Zone7 Engineering vs CMD MedTech: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
CMD MedTech (4.0/5) edges ahead of Zone7 Engineering (3.9/5) overall. CMD MedTech is the better choice for small teams needing close, senior-level medical device engineering with supplier-diversity credentials. Zone7 Engineering is the stronger option for teams wanting direct, single-point engineering accountability on a small project. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Zone7 Engineering vs CMD MedTech: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Zone7 Engineering | CMD MedTech |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2010 | 2016 |
| HQ | Portland, OR, USA | Columbus, OH, USA |
| Team size | Solo / small team | 13 |
| Rating | 3.9 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Founder personally performs project planning, circuit design, and firmware development, with no layers between quoting and delivery | Woman-owned small business built specifically around medical device systems, software, and regulatory support |
| Pricing model | Project-based electronics and firmware engagements | Project-based medical device engineering engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | C, C++, PCB Design | C, C++, Medical Device Software Standards |
| Industries served | Consumer electronics, Industrial products | Medical devices |
Zone7 Engineering vs CMD MedTech: overview
Zone7 Engineering
Zone7 Engineering is a Portland, Oregon electronics engineering practice founded and run by David Ashman, a senior electronics engineer with extensive experience designing digital and analog circuitry around various microprocessors and DSPs alongside embedded C/C++ firmware development. For a client evaluating the smallest possible version of an engineering-hire relationship, this is a firm where the person quoting the project, designing the architecture, and writing the firmware are the same single named individual.
CMD MedTech
CMD MedTech was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, with roughly 13 employees as of mid-2025. The firm specializes entirely in medical device development, covering systems engineering, software and firmware, and regulatory and quality support. Its status as a woman-owned small business can matter to a hiring buyer with supplier-diversity requirements, and the small team structure means a client works directly with the senior engineers doing the work rather than being routed through a larger delivery organization.
Services and capabilities: Zone7 Engineering vs CMD MedTech
| Capability | Zone7 Engineering | CMD MedTech |
|---|---|---|
| Firmware development | ✓ | ✓ |
| RTOS development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Hardware co-design | ✓ | ✗ |
| Embedded GUI development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Medical device firmware | ✗ | ✓ |
| Functional safety | ✗ | ✓ |
| Technical training | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert-witness services | ✗ | ✗ |
| Staff augmentation | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Zone7 Engineering vs CMD MedTech
| Framework / platform | Zone7 Engineering | CMD MedTech |
|---|---|---|
| C | ✓ | ✓ |
| C++ | ✓ | ✓ |
| FreeRTOS | N/A | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | N/A |
| FPGA | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| LVGL | N/A | N/A |
| AWS IoT | N/A | N/A |
| ARM Cortex-M | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Zone7 Engineering vs CMD MedTech
| Criterion | Zone7 Engineering | CMD MedTech |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Project-based engineering | Project-based engineering with regulatory support |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Zone7 Engineering vs CMD MedTech
| Dimension | Zone7 Engineering | CMD MedTech |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer electronics, Industrial products | Medical devices |
| Best use cases | Hiring a single senior engineer for a small mixed-signal hardware and firmware program, PCB and circuit design paired with embedded C/C++ firmware for a compact product | Hiring a small, senior medical device engineering team with regulatory expertise, Systems and firmware engineering for a medical device FDA submission |
| Typical project type | Project-based engineering | Project-based engineering with regulatory support |
Zone7 Engineering vs CMD MedTech: pros and cons
| Zone7 Engineering | |
|---|---|
| + | Founder-led model means the person quoting a project is the same person who designs and builds it, with no account-management layer |
| + | Covers project planning through PCB design, firmware, prototyping, and production readiness in one continuous process |
| + | Analog and digital circuit design experience alongside firmware covers mixed-signal product requirements |
| + | 15 years of practice predates many boutique competitors on this list |
| - | Solo or near-solo team size severely limits capacity for a project requiring multiple concurrent workstreams |
| - | Public case study detail and named client references are very limited |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
| CMD MedTech | |
|---|---|
| + | Medical device development is the firm's sole focus, not one vertical among several |
| + | Woman-owned small business status can satisfy supplier-diversity requirements in enterprise and government hiring |
| + | Regulatory and quality support is built into the delivery process rather than treated as a separate service |
| + | Small team size gives direct access to senior engineers rather than being routed through account layers |
| - | 13 employees is one of the smallest teams on this list, which caps how many concurrent programs the firm can run |
| - | 9 years of operating history is shorter than several competitors with 20-plus years in medical device work |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
Who should choose Zone7 Engineering?
A typical fit: hiring a single senior engineer for a small mixed-signal hardware and firmware program.
Founder personally performs project planning, circuit design, and firmware development, with no layers between quoting and delivery. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Consumer electronics, Industrial products.
Who should choose CMD MedTech?
A typical fit: hiring a small, senior medical device engineering team with regulatory expertise.
Woman-owned small business built specifically around medical device systems, software, and regulatory support. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Medical devices.
Decision matrix: Zone7 Engineering vs CMD MedTech
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Both offer fixed-price models |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Zone7 Engineering (Not published) vs CMD MedTech (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Zone7 Engineering |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | CMD MedTech |
Use case fit: Zone7 Engineering vs CMD MedTech
| Use case | Zone7 Engineering fit | CMD MedTech fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiring a single senior engineer for a small mixed-signal hardware and firmware program | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| PCB and circuit design paired with embedded C/C++ firmware for a compact product | Strong | Limited | Zone7 Engineering |
| Hiring a small, senior medical device engineering team with regulatory expertise | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Systems and firmware engineering for a medical device FDA submission | Limited | Strong | CMD MedTech |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Zone7 Engineering vs CMD MedTech
CMD MedTech (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Embedded Firmware Development projects. Woman-owned small business built specifically around medical device systems, software, and regulatory support.
Zone7 Engineering (3.9/5) is worth a look if you need PCB and circuit design paired with embedded C/C++ firmware for a compact product. If your situation matches that, Zone7 Engineering is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Zone7 Engineering vs CMD MedTech FAQ
Is Zone7 Engineering better than CMD MedTech?
CMD MedTech (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Zone7 Engineering's strongest advantage: founder-led model means the person quoting a project is the same person who designs and builds it, with no account-management layer. CMD MedTech's strongest advantage: medical device development is the firm's sole focus, not one vertical among several.
How do Zone7 Engineering and CMD MedTech differ in pricing?
Zone7 Engineering uses project-based electronics and firmware engagements pricing. CMD MedTech uses project-based medical device engineering engagements pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Zone7 Engineering or CMD MedTech?
CMD MedTech is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each developer before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Zone7 Engineering and CMD MedTech?
Zone7 Engineering's primary differentiator is: founder personally performs project planning, circuit design, and firmware development, with no layers between quoting and delivery. CMD MedTech's primary differentiator is: woman-owned small business built specifically around medical device systems, software, and regulatory support. They also differ in team size (Solo / small team vs 13), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Consumer electronics, Industrial products vs Medical devices).
Verify all details directly with each developer before making a decision.