Meet Cody Thomsen, Mechanical Design Engineer, whose creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving mindset have played a key role in advancing Aquagga’s PFAS destruction technology. This month, we caught up with Cody to learn more about his journey to Aquagga, what drives him as an engineer, and what he’s most excited about in the year ahead.
Q: What brought you to Aquagga?
Cody: I joined Aquagga coming out of college in 2021. I was working in a lab at the University of Washington in Seattle, where I met our CTO, Brian Pinkard. I saw Aquagga as an incredible opportunity to contribute to solving a serious environmental challenge. I was seeking more hands-on experience and was excited to learn from my coworkers who had more industry experience. After meeting more of the team, it was clear that Aquagga had built an amazing culture, one that I wanted to be part of.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working at Aquagga?
Cody: As an engineer, I love problem solving and developing solutions as a team. We’re constantly improving our technology and processes, and I find it really satisfying to go through the full cycle—identifying an issue, designing and building a solution, and testing it in real-world conditions. Beyond the technical side, I also really value the culture we’ve built here. Our team works hard, supports each other, and takes the time to have fun together outside of work.
Q: Can you share a moment that shows what Aquagga’s culture is like?
Cody: Our first field project stands out as a great example. The entire team traveled together and stayed in the same house for two weeks. We faced some unexpected challenges, but everyone maintained a positive attitude and worked together to find solutions. We also spent time cooking, getting outside, and playing games together. That project really brought us closer as a team and proved that we can tackle anything together.
Q: What does a day in your role look like?
Cody: My in-person days consist of working with other engineers, prototyping, assembling systems, testing our systems, meeting with fabrication shops, and more. When I’m working from home I usually am doing some design work, ordering parts, and coordinating with team members.
Q: What’s a project or problem you’ve worked on that you’re really proud of?
Cody: I’m really proud of the improvements we’ve made to our Steed units. We’ve upgraded many of the system's components, and it’s been rewarding to see those improvements in action.
Q: What’s something people might misunderstand about your job?
Cody: When people hear the word “startup,” they often think of software companies. As part of a hard-tech startup, my day-to-day looks a lot different—we’re designing, building, and testing real systems that destroy PFAS, which is both challenging and exciting.
Q: How do you like to unwind after a busy day?
Cody: After a busy day, I like to have a quiet night by spending quality time with my girlfriend and our cat, making some good food and watching a show. Outside of work, I spend a lot of time with friends and family, and I’m a huge sports fan.
Cody’s creativity, teamwork, and dedication to continual improvement reflect the collaborative spirit that drives Aquagga forward. His work on product development and system design has directly strengthened our technology and field performance, helping move our mission of PFAS destruction closer to scalable reality.
As one of Aquagga’s early engineering hires, Cody has grown alongside the company—contributing not just to technical advancements, but also to the supportive and hard-working culture that defines our team. We’re proud to recognize his impact and look forward to seeing the continued progress of his work in the years ahead!
