Robert Gutierrez Brings Manufacturing Experience & Mission Mindset to Every Job

Fueled by a strong work ethic and a lifelong interest in all things aerospace and defense, Robert Gutierrez is on a mission to deliver story-worthy service. As Metrology Technician/Inspector for Industrial Inspection & Analysis (IIA), Robert works behind the scenes to ensure the safety and quality of manufactured parts and processes.

“Growing up, I was always intrigued by the military, and I was always building model jets and airplanes,” says Robert, who spent four years in Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) in high school. “I always had a passion for advanced aircraft, spacecraft, and different systems used by the military.”

In 1996, he put that passion to work when he launched his career at Honeywell, a global leader in aerospace and defense.

“I was assembling soldered parts and components for use on F-16s and F-117s, so I was having a good time,” recalls Robert. “I loved those jets.”

As his career took flight, Robert worked his way through school at night. After earning an associate’s degree in applied science (Electronic Engineering), he went on to work at several major defense manufacturers.

In the years to come, Robert flourished when given the opportunity to take on an inspection role and deal directly with military customers. He particularly enjoyed the chance to support projects for Los Alamos National Lab and Sandia National Laboratories.

“I did a lot of work for both labs. It was so interesting to work on projects like the James Webb Space Telescope,” says Robert. “It’s awesome knowing that it’s up there now, and I had a small hand in it.”

With a wealth of manufacturing experience and a reputation as a go-getter, Robert soon caught the eye of IIA. He joined our Lab Services team in 2017, and today helps to oversee operations at IIA’s metrology lab in New Mexico, which serves highly regulated industries such as medical device, aerospace and defense.

“We’re trying to master the art of metrology here. We’re all about quality control, and we do a lot with GD&T (geometric dimensioning and tolerancing),” says Robert. “The technology we use allows us to measure to the millionths. It’s pretty amazing.”

With its location in the Sandia Science & Technology Park, IIA’s New Mexico lab is conveniently located next to a key customer: Sandia National Laboratories. Robert finds it particularly fun to measure complex parts for Sandia’s Z machine. The remarkable machine can test a material’s ability to withstand extreme stresses — from temperatures as sizzling as the sun to neutron star-like explosions.

“From items as small as a grain of rice to Z machine parts that require an engine hoist, the sky’s the limit on what we measure,” says Robert, who holds a GD&T certification and plans to pursue the Certified Quality Inspector (CQI) certification in 2025. “It’s fun and interesting. We’re always learning.”

When he’s not in the lab, this hard-working father of five enjoys spending time with his family, including his church family. As Team Captain for his church’s children’s ministry, he happily shares his faith with the next generation. Robert also puts his handyman skills to work at his parents’ rental properties and “gets his cowboy on” at the family cattle ranch in Mora, New Mexico.

College sports and music help him unwind in his downtime. A gifted vocalist himself, Robert once aspired to a career as an R&B singer. Whether he’s singing with soul, branding cattle, or measuring parts in the lab, this go-getter gives his all to everything he does.

“I love what I do at IIA; and I can see that what I do here is valued,” says Robert. “We are passionate about bringing accuracy and integrity to everything that we inspect. Our work can be mission critical, and sometimes lives depend on it.”