Planet Labs

Current Role: Senior Mechanical Engineer - Development Lead

In my role at Planet Labs, I oversee the design, development, and production readiness of an earth imaging telescope.

Team Leadership

  • Led a cross-disciplinary team to design a high-performance telescope, creating and executing a comprehensive development plan

  • Coordinated weekly meetings with vendors and internal teams, presenting progress in executive reviews and to leadership

  • Developed and implemented project tracking tools including a risk tracker, development roadmap, and deliverables tracker to streamline team alignment

  • Supported vendor selection and management, contracting multiple vendors, authoring detailed Statements of Work, and providing design support

  • Documented assembly processes, timelines, and workflows to enhance transparency and efficiency across the project

Design & Development

  • Coordinated the full telescope development process, including part and assembly design, analysis, procurement, vendor management, and testing

  • Re-engineered and refined over 90% of telescope components, including critical elements like the refractive element assemblies, primary mirror bipods, flexurized mirror cells, thermal control systems, baffles, threaded inserts, and carbon fiber primary structure to meet performance and manufacturability targets

  • Authored technical specifications for surface treatments and bonding processes, ensuring reliable vendor outcomes

  • Led equipment design and validation for the Tanager Hyperspectral telescope program, producing mockups, lift equipment, thermal vacuum (TVAC) equipment, optical windows, kinematic mounts, and telescope alignment stations

  • Completed an optomechanical design course, reenforcing my skills in optics-focused mechanical engineering

Assembly, Integration, and Test

  • Developed end-to-end assembly and production workflows, guiding telescope build processes from 3D-printed prototypes to full-scale assemblies

  • Participated in fully integrated spacecraft protoqualification test campaigns, designing load summation vibration fixtures, TVAC fixtures, and operating TVAC chambers and vibration tables

  • Authored Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for production and specialized manufacturing processes, including wire EDM and surface coatings

  • Supported the development and execution of building block approach test campaign from coupons to fully integrated spacecraft

Vendor Management

  • Acted as the primary technical lead for key vendors, overseeing design, analysis, and manufacturing aspects of a telescope program

  • Managed design reviews, CAD integration, and task hand-offs with vendors to ensure alignment with project goals

  • Authored Statements of Work for various analysis packages, guiding vendors through project expectations and deliverables

To learn more about the company and projects, check out Planet’s homepage.