Luke Epstein
San Diego,CA
Summary
Team oriented engineering leader with 10 years of experience in the aerospace field doing payload system integration. I pride myself on being a quick learner and having a wide range experience that allows me to lead systematically on technical development programs.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Program Engineering - Taiwan MQ-9B Development
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.
04.2024 - Current
- System level oversight of development, test, and fielding of full UAV system/operation including ground/networking elements
- Engineering coordination in support of Program Management (PM) team and customer communication
- Development of Facilities Planning Document (FPD) to guide new facility development and integration
- Auditing of test hardware configuration within Systems Integration Lab (SIL) prior to test
- Schedule, budget, and development roadmapping for aircraft simulator Cost Account
- Tasking and guidance of lower level engineers in new/intern positions
- Provide technical inputs to program negotiations in support of PM to government negotiations
- Created process to drive requirements validation towards completion of a Functional Configuration Audit (FCA) with the US Air Force (in work)
Project Engineer
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.
12.2018 - 04.2023
- Coordinated 8+ member engineering teams for payload integration efforts
- Reduced budgetary “fat” within engineering estimates by negotiating relevant scope and assumptions with engineering management
- Improved clarity of engineering estimates to meet FAR 15 compliance and aid in customer understanding of program execution plans
- Identified, scored, and down selected commercial hardware for aircraft integration efforts
- Centralized electrical architecture documentation to maintain accurate record of customer configuration and track 10+ payload configurations
- Identified critical path for long duration programs by creating detailed Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) for Program Management usage
- Improved efficiency of engineering analyses by reviewing scope and assumptions to eliminate cases irrelevant to flight or aircraft operations
- Worked with system test teams to help understand system integration architecture and functionality to facilitate test planning and test objects
- Led integration and test activities at flight operations facility
Electrical Integration Hardware Design Engineer
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.
11.2015 - 11.2018
- Responsible for electrical harness design with focus on mechanical design, manufacturing, and integration
- Reviewed interface control documents for specific part integration requirements and to create accurate CAD models of parts within aircraft
- Created work instruction documentation depicting 3D cable routes and integration steps for 220+ cables
- Worked with Mechanical Engineering counterpart to develop and documents aircraft cable mounting hardware configuration
- Supported technicians during prototype integration of 2 separate aircraft
- Documented process improvements and lessons learned for aircraft integration processes
Structures and Dynamics Engineer
SpaceX
06.2015 - 09.2015
- Responsible for preliminary design of a pneumatic mortar for drogue parachute deployment from a rocket payload fairing
- Evaluated pilot/drogue chute trajectories during payload fairing reentry
- Sized and designed pneumatic mortar for drogue chute deployment using iterative calculation methods
- Performed structural analysis on mortar components using ANSYS FEA software
- Calculated induced rotational rates on fairing structure due to mortar fire
Team Captain
Human Powered Vehicle
11.2011 - 05.2015
- Oversaw the improvement of design team’s placement from 27th to 12th and then to 7th place at the yearly intercollegiate competition
- Organized all build processes and scheduling for product development
- Solved structural analysis problems to optimize frame dimensions for specific loading conditions
- Designed, modeled, and analyzed the frame for 2014 competition
- Manufactured custom parts necessary for bike
- Designed and built male mold for composite fabrication and built-up carbon/Kevlar composite fairing for aerodynamic performance
- Delegated portions of competition design report and consolidated all writing pieces from the team to submit final report
Product Engineer
Cummins Inc.
05.2014 - 08.2014
- Responsible for prototype solution development for high temperature failure of fluid injecting “dosing” module
- Developed 4+ solution options to high temperature failure of fluid injector within exhaust treatment system
- Created test plans and scoring criteria for high temperature testing
- Outlined solution concepts and set boundary conditions for thermal analysis
- Worked with suppliers for the build and procurement of prototype hardware
Education
Bachelor of Science - Aerospace Engineering
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL05.2015
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL05.2015
Skills
- Planning
- Decision-making
- Management
- Installation
- Integration
- SolidWorks (CAD)
- Scheduling
- Test Planning
- Hardware Design
- Structural Analysis
- Thermal Analysis
Timeline
Program Engineering - Taiwan MQ-9B Development
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.
04.2024 - Current
Project Engineer
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.
12.2018 - 04.2023
Electrical Integration Hardware Design Engineer
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.
11.2015 - 11.2018
Structures and Dynamics Engineer
SpaceX
06.2015 - 09.2015
Product Engineer
Cummins Inc.
05.2014 - 08.2014
Team Captain
Human Powered Vehicle
11.2011 - 05.2015
Bachelor of Science - Aerospace Engineering
University of Florida
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering
University of Florida
Similar Profiles
Candice HolmesCandice Holmes
SENIOR CONTRACTS ADMINISTRATOR IV at General Atomics Aeronautical SystemsSENIOR CONTRACTS ADMINISTRATOR IV at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
LIONEL HARRELL JR.LIONEL HARRELL JR.
Logistics Manager at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.Logistics Manager at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.
Wade MayfieldWade Mayfield
Technical Writer at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.Technical Writer at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.
Chris FitzpatrickChris Fitzpatrick
Technical Writer at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.Technical Writer at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.
Ann VenturaAnn Ventura
Production Supervisor at Provisio MedicalProduction Supervisor at Provisio Medical