dimensionally accurate SolidWorks room model, reflection-point planning, and custom panel fabrication, documented through my CAD views and build photos.

MODEL / LOCATE / BUILD

Plan the treatment in 3D.

I modeled the room in SolidWorks to within 1/8 inch of the real-world dimensions, integrating the room geometry, furnishings, speaker layout, and acoustic panels. The reflection-point layout informed acoustic panel positioning before fabrication and installation.