Employee Spotlight: Meet Oliver Carpenter

Oliver Carpenter  |  Senior Quality Engineer  |  Alameda, CA

Q. What is your role at Penumbra?

As an engineer, I am responsible for ensuring the medical devices I support meet the high standard of quality and performance that physicians expect from our products. I am currently working with the MVI Health team, which has been developing virtual reality technology for healthcare applications.

I started my career at Penumbra in early 2014 working as a Production Builder on the boxing line. I then transitioned into the quality department where I have worked as a Quality Control Inspector, Quality Assurance Engineering Specialist, and Quality Engineer.

Q. What aspect of your job do you enjoy most?

I enjoy the varied responsibilities and projects I have had the flexibility to work on. These have ranged from creating quality systems for sterilization processes to developing product test fixtures.

Q. What would people be surprised to learn about you?

I think people would be most surprised to learn that I grew up on a sheep and goat farm in Ohio.

Q. Before working at Penumbra, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had and why?

In early high school, my parents ran a bait shop. While working there I grew wax worms (a type of larval moth) and counted out earth worms and minnows.

Q. If you did not pursue your current career, what do you see yourself doing professionally?

My educational background is in biochemistry. Had I not gotten into the medical device industry at Penumbra, I would likely see myself working in a research laboratory studying cell signaling pathways.