Meet the Team: Design Engineers – Chelsea Leissner, Brandon Louey and Will Ford

We sat down with three of our Design Engineers, Chelsea Leissner, Brandon Louey, and Will Ford, to talk about their paths to Conflux, what excites them about their roles, and the culture that keeps them inspired. While they come from different backgrounds, ranging from aerospace to motorsport and even shipbuilding, their shared passion for innovation and integrity drives the work they do every day.

What led each of you to pursue engineering, and how did you end up at Conflux?

Will: I always knew I wanted to do engineering. I was one of those kids building stuff in the backyard, into maths and physics. After school, I did a placement at Rolls-Royce Defence and then joined Airbus in the UK, where I really got into additive manufacturing. After a ski season, a van trip around Europe and a move to Melbourne, I was looking for something more fast-paced. Conflux ticked every box.

Chelsea: I started in mechanical engineering, then moved into aerospace at Boeing, working on some amazing space and defence projects. But after a year off travelling around Australia and Europe, I was ready to be back in Geelong—and that’s when I found Conflux. I’d known about them since uni, so seeing how much they’d grown was exciting. It felt like the right place at the right time.

Brandon: I also studied mechanical engineering and was in the Formula SAE team at uni, which I loved—fast turnaround, hands-on design, very collaborative. That same energy is what drew me to Conflux. I’d done a shipbuilding internship overseas where I met Ethan (Ethan Nasuti-Leech, Conflux Calculations Engineer), who ended up working here. He referred me after I graduated and I’ve been here ever since.

What are you currently focused on?

Will: I’ve been working on a few different projects, like motorsport and aerospace. What I enjoy most is the front-to-back involvement: talking to customers, designing, simulating, refining, and seeing it made. The variety keeps things fresh, and you’re constantly learning from the people around you.

Chelsea: Right now it’s about refining process, and maintaining quality in everything I touch. My background in aerospace drilled into me the importance of engineering integrity: every detail matters. I’m working closely with other teams to make sure we’re delivering technically sound, high-quality designs at speed, which is a good challenge.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

Brandon: Seeing your design come to life. Watching it go through the whole process and then holding the final part in the workshop a few weeks later – that’s the best part.

Will: The ownership. You design the whole part, it’s yours. And if it fails, that’s on you – but you learn fast and feel proud of what you’ve made.

How would you describe the culture at Conflux?

Brandon: There’s a lot of trust. Your opinion is valid. People respect your expertise and give you the autonomy to make decisions. It means you can really focus on doing your best work.

Chelsea: It’s refreshingly honest. Everyone brings their whole self to work, and there’s a shared respect for quality and for each other. There is a lot of value placed on integrity. There’s real pride in the work, and that bar is set high by everyone. I was also surprised and reassured by how friendly everyone is.

What advice would you give someone considering a role at Conflux?

Will: Be ready to learn fast and work on something new every week. If you’re excited by variety and ownership, this is the place for you.

Chelsea: Trust the process and lean on the team. It might feel like a steep curve at first, but if Conflux has brought you in, it’s for the right reasons.

Brandon: Be curious. Ask lots of questions. What we do is really niche, and there’s a lot to learn, so the more you engage, the more you’ll grow.

If you had to sum up Conflux in three words, what would they be?

Chelsea: Team. Integrity. People.

Will: Collaborative. Fun. Fast-paced.

Brandon: Challenging. Rewarding. Fun.