James Harper

Introducing James Harper, a Senior Product Manager at Knovel and a seasoned professional with over 26 years of experience in the engineering and publishing industries. Born in Boulder, Colorada, USA and raised in Redmond, Washington, USA, James brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for engineering’s transformative power. 

For James, engineering represents humanity’s iterative journey toward progress. He describes it beautifully: “The engineering arc bends toward solutions, even if the path isn’t always straight.” Engineers stand on the shoulders of past innovators, learning from their triumphs and missteps to tackle today’s challenges. While technological advances can sometimes introduce unforeseen obstacles, James sees the engineering mindset as fundamentally optimistic, driven by systematic thinking, creativity, and problem-solving to build a better world. 

James’s work at Knovel goes beyond helping engineers solve individual challenges. He sees himself contributing to a larger narrative of human progress—one where every challenge solved, every process improved, and every innovation implemented brings us closer to a world that is more sustainable, safer, and more abundant. This dual focus on practical impact and long-term societal benefits fuels his passion and commitment to empowering engineers worldwide. 

As a Senior Product Manager, James leads initiatives to improve how engineers and technical professionals find mission-critical information. By deeply understanding user workflows, he enhances Knovel’s ability to provide precise technical data, equations, and engineering insights that drive real-world problem-solving and innovation. His work ensures Knovel remains an indispensable tool for engineers, streamlining their research processes and amplifying their impact on the world. 

When asked for advice to his younger self, James shared a piece of wisdom that guides him to this day: 

“Keep your eye on the doughnut and not the hole.” 

James’s dedication to progress, practicality, and purpose makes him an integral part of the Knovel team and a passionate advocate for empowering the engineering community to create solutions that shape a better future.