Arizona MEP and Nautilus Systems Work Together to Strengthen Employee Development
Founded in 1999 and based in Phoenix, Arizona,Nautilus Systems specializes in precision automation solutions for adhesive component placement. What began as a custom automation firm has grown into an industry leader with a flagship applicator system capable of placing labels and other adhesive components with extreme accuracy.
Nautilus Systems’ technology supports applications ranging from SD memory cards, where usable surface area is extremely limited, to medical wearables such as continuous glucose monitors, where secure adhesion is critical. As the company continued its growth trajectory, more formal employee development and hiring processes became necessary.
Over the past several years, Nautilus Systems and Arizona MEP have partnered on workforce and leadership training, employee assessments, job descriptions, and staffing support.
The Challenge
Founded by experts in automation, Nautilus Systems initially relied on personal networks to recruit talent. As the company grew, it became increasingly difficult to fill specialized positions and reach qualified candidates beyond existing connections and traditional job boards.
The absence of standardized job descriptions and performance evaluation processes also made it challenging to assess employees consistently and provide clear career development pathways. To support continued growth, Nautilus Systems sought a more structured approach to workforce development.
Arizona MEP’s Role
Arizona MEP played a key role in strengthening Nautilus Systems’ leadership and workforce development processes. The engagement began with DISC personality assessments for all employees, helping leadership better understand individual working styles and tailor coaching approaches based on strengths.
Arizona MEP followed this with leadership training focused on coaching techniques and effective communication. The team also collaborated to develop detailed job descriptions for every role, which became the foundation for a structured performance evaluation system.
Using these standardized job descriptions, Nautilus Systems’ leadership team conducted year-end performance reviews based on a consistent evaluation scale. This process clarified expectations, improved transparency, and supported individualized development plans.
“Arizona MEP really helped lead us in developing plans for everybody,” said Matthew Rich, director of operations at Nautilus Systems. “Everyone could see where we thought they were compared to their job descriptions, and we were able to give employees opportunities for development and improvement.”
Nautilus Systems also leveraged Arizona MEP’s staffing resources to fill key technical roles. Rather than sorting through large volumes of unqualified applicants, the company gained access to a curated pool of candidates with specialized skills for hard-to-fill positions such as control engineers, software engineers, and electrical engineers.
Through its partnership with Arizona MEP, Nautilus Systems formalized its job descriptions and performance review processes and established a trusted recruitment partner to support ongoing growth.
“Arizona MEP has a broad spectrum of resources,” said Steven Gunnerson, president of Nautilus Systems. “Through one point of contact, you can access a variety of specialists. It’s important to have a resource you can trust to help you find the right solutions.”