Benjamin Lichtenwalter Email & Phone Number

Menlo Park, California

• Developed an orbital dynamics simulation in Python for modeling completeness of a random radar search for debris in low Earth orbit and performed data analysis on results of the actual search• Refactored the LeoLabs orbit determination backend that is used to continuously update the customer facing data platform

Sunnyvale, California

• Performed six-degree of freedom loads and trajectory analysis for a variety of launch systems• Performed and presented pre-test predictions and post-test analysis to stakeholders• Received a Northrop Grumman Good Engineering award for an innovative payload lateral support system that was the result of a multi-objective optimization of integrated system models• Led model-based engineering software development project for three years as principal investigator with average annual… Show more • Performed six-degree of freedom loads and trajectory analysis for a variety of launch systems• Performed and presented pre-test predictions and post-test analysis to stakeholders• Received a Northrop Grumman Good Engineering award for an innovative payload lateral support system that was the result of a multi-objective optimization of integrated system models• Led model-based engineering software development project for three years as principal investigator with average annual funding of $160K• Updated proprietary model-based engineering tool to increase simulation throughput by a factor of 70 while improving generality to enable use by other analysis groups at the site• Developed a meta-modeling (i.e. reduced-order modeling) tool suite that builds artificial neural network ensembles on system models and uses them to perform global sensitivity analysis, design optimization, Monte Carlo analysis, and automated tuning of time-varying system model output to test data• Developed Monte Carlo analysis tool in MATLAB for calculation and visualization of probability of successful launch of Trident II fleet ballistic missile (FBM) across multi-dimensional operational spaces• Assisted in development of a MATLAB GUI-based tool for storing, post-processing, and visualizing gigabytes of data from the surface launch test program of the next-generation FBM launcher• Developed MATLAB software and user interface for multi-dimensional equivalence and difference testing of next-generation FBM launcher performance against historical test data• Led a team in modernizing and documenting a 15,000 line proprietary FORTRAN 66 simulation model Show less

Sunnyvale, California

Syracuse, New York

• Served as lead test engineer for superfluid helium cryostats, helium reliquefiers, and automated cryogenic helium gas purifiers• Implemented a spectral subtraction algorithm in a Python post-processing script that reduced background noise in company vibration measurements by 70%• Led company-wide program to replace all cryogenic temperature controllers used for product testing• Developed a LabVIEW based temperature controller interface that is used throughout the company

Atlanta, Georgia

• Demonstrated OpenMDAO, a NASA developed open-source multidisciplinary analysis and optimization framework, as a platform for rotorcraft sizing and optimization in Python• Created adaptive sampling code using a Kriging model to manage uncertainty in a MATLAB based aircraft structural optimization tool

Ms, Aerospace Engineering

Bs, Mechanical Engineering

Bs, Aerospace Engineering