From December 2018 until May of 2020 I worked as a Aerospace Design Engineer for Systima Technologies (which has since been acquired by Karman Space and Defense: https://karman-sd.com/).
Although my time at Systima Technologies was short (1.5 years), it made a lasting impact on my career. I quickly rose from a component design engineer to working on fully integrated systems. At the time, Systima Technologies focused on pyrotechnic and gas-generating solutions for aerospace and defense research projects. I put my BSME skillset to great use through the design of components that could hold high loads and then release them pyrotechnically.
Throughout my time here, I learned the very important Systems Engineer’s Vee model and the importance to NASA’s design review process. I had the unique ability to bring research projects from concept all the way to development testing. By stepping through the design reviews and validating my designs, I gained confidence in my abilities both as a Mechanical Engineer but also as a Systems Engineer. Here’s a list of some of the skills I gained while at Systima Technologies:
- Design of pyrotechnic components
- Design for manufacturing, testing, and procurement
- GD&T capabilities
- Integration and transfer of loads between components
- Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
- Fine-tuned my CAD abilities through Solidworks
- Preparation for and submission of NASA reviews
- Entry-level Systems Engineering skills and perspectives