The Engineer Behind Blacktail
My name is Mike Dunn, and I started Blacktail Mechanical Design and Solutions because I believe good engineering should be accessible to the operations that need it most — not just the ones with corporate budgets and in-house teams.
I bring nine years of hands-on mechanical engineering experience to every project — experience earned not in a corporate office, but on the floor of a small industrial facility where problems were real, deadlines were tight, and the solutions had to actually work. I was fortunate to work alongside some exceptional engineers early in my career, people who took the time to teach, challenge, and push me to think beyond the textbook. That foundation shaped not just how I engineer, but how I approach every client relationship.
Over those nine years I've developed a broad and practical skill set — custom equipment design, CAD modeling, rapid prototyping, hands-on fabrication, and industrial automation and PLC programming. I don't just hand a design off and walk away. I see it through from the first sketch to the final working solution, because that's where the real engineering happens.
The industries I serve — agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and industrial operations across the Mountain West — are full of hardworking people who need straightforward answers, honest assessments, and solutions built to last. That's exactly what Blacktail is here to provide.
Why "Coram Deo"?
Coram Deo is a Latin phrase meaning "before the face of God." It's the foundation everything at Blacktail is built on — the conviction that every project, every drawing, every weld, and every client conversation should be done with the same integrity and excellence regardless of who is watching.
It means I don't cut corners when no one's looking. It means I'll tell you honestly what your project needs, even if that's not what you were hoping to hear. It means the standard I hold my work to isn't set by a contract minimum — it's done to glorify God.
That's not just a slogan. It's how Blacktail operates, every day, on every project.
If you're looking for an engineer who will show up, do the work, tell you the truth, and build you something you're proud of — I'd be glad to talk.
— Mike Dunn, Founder & Engineer
Blacktail Mechanical Design and Solutions
"Designed with Purpose. — Coram Deo"
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