Professional Summary
Test Director and Lead Electronics Design Engineer with 25+ years of experience in aerospace/defense hardware design development, systems engineering, and test leadership. Proven track record delivering flight-critical electronics and power systems for NASA and DoD programs (ISS power systems, RS-68, RS-25, J2-X, Dream Chaser, THAAD, and Ion Thrusters). Currently serving as Airbus Test Director on a high-visibility Voyager Defense and National Security fixed-price space-flight program, driving Thermal, Vibe, and EMC/EMI/ESD qualification test-readiness under aggressive schedule and liquidated-damages constraints.
Professional Experience
Test Director / Lead Systems Engineer (Contract via Onyx Aerospace)
Voyager Space – Defense and National Security Systems, San Diego, CA │ Jul 2025 – Present
- Brought on-site as lead systems engineering support and did requirement gap analysis; promoted within 30 days to Airbus Test Director overseeing qualification, acceptance, and production testing for multiple flight units on a compressed fixed-price program.
- Authored and released the System-Level Test Plan and EMC Test Procedure aligned to ECSS-E-ST-20-07C, and tailored Airbus requirements; completed all conducted susceptibility sections (differential, common-mode, and transients).
- Managed EMI/EMC/ESD, TVAC, and burn-in test readiness; procured LISNs, injection transformers, isolated USB/CAN interfaces, breakout boxes, and custom test cables/feedthroughs.
- Identified and mitigated risks including radiated susceptibility pacing, thermal-chamber availability, continuous-monitoring implementation, and post-processing burdens on big data.
- Established procurement pipeline for long-lead and COTS test assets; negotiated rental of transformers and high-power injection equipment.
- Filled resource gaps by taking on cable procurement, breakout-box design oversight, and partial test-procedure authorship when primary RF engineer was overloaded.
Lead Electronic Design Engineer / Project Engineer
Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies Company, Canoga Park, CA │ 1998 – 2024
- Progressed from Test Engineer, Systems Engineer ‘06 to Lead Electronic Design Engineer ‘08.
- Achieved 100% mission success as Electronic Design Lead for the RS-68 ECU on Delta IV, resolving all ECU and test equipment issues through project completion.
- Led low-cost precision-munition avionics R&D; delivered flight-capable guidance by integrating COTS GPS/GNSS and PixHawk controllers with customized Ardupilot and QGroundControl software.
- Developed precision voltage/current telemetry, and ADC circuits for 13.5 kW AEPS Hall Thruster PPU.
- Created PSpice model of “Spark Events” for NASA’s Hall Ion Thrusters.
- Modeled circuits and performed WCCA for THAAD, RS-25, RS-68, and AEPS programs.
- Dream Chaser Power Systems Product Owner: designed BMS/power-switching PCBs, reverse-engineered TE, wrote automated test firmware, and controlled ECOs/EEE parts through production.
- Drove business initiatives for in-house PCB manufacturing, cutting costs and prototype time.
- Designed underwater drone circuits and fixed other circuit elements for that purpose.
- Lead designer on RS-25 rocket ECU and designed pressure, low and high temperature circuits.
- Led J2-X rocket ECU design as responsible Systems Engineer from CoDR, PDR, through CDR.
- Deployed on-demand to Boeing, ULA, NASA, Honeywell, and Sierra Space factories; resolved flight-critical issues under tight schedules and earned multiple customer accolades.
- Designed Go/No-Go Output Over-Voltage Tester for Space Shuttle to ISS Power Transfer Unit.
- Led thermal-vacuum and burn-in laboratories for ISS high-power flight hardware (DC-DC converters, MBSU, RPCM); authored procedures and programmed WonderWare/PLC control systems that became company standards.
Software Engineer and M.I.S. Administrator
Kretek International, Moorpark, CA (December 1997 – March 1998)
- Managed the company's computer systems.
- Interfaced with backend database utilizing SQL and Access to generate reports.
- Created necessary data for the sales team that helped close sales.
Software Engineer
Interactive Strategies Inc., Westlake Village, CA (February 1997 – December 1997)
- Oversaw the maintenance and operational integrity of servers hosting essential services for multiple customer clients, ensuring optimal performance and minimal downtime on their co-located Windows & SQL Servers.
- Developed IVR (Interactive Voice Response) scripts for custom call centers.
- Developed server monitoring systems in Visual Basic to page maintenance if servers failed.
- Developed custom SQL Server scripts.
Process Engineer
DPA Components International, Simi Valley, CA (March 1993 – December 1997)
- I started as a tester for discrete components, promoted to oversee PCB manufacturing for Burn-in boards, and later became a Process Engineer in the custom packaging lab building ICs.
- Conducted rigorous testing and validation of discrete electronic components, including diodes, opamps, and digital ICs, to meet stringent industry standards for up-screening parts.
- Innovative creativity saved company costs by the restructuring and organization of the PCB Manufacturing Department.
- Changed manufacturing process, upgraded design software and hardware, etc.
- Designed custom Universal Boards that allowed an efficient production of Test & Burn-In PCB’s.
- Built custom hybrid IC’s by die-attaching, aluminum and gold wire-bonding, and seam-sealing.
- Awarded “Technical Achievement Award” by DPA Labs for producing the first company Hybrids.
- Awarded “Outstanding Job Performance Recognition” by Honeywell for on time delivery of PCB’s.
Education
- MS in Business Administration, Keller Graduate School of Management, Sherman Oaks, CA (2012)
- BS in Electronics Engineering, ITT Technical Institute, Anaheim, CA (1995)
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