Some careers follow a straight line. Sarthak Patel’s has been anything but — and that is exactly what makes him such a valuable member of the PRO-TECH team and an interesting person to spotlight. From building ATVs by hand in India to designing elevators in Los Angeles, and eventually becoming a manufacturing engineer in our Arlington, Texas office, Sarthak’s journey is one of curiosity, courage, and a consistent willingness to bet on himself.
From India to California — On His Own Terms
Sarthak grew up in India, where he completed his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering and even built two fully functioning ATVs from scratch — an early signal of the hands-on, figure-it-out mindset that still defines him today. While he had extended family already living in the United States, it was a cousin working in manufacturing who first opened his eyes to what a career in the U.S. could look like.
“He told me a lot of stories about manufacturing here,” Sarthak recalls. “It sounded like exactly the kind of work I wanted to be doing.”
In 2014, Sarthak came to the U.S. to pursue his master’s in mechanical engineering at California State University, Los Angeles. He had some family in Cleveland, but he chose the West Coast on purpose because he wanted to chart his own path.
A Door-to-Door Beginning
Rather than waiting for an opportunity to find him, Sarthak went door to door, literally, asking businesses about open positions. It was a bold move, and it paid off. He connected with an local elevator manufacturer who recognized his initiative and spirit, and the two quickly found common ground. That connection opened the door to Tre Elevators, where Sarthak worked from 2016 to 2018 designing residential and commercial elevator systems.
His reputation for thoughtful, precise design work caught the attention of Elevator Equipment Corporation. The owner recruited Sarthak specifically because he wanted someone who could design something from scratch, and it gave him greater exposure to the entire process. Sarthak jumped at the opportunity and spent the next three years there, building his design skills and taking on broader responsibilities.
The Move to Medical Devices — and PRO-TECH
By 2021, Sarthak knew he was ready for his next chapter. He had long been drawn to medical devices, and with guidance from friends working in the industry, he began exploring opportunities. When a recruiter connected him with PRO-TECH Design, he was intrigued; even though elevators and medical devices might seem worlds apart.
“The products are completely different, but the engineering structure is the same,” he explains. “You still need precision, documentation, and a deep respect for how the product affects the end user.”
PRO-TECH’s leadership team recognized that transferable expertise and thought his skills and attitude would translate effectively. With that, Sarthak joined the company as a Manufacturing Engineer.
What drew him to PRO-TECH wasn’t just the role — it was the culture. Having spent his entire career at small, family-owned companies, Sarthak values the autonomy and broad responsibility that comes with that environment.
“I never wanted to be confined to a narrowly adefined corporate job,” he says. “Here, I can have a meaningfulreal impactmeaningful impact.”
Growing Into the Role — in Texas
In 2024, Sarthak made another bold move — relocating to Arlington, TX to support PRO-TECH’s growing Texas operations. As the senior engineer on-site, his scope of responsibility expanded significantly. He works directly with customers, creates new processes, manages complex documentation, and drives a wide variety of interesting projects that span different areas of medical devices. The variety keeps him energized.
“I like the challenge of working on projects that are so different from each other,” he says. “And I like that my manager trusts me. I thrive in that kind of environment.”
The Texas move also had a personal dimension. Sarthak met his wife through his best friend — she happened to be from the same town in India, though they never crossed paths there. After dating long distance between California and Houston, she moved to California. They got married in 2020, and when the opportunity to move to Texas arose, it felt right — her family was nearby in Houston, and not long after the move, they relocated to the Dallas area as well. It is a chapter, he says, that has exceeded every expectation.
Life Outside the Office
When he is not solving engineering problems, Sarthak is likely doing one of three things: watching Formula 1, reading, or cooking. His passion for F1 goes well beyond fandom — he is captivated by the engineering behind the cars, particularly the balance of combustion power and battery technology, and the aerodynamic precision required to compete at that level. “It’s a marvel,” he says simply.
He is also an avid reader of self-help, finance, and autobiographical books, and he finds real relaxation in the kitchen. His specialty is tikka masala — a dish his wife requests so often it has practically become a standing order. And in a nice bit of professional symmetry, his younger sister works in the Quality Department at a major pharmaceutical company, giving him a perspective from the other side of the quality-engineering table, which he says he genuinely appreciates.
A Valued Member of the PRO-TECH Family
At PRO-TECH Design, we are proud to have Sarthak Patel on our team, bringing precision, enthusiasm, and a rare combination of engineering depth and personal resilience to everything he does. His story is a testament to what happens when curiosity meets courage, and when you find the right environment to grow.