1. INTRODUCTION

Tier-1 Engineer, LLC respects the privacy of website visitors, customers, and clients and is committed to handling personal, business, and technical information responsibly.

This Privacy Policy explains what information Tier-1 Engineer may collect through tier1engineer.com, how that information may be used, when it may be shared, how it is protected, and the choices available to individuals regarding their information.

This Policy applies to information collected through the Tier-1 Engineer website, contact forms, Tier-1 Design Readiness System submissions, file uploads, purchases, communications, and other online interactions with Tier-1 Engineer, LLC.

Technical and confidential project information submitted through the Tier-1 Design Readiness System is also subject to the confidentiality protections contained in the applicable Tier-1 Design Readiness System Terms & Conditions and any separately executed Non-Disclosure Agreement.

2. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

Tier-1 Engineer may collect information that you provide directly, information generated through your use of the website, and information received from service providers used to operate the business.

2.1 Information You Provide
Information provided directly to Tier-1 Engineer may include:

• name;

• email address;

• telephone number;

• company or organization;

• job title or business role;

• billing or transaction information;

• messages and correspondence;

• product or service inquiries;

• project descriptions;

• technical requirements;

• design and manufacturing information;

• CAD models and assemblies;

• engineering drawings;

• sketches, photographs, and reference images;

• specifications and requirements;

• prototype and test information;

• material and manufacturing information;

• supplier information;

• RFQs, quotations, or pricing information;

• Non-Disclosure Agreements;

• uploaded files and supporting documentation; and

• other information voluntarily submitted through the website or during an engagement.
   

2.2 Purchase and Transaction Information
When purchasing a Tier-1 Playbook, engineering service, or other product or service, Tier-1 Engineer may receive information necessary to process and document the transaction, including:

• customer name;

• email address;

• billing information;

• products or services purchased;

• transaction amount;

• payment status; and

• order or invoice information.
   

Payment card information may be processed by third-party payment providers. Tier-1 Engineer does not intentionally store full payment card numbers.

2.3 Information Collected Automatically
When you visit the website, certain information may be collected automatically through Wix, cookies, analytics tools, security systems, and similar technologies.

This information may include:

• IP address;

• browser type;

• device type;

• operating system;

• referring website or traffic source;

• pages viewed;

• date and time of visits;

• website interactions;

• session information;

• approximate geographic information derived from technical data; and

• cookie or similar technology identifiers.
   

3. HOW WE USE INFORMATION

Tier-1 Engineer may use collected information to:

• operate and maintain the website;

• respond to questions, inquiries, and requests;

• evaluate project submissions;

• perform Initial Assessments;

• provide Concept Reviews, Design Reviews, and DFM Audits;

• communicate with clients regarding active or potential projects;

• request additional project information;

• administer confidentiality and NDA requirements;

• process orders, payments, and transactions;

• deliver purchased digital products;

• provide customer and technical support;

• maintain project and business records;

• improve website content, products, and services;

• understand how visitors use the website;

• measure website performance and marketing effectiveness;

• prevent spam, fraud, abuse, and unauthorized activity;

• protect the security and integrity of Tier-1 Engineer systems;

• enforce contracts and applicable Terms & Conditions;

• comply with legal, tax, accounting, and regulatory obligations; and

• protect the legitimate legal and business interests of Tier-1 Engineer, LLC.
   

Tier-1 Engineer does not use confidential technical project information for unrelated commercial purposes.

4. PROJECT & TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Tier-1 Design Readiness System submissions may contain sensitive technical, commercial, proprietary, or product-development information.

Tier-1 Engineer uses project information only as reasonably necessary to evaluate, administer, and perform the applicable engagement, maintain appropriate business records, and satisfy legal or contractual obligations.

Technical project materials may include CAD files, drawings, specifications, product concepts, prototypes, manufacturing information, supplier information, test data, cost information, production plans, and other non-public project information.

Tier-1 Engineer does not sell confidential project information or technical project materials.

Additional confidentiality obligations, permitted uses, disclosures, file handling, and retention provisions applicable to Tier-1 Design Readiness System engagements are described in the Tier-1 Design Readiness System Terms & Conditions and any applicable NDA.

5. HOW INFORMATION MAY BE SHARED

Tier-1 Engineer does not sell personal information for monetary consideration.

Information may be shared with third parties when reasonably necessary to operate the website, provide services, process transactions, maintain business systems, or comply with legal obligations.

These third parties may include:

• website hosting and site-management providers;

• payment processors;

• email and communications providers;

• cloud-storage and file-transfer providers;

• analytics providers;

• security and spam-prevention services;

• accounting, tax, or bookkeeping providers;

• attorneys and other professional advisers;

• contractors or service providers supporting business operations; and

• government agencies, courts, or other authorities when legally required.
   

Service providers may receive only the information reasonably necessary to perform their function.
Tier-1 Engineer may also disclose information when:

• you authorize or request the disclosure;

• disclosure is necessary to perform an agreed service;

• required by law, subpoena, court order, or other lawful process;

• necessary to investigate fraud, security incidents, or unlawful activity;

• necessary to enforce an agreement or protect legal rights; or

• reasonably necessary to protect the safety, property, or rights of Tier-1 Engineer, its clients, or others.
   

