Mar 2024 – Dec 2024 · 9 mos

• Same as before, plus:
• Grew the team by hiring, training, and managing new employees, and setting up team resources and processes.
• Lead development of an(other) electric propulsion system for the satellites, going from kickoff to hardware delivery in 7 months.

Jul 2021 – Mar 2024 · 2 yrs 8 mos

• ADCS & Propulsion development & design lead for a fleet of low-earth orbiting SAR radar imaging satellites. For these subsystems, responsible for spacecraft design, on-orbit and production/testing support, vendor relationships, and algorithm development.
• Designed two satellite busses, deployed optimal slew maneuver planning to orbit, and built software tooling for first-principles hardware sizing & requirements generation.
• Developed orbit design tools, dynamic simulations, and control schemes for low-thrust orbit keeping in an atmospheric drag environment.
• Directed cradle-to-grave development of a new propulsion system, going from kickoff to on-orbit in 1.5 years. Included the whole lifecycle of requirements specification, procurement, design, integration, test, launch, and on-orbit ops.

Dec 2020 – Apr 2021 · 4 mos

• Control systems technical lead with a team of two, performing leading-edge development for a crewed moon lander as part of NASA’s Artemis program. Derived novel thrust-vector control algorithms for multiple engine rockets (of any number and layout), built new frequency domain stability analysis tools, performed actuator selection, RCS thruster layout, and vehicle controllability sizing.

Sep 2019 – Nov 2020 · 1 yr 2 mos

• Research and development work, writing software in C/C++ for self-driving ground vehicles. Areas of focus include control algorithms, path planning, machine-vehicle interfacing (CAN and higher-level protocols), sensor fusion, and functional safety.

Dec 2017 – Aug 2019 · 1 yr 8 mos

• Research and development work for the Vulcan new rocket development program, focusing on control systems and 6DOF dynamic simulations. Developed monte carlo simulations in C++, Perl, Matlab, and Python for GNC statistical analyses and trade studies.
• Since proven out with a flawless first flight! See Vulcan launch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eCvxPieA84

Aug 2015 – Dec 2017 · 2 yrs 4 mos

• Lead Control Dynamics engineer for multiple Atlas V missions. In these roles conducted stability analyses, physical simulations, state estimation, autopilot design, and other controls-owned systems integration tasks for the rockets. Interfaced with the customers to ensure clear communication and perfect product delivery.
• Wrote and maintained software tools to streamline recurring tasks and increase analysis capabilities.

Jun 2014 – Aug 2014 · 2 mos · Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA

• Supported launch operations for Delta II and Atlas V missions. Audited propellant fueling system and proposed changes to save yearly recurring cost. Assisted with maintenance of degraded launch pad infrastructure to bring it in-spec, and drew schematics for the full 2nd stage propulsion load/offload system.

Jan 2014 – Jul 2015 · 1 yr 6 mos · University of Southern California

• Designed and conducted experiments into the hydrodynamics of falling disks. Wrote LabVIEW and MATLAB code that ran a PIV laser vision system in support of this research. Presented results at the Southern California Flow Physics Symposium, and co-wrote the paper documenting the research:
• "Holes stabilize freely falling coins." J. Fluid Mech. 801 (2016): 250-259.

May 2013 – Aug 2013 · 3 mos

• Engineering work on consumer electronics product, doing remote sensing, safety & quality, and power delivery.