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Welcome to The Wave Engineering Newsletter, your weekly guide to the cutting edge of engineering. Whether you're a seasoned professional, an eager student, or simply curious about innovation, we’re here to inform, inspire, and connect.

More than just a newsletter, we tell the human stories behind the tech—spotlighting the innovators, dreamers, and changemakers shaping our world. Backed by insights from Pipeline Design & Engineering and the Being an Engineer Podcast, we deliver the latest advancements, impactful collaborations, and stories that redefine what’s possible.

Join the conversation at The Wave, where ideas spark, questions find answers, and the engineering community comes together to create the future. Engineering isn’t just about technology—it’s about people. Subscribe and ride the wave of innovation with us.

In the engineering world, we've weathered economic storms before—but this tariff tsunami is unlike anything in modern history. As fabricated metal tariffs surpass 35% and Chinese imports face a staggering 145% duty, your supply chain decisions today will define your competitive position for years to come. This isn't just about adjusting prices or finding alternative suppliers; it's about fundamentally rethinking how American engineering can thrive in a dramatically altered global landscape. The next 90 days will separate the forward-thinking firms from those caught unprepared—which side will you be on?

The sweeping tariffs announced in April 2025 are fundamentally reshaping our industry's economic landscape. With baseline tariffs of 10% on all imports and reciprocal tariffs reaching as high as 145% on Chinese goods, engineering firms across hardware, manufacturing, and commodities sectors face unprecedented challenges.

Material costs are surging—fabricated metals now face tariff burdens exceeding 35%, while specialized equipment and components critical to advanced engineering processes are seeing dramatic price increases. For many firms with fixed-price contracts, these unexpected costs threaten profit margins and project viability.

While the administration positions these measures as a pathway to domestic manufacturing revival, industry surveys reveal a more complex reality. Most companies cite prohibitive costs and skilled labor shortages as major obstacles to reshoring, with many looking to alternative low-tariff regions rather than bringing production back to U.S. soil.

How is your organization responding to the new tariff environment?

→ Read our full analysis on thewave to explore adaptation strategies emerging across the sector, geographic impact variations, and innovative approaches that forward-thinking engineering firms are implementing to thrive amid these constraints.

This is a conversation, a collaborative effort that we, as engineers in this country, need to come together and figure out - not just for the future of innovation in America but also for the sake of progress, community and continued quality of goods sold.

Engineering is about solving, innovating, and connecting ideas to make a difference. Progress is a collective effort and your curiosity is what drives it forward. Thank you for exploring the dynamic world of engineering with all of us at Pipeline Design & Engineering and The Wave.

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“Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while.” - Steve Jobs

In collaboration and creativity,
Brad Hirayama
Blueprinting tomorrow, today