6. COOKIES & ANALYTICS

The Tier-1 Engineer website may use cookies and similar technologies to operate the website, remember preferences, maintain security, understand visitor activity, measure website performance, and support advertising or marketing activities where applicable.

Cookies may include:

Essential Cookies
Required for website functionality, security, forms, account features, checkout, or other necessary functions.

Functional Cookies
Used to remember preferences or improve website functionality.

Analytics Cookies
Used to understand how visitors interact with the website, including which pages are viewed, how visitors arrive at the site, and how the site performs.

Marketing Cookies
May be used to measure advertising effectiveness or support marketing activities where such services are enabled.

Where required, non-essential cookies will be subject to the choices presented through the website's cookie consent system.

Visitors may also control certain cookies through their browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of some website features.

7. DATA SECURITY

Tier-1 Engineer uses reasonable administrative, technical, and operational safeguards appropriate to the nature of the information being handled.

These safeguards are intended to reduce the risk of unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, loss, or misuse of information.
However, no website, electronic communication, file-transfer method, cloud service, or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Tier-1 Engineer does not represent or warrant compliance with any specific cybersecurity framework, security certification, encryption standard, data-residency requirement, or industry-specific security standard unless expressly agreed in writing.

Clients with specialized information-security requirements should communicate those requirements before submitting sensitive project information.

8. DATA RETENTION

Tier-1 Engineer may retain personal information, project records, communications, transaction records, and related information for as long as reasonably necessary to:

• provide services;

• maintain business and project records;

• comply with legal, accounting, or tax requirements;

• resolve disputes;

• enforce agreements;

• document transactions;

• respond to future questions regarding completed work; and

• support other legitimate business purposes.
   

Information may be deleted, archived, or anonymized when it is no longer reasonably necessary for these purposes.
Tier-1 Engineer does not guarantee indefinite storage or future availability of submitted project files.

Clients are responsible for maintaining their own permanent copies of project files, documentation, and completed Deliverables.

9. PRIVACY RIGHTS & REQUESTS

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have rights regarding personal information held by Tier-1 Engineer, including the right to request:

• access to personal information;

• correction of inaccurate information;

• deletion of certain information;

• a copy of certain personal information;

• information about how personal information is used or disclosed; or

• limitation of or objection to certain types of processing.
   

Requests may be submitted to:
info@tier1engineer.com

Tier-1 Engineer may take reasonable steps to verify the identity and authority of the person making a request before providing, changing, or deleting information.

Certain information may be retained where reasonably necessary or legally permitted for purposes such as:

• transaction records;

• tax and accounting requirements;

• contractual records;

• fraud prevention;

• dispute resolution;

• legal claims;

• enforcement of agreements; or

• other legitimate business or legal obligations.
   

Tier-1 Engineer will respond to valid privacy requests as required by applicable law.

10. EMAIL & COMMUNICATIONS

Tier-1 Engineer may use contact information provided by visitors or clients to respond to inquiries, administer purchases, communicate regarding projects, request information, provide Deliverables, or send other communications reasonably related to an existing interaction or business relationship.

Promotional or marketing communications may be sent where permitted by law and where appropriate consent or another lawful basis exists.

Marketing communications may include a method to unsubscribe or otherwise stop future promotional messages.
Operational communications related to purchases, projects, contracts, security, or active engagements may still be sent when reasonably necessary even if promotional communications have been declined.

11. THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES & SERVICES

The Tier-1 Engineer website may contain links to third-party websites, platforms, tools, or services.

Tier-1 Engineer is not responsible for the privacy practices, security, content, or policies of third parties that operate independently from Tier-1 Engineer, LLC.

Visitors should review the privacy policies of third-party services before providing information directly to them.

12. CHILDREN'S PRIVACY

The Tier-1 Engineer website, products, and services are intended for a general adult and professional audience and are not directed to children under the age of 13.

Tier-1 Engineer does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

If Tier-1 Engineer becomes aware that personal information from a child under 13 has been collected without appropriate authorization, reasonable steps may be taken to delete that information.

13. INTERNATIONAL VISITORS

Tier-1 Engineer, LLC is based in the United States.

Information submitted through the website may be processed or stored in the United States or other locations where Tier-1 Engineer's service providers maintain systems or infrastructure.

Visitors accessing the website from outside the United States acknowledge that information may be transferred to and processed in jurisdictions with privacy laws that differ from those in their home country.

Where applicable law requires additional protections for international data transfers, Tier-1 Engineer will address such requirements as reasonably necessary.

14. BUSINESS TRANSFERS

If Tier-1 Engineer, LLC is involved in a merger, acquisition, sale, reorganization, financing, transfer of assets, or similar business transaction, information associated with the business may be transferred as part of that transaction.

Any successor receiving personal or confidential information through such a transaction will remain subject to applicable legal and contractual obligations regarding that information.

15. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

Tier-1 Engineer may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in business practices, website functionality, service providers, legal requirements, or available services.

The current version will be posted on this page with the applicable effective date.

Material changes may be communicated through the website or by other reasonable means where appropriate.

16. CONTACT INFORMATION

Questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of personal information may be directed to:
Tier-1 Engineer, LLC
Website: tier1engineer.com
Email: info@tier1engineer.com