Jacob Kurtz Email & Phone Number

Redondo Beach, California, Us

I am leading the vehicle development of Helios, Impulse's high energy kick stage. Helios has the capability to lift 5+ tons directly from LEO to GEO in less than a day.

Redondo Beach, California, Us

I supported the development and execution of our Mira V1 spacecraft for both LEO Express 1 and LEO Express 2 missions. Primary responsibilities included structural dynamics and loads analysis, system and component stress analysis, system and component FEM development, dynamic model development, dynamic testing and verification, in-house dynamic testing bring up, payload accomodations, and metallic hardware design and analysis.

Falls Church, Va, Us

I supported structural dynamic analysis and testing of three spacecraft systems and several payloads. I worked projects ranging from proposals, to rapid development programs, to Class-A systems.Responsibilities included developing system and payload level loads and environments, developing system structural dynamic requirements, and leading dynamic testing and verification.

Falls Church, Va, Us

Hawthorne, California, Us

I was responsible for the mechanical portion of the Trunk on the Dragon 2 spacecraft.Responsibilities included the design, analysis, manufacturing, testing, integration, and verification of the system and subsystems.

Ann Arbor, Michigan, Us

Led the mechanical engineering effort at the Michigan Exploration Laboratory (MXL) cubesat lab.I spearheaded bus and payload mechanical development, analysis and test for the MARIO cubesat.

Hawthorne, California, Us

I worked on improving the reusability and reliability of the Dragon 1 spacecraft.I designed and analyzed the production proof test fixture for the Dragon 1 heatshield; investigated and resolved flight risks using structural testing.

Houghton, Mi, Us

I led stress and dynamic analysis for the Auris microsat and Stratus cubesat, and led the modal survey for the OCULUS-ASR microsat.

Houghton, Mi, Us

Research assistant studying vibration reduction in horizontal axis wind turbine vibration using smart-material actuated flow modification devices and surfaces.

Hawthorne, California, Us

I worked on improving the reusability and reliability of the Dragon 1 spacecraft. I developed and tested upgrades to flight EDL components, and discovered and rectified failure-modes in flight components, and revised drawings using GD&T.

Ludwigshafen, De

I learned and used Abaqus (FEA) to perform several structural analyses and optimizations of components for a variety of customers in automotive and aerospace industries.

San Francisco, California, Us

I tutored a variety of physics and math subjects to higher education students.

Traverse City, Michigan, Us

I assisted in the building of two Baja cars with NMC SAE Baja. Acted as driver, manufacturer, and presenter.

Traverse City, Michigan, Us

I worked as a lab research assistant to characterize the glow dynamics of active nitrogen plasma using CN emissions.

Master’S Degree, Aerospace Engineering

Bachelor’S Degree, Mechanical Engineering

Associate’S Degree, Liberal Arts And Sciences/Liberal Studies