Joe Wright Email & Phone Number

Azusa, California, United States

Azusa, California, United States

I helped develop the system architecture for a new capture effort using model-based systems engineering tools (Cameo). I developed requirement allocations, interface definition, functional definition, and performance model integration with the MBSE tool. I was also an author on two RFIs to define the customer's approach to digital engineering and MBSE usage.I supported another program's management office for close to a year and reported directly to the program managers. A highlight of my PMO experience was being a BOE author for two certified proposals and deputy proposal manager for a major post-deliver support proposal. I also supported subcontractor management. I helped to track the PDP subcontractor's manufacturing and testing schedule for flight DNC cards. In this role I learned about team leadership, communication skills, how to manage a schedule, and how to work with external customers.

Azusa, California, United States

This summer, I had the pleasure of interning with Northrop Grumman in Azusa, CA. Over the summer, I developed a thermal systems optimization tool using Matlab and Thermal Desktop, and RadCAD. The tool helped facilitate initial system optimization and informed the selection of cryocoolers and radiator sizing.I also supported program management in several ways. I supported BOE tic-n-tie efforts for the Next Generation Polar (NGP) Program. Additionally, I transferred the system engineering tasking to JIRA and developed my own code to add additional features for the team.

Greater Pittsburgh Area

Within my first week at Pitt, I co-founded the University of Pittsburgh’s first rocketry team which competes in the national Student Launch Initiative run by NASA. Teams build high-powered rockets designed to reach a target altitude as well as deploy a payload upon landing. Teams report to and are graded by NASA engineers.In my first year, I set out to design fins for both the sub-scale and full-scale rockets. I did many hours of research, calculations, and simulations to determine the fin shape and size to achieve a stable flight. My fin designs allowed our rockets to fly straight and my research and methodology will continue to be used in years to come. In addition, I wrote three reports on my research and design, which was approved by NASA. I also presented these three reports to NASA engineers where I was praised for my professionalism and overall quality as a presenter, giving the team a perfect score for this portion of the competition.The following year, I led the payload subteam to design, build, and test a foldable drone that would be deployed from the launch vehicle upon landing. The drone, called "Jerome the Drone", had a collapsable design allowing it to unfold after exiting the vehicle. It would then navigate to a collection site where it would scoop simulated ice particles before flying back to the rocket. Unfortunately due to the pandemic, this design never was able to be fully realized.This year, I am ecstatic to be SOAR's president! Out of all of my achievements thus far, I am most proud of the huge aerospace community I have helped to grow and shape at Pitt. As president, I am leading one of the school's largest engineering competition teams (approximately 50 members). My goal as president is to empower the younger engineering students and provide them with the same great experience that I had. So far, many of our members have gone into the space industry - a testament to the value of our organization.

Wallops Flight Facility

I worked at Wallops Flight Facility for the NASA Sounding Rocket Operations Contract (NSROC III). During my 7 months there, I gained experience by working on several design projects including testing equipment, launcher systems, and many others to support the design and testing of sounding rockets. Additionally, I led the research and development of a new 3-foot diameter sounding rocket skin which will greatly expand mission capabilities for future missions. I have performed several simulations via the SolidWorks simulations package in order to help verify the design prior to manufacturing and testing. I also did market research in order to determine the most cost-effective parts.After iterating on the design of the skin, I worked closely with the machine shop technicians, the NSROC production specialist, and the T&E engineers to develop a manufacturing and testing plan for this new skin. I wrote a paper outlining my work and presented my designs to NSROC management and the full-time engineer I was handing the design off to.Towards the end of my internship, I was able to go in-person where I got to work with the attitude control system (ACS) engineers. I was able to work with the engineers and technicians to gain familiarity with their air bearing spin and pointing tests and how the overall systems work. I also helped to organize and draft several ACS system configurations gaining more familiarity with how the systems function.

Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh Pa

I collaborated on a team of three other engineering students to optimize the rover wheel’s mass and rigidity for use on the Moon. Developed and tested several iterations of the current design by creating carbon fiber layups of new wheel designs. Over the course of the summer, we produced a new optimized wheel which was only 20 grams (compared to 75+ when we began the summer) and performed even better in mobility testing than the old wheels. This mass decrease brought the cost of sending this rover to the moon down by thousands of dollars.In addition, my team was tasked to develop a cheaper alternative to GRC-1 Lunar simulant. Despite none of us being civil engineers, we researched soil properties and concluded that a mixture of cornmeal and GRC-1 would function very similarly to GRC-1. We then tested different ratios of this mixture and found the ideal ratio of cornmeal to GRC-1. This allowed for larger scale mobility testing.During the summer, I presented my work to the board of the company on two occasions. Based off of my performance, what started as a volunteer position developed into a paid position, which was a testament to the value I brought to the team - even as a freshman.

Master Of Engineering - Meng, Space Systems Engineering

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Mechanical Engineering, 3.5 - Magna Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: Co-founder and President of SOAR (Society of Astronautics and Rocketry)

High School Diploma

Activities and Societies: Stage Crew, National Honors Society, Science Olympiad, Student Government, Marching Band, String Orchestra.