Gerardo is a designer and engineer based in South Pasadena, California.

PEL-1 Launch

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TAN-1 Launch

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Haven-1 Qual

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P-727 Flight

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CAROL BOVE

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CHARLES RAY

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PEL-1 Launch * TAN-1 Launch * Haven-1 Qual * P-727 Flight * CAROL BOVE * CHARLES RAY *

Recent work includes:

In the legendary ‘Skunk Works’ site, I worked as an Airframe Design Engineer on the classified project known as P727. In this role I designed and released structural airframe components and avionics secondary structure. This involved working with advance surfacing used in lofted shape of the air vehicle (Catia GSD) and implementing design and manufacturing solutions for extreme environments (Inconel/Haynes230/etc). In support of the flight test program, I released detail part drawings, assembly drawings, MRB rework instructions, and managed key supplier design integration efforts.

CATIA: 25+ Unique parts designed and released
CATIA: 25+ Unique assemblies released
CATIA: 1 Parametric lofted vehicle for internal performance tool
SUPPLIER: 5+ Unique supplier mechanical interface managed

Skunk Works

Planet Labs

At Planet Labs, working as Mechanical Design Engineer, I played a key role in designing and building satellite structural components and electronic packaging solutions for the new generation high resolution earth imaging platform Pelican-1 & the hyper-spectral sattelite Tanager-1. This involved prototyping designs such as hinges and heatsinks, flat patterning reflective tape and MLI, building work instructions in a clean room environment, sub assemblies and finally solar array integrated fully assembled satellite ready for pack out to the launch site. In this full cycle spacecraft design environment I leveraged clean sheet design skills, analysis software ability, vinyl cutter software, 3d printing prototyping and integrated vehicle build operations.

SOLIDWORKS: 25+ Unique Parts designed and released
SOLIDWORKS/INTERNAL: 25+ Unique assembly work instructions released
FEMAP: 5+ Unique FEA models for structural validation
PROGRAM: 2 Smallsat satellites built & launched

At Vast Space systems, I worked as the responsible engineer for the COPV (Carbon Overwrapped Pressure Vessel) mounting to the Haven-1 primary structure. This included designing a custom mounting solution that was minimally constrained as to not drive induced stresses into the COPVs or the primary structure. Leveraging first principle hand calculations, FEA (Ansys/FEMAP) software, and rapid prototyping, I was able to quickly reduce the risk of the project with statically equivalent Instron testing. In addition the mounting hardware was delivered to the propulsion supplier to qualify the COPVs themselves. Lastly the highly loaded and numerous COPV mounts acted as a primary load input for qualifying the Haven-1 primary structure. Haven-1 is slated for launch in 2025 with the ability to host 4 week long commercial astronaut missions.

NX: 50+ Unique parts designed and released
NX: 10+ Unique assemblies released
ANSYS: 10+ Unique FEA models created to validate structural capability

Vast Space

Creative

In addition to working as a mechanical design engineer, creative design projects have continued to inspire me everyday. Some of these projects include graphic design, sculpting, woodworking, camper van conversions, music, fashion, outdoor gear prototyping and much more.