In this dynamic and thoughtful episode, Josh Tarbutton, Chairman and Chief Innovation Officer of Bravo Team Engineering, shares his unconventional path from homeschooled teenager to Georgia Tech PhD to founder of a nationally recognized engineering firm. Drawing on experience in the military, academia, and entrepreneurship, Josh reflects on what shaped his leadership style and the culture he’s built at Bravo Team.

He explores topics like automated CNC toolpath generation, mentorship, and why engineering is best learned as a craft, not just a classroom subject. “Engineering is a skill of applied math and physics,” he says, “and we take the laws of the universe and paint them onto the canvas of the world.” That mindset drives the way Bravo Team trains and empowers its engineers—through hands-on learning, accountability, and a culture of respect and challenge.

Josh also unpacks what it means to create a team-first environment. “We don’t have to be the Alpha team,” he explains. “We’re the Bravo team. We exist to make others successful.” It’s a philosophy that shows up in everything from hiring practices to customer relationships and in how the company builds systems that unlock individual potential and deliver results.

This episode dives deep into what makes engineering meaningful, how technical education can evolve, and how Bravo Team is restoring dignity to the profession, one hard problem at a time.

Key Topics Covered:

1. The craft of engineering and the limits of traditional education
2. Lessons from the military and academia in shaping leadership
3. What it means to build a team-first engineering company
4. The power of mentorship, structure, and innovative problem-solving