Ruben Saint Paul's father is an engineer and played a large part in inspiring him to pursue a career in engineering. Saint Paul graduated from Stony Brook University with bachelor's and master's degrees, which he calls his greatest achievement, in mechanical engineering with a focus on robotics.
"Having a similar career path uniquely positions me to glean wisdom from his 30 years in the industry. To this day, I enjoy nerding out with my dad about the technical projects I work on and sharing anecdotes about similar experiences we've had in the field," he said.
While studying mechanical engineering, Saint Paul learned very little about injection molding and the plastics industry. "This lack of information intrigued me and motivated me to pursue the [applications engineer] internship with Natech, which eventually led to my full-time role as an automation engineer at the company," he said.
"In my capacity as an automation engineer, I've made it a point to continue my learning on the job. I've done this by learning from subject-matter experts in various disciplines at Natech as well as through external training programs. I've undergone training in vision systems and robot programming. I'm actively pursuing technical certifications for practical skills. I also actively seek out additional responsibilities here at Natech with the intention of adding ever-increasing value to the company," he added.
Saint Paul is particularly interested in the electrical vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (EVTOL) industry, as it represents "the latest form of advancement in innovation for the aviation sector."
"It's exciting to see how the plastics industry is playing a central role in the development of flying cars," he said. "In parallel, I'm intrigued by the development of the diagnostics industry, which is the primary industry that Natech serves. Contributing to the development of life-saving and life-changing devices is one of the most fulfilling aspects of my role."
During his college years, Saint Paul was an active member of the National Society of Black Engineers, whose mission is to "increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community."
"I aligned with the mission and saw an opportunity to be mentored by successful engineers while being a part of a like-minded community. To date, I enjoy keeping in touch with my former classmates and cheering for their success. As an early professional, I enjoy giving back to this community by volunteering my time to mentor current Stony Brook and NSBE students," he said. "I'm also actively involved with my local church and nonprofit organizations such as the International Justice Mission, through which I can make a difference in my local community."
Saint Paul said it is "pertinent" that the industry takes initiative to expand its efforts in diversity and inclusion.
"Greater diversity leads to new perspectives and unique approaches to solving problems, both technical and social," said Saint Paul, who suggested employers partner with organizations such as NSBE, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, and the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers.