Rob Irwin Email & Phone Number

Glen Cove, New York, US

Oversee mechanical and electrical design work at Standard BotsLead R&D efforts for new hardware productsCross functional collaboration with all teams at Standard BotsDevelop processes for efficient design, build and test of all hardwareWork closely with production team on hardware issues and improvementIterate hardware designs as quickly as possibleRetain.

Irvine, CA, US

• Lead a team of 12+ mechanical engineers to re-package Rivian's new electrical architecture (Used in updated R1 and R2 including all 12V subsystems: electronics, sensors, ADAS, harnessing, etc)
• Responsible to develop mechanical components optimized for mass, overall cost, ease of assembly and serviceability.
• Work closely with electrical architecture team in early feasibility and trade studies.
• Create and maintained a task tracking system for entire team.
• Reported to electrical hardware management and vehicle line management.
• Designed components for the Electric Delivery Van in support of the 12V electrical architecture

Boca Raton, Florida, US

• Lead mechanical department in the design of spacecraft structures, mechanisms, subsystem modules, packaging, assembly sequence, ground support equipment and concept designs
• Create mechanical department standards, processes, and workflows (design methods, drawing standards, design check lists, torque standards, design tools, etc.)
• Review and sign off on technical work, provide direction, and prioritization for mechanical tasks
• Scope all mechanical work and parse into tasks and assign estimated durations for each task
• Responsible for hiring, performance reviews and training/mentoring mechanical team
• Report to engineering review board, directors, and executives

Boca Raton, Florida, US

• Designed three Micro-satellite class spacecraft (100-250 Kg), including completing subsystem placement trades, detail design (first order modal and prelim stress analysis) and assembly/integration procedure writing.
• Designed deployable Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) panels which used damped 4-bar linkage and locking hinges. Sized the torsion springs and dampers to ensure sufficient torque margin. Material and coating selection for.
• Designed all aspects of a locking, deployable (trifold) solar array that delivered the most power for a 6U satellite in the industry. Took the design from the prototype phase to flight hardware delivery and success on.
• Responsible engineer for numerous 3U and 6U satellites (optical and RF payload). Detail design, drawings, BOM creation, procurement, inspection, and fit checks of all spacecraft parts. Created detailed fabrication.
• Created harness and flex designs and fabrication drawings. Responsible for connector selection/placement as well as large components placement on PCBs. Worked very closely with the Electrical and RF team on board layout.
• Implemented the Product Data Management (PDM) system for the Tyvak mechanical team.

Belcamp, MD, US

• Performed structural and load path analysis using the implicit FEA on large jointed structures and individual components. Used hand calculations on fastener, welds and simple components.
• Performed dynamic structural analysis using explicit FEA to determine structural margins and investigate potential weight savings opportunities. Loading conditions included drop, impact and inertial loading.
• Developed non-linear material models for polymer using test data that was used in explicit analysis.
• Designed fixtures for vibration and shock testing of aerospace, military and commercial hardware. Carried out modal analysis on fixtures ensuring that amplification and high RMS stresses did not occur during testing.
• Developed and designed components for a remotely operated high pressure and cryogenic test apparatus to classify a monopropellant interim hazard classification per customer requirements.

Pasadena, CA, US

• Designed and configured thermal and structural components for a 15-foot thermal vacuum chamber use to test the MIRI instrument on the James Webb Space Telescope.
• Optimized structural columns that supported flight hardware to maximize their strength while minimizing their thermal conduction at cryogenic temperatures.
• Designed heat pipes with embedded heat exchangers for cryogenic test chambers. Created drawings and manufacturing methods based on feedback and interaction with machine shops and technicians.
• Designed, configured and assembled a portable cryogenic test stand capable of reaching temperatures of 0.2K.
• Designed mechanical components and tooling for a pulse tube cryocooler. Developed and refined the manufacturing method of the mechanical components.
• Lead for the Rock Characterization team (4 people) to help define design parameters for coring instrument to be used on the Mars 2020 Rover.

Pasadena, CA, US

• Assist with hardware captures from projects that can be distributed throughout JPL for future project use.
• Work with JPL proposal teams to identify flight hardware which they can claim as cost reductions (assisted InSight project claim ~$27 M of reusable hardware).
• Implement a plan for inventorying and returning Mars Science Lab (Curiosity) hardware from Kennedy Space Center.
• Delegated work to interns who assist with hardware inventory.

Berkeley, CA, US

• Improved the fabrication technique for lenticular-shaped woven carbon fiber booms for satellites resulting in 20% stiffer booms.
• Improved manufacturing technique that resulted in reducing manufacturing time by 25%.
• Designed a four-point bending test mechanism for stiffness testing of carbon fiber booms.
• Designed a deployment mechanism for lenticular booms that allowed multiple deployments.
• Wrote an abstract for AIAA Space 2010 Conference entitled "Low Mass Deployable Spacecraft Booms".

• Designed, fabricated, assembled, tested suspension and steering components.
• Worked on improving aspects of vehicle mechanical systems.
• “Macgyvered” solar vehicle to run on lead-acid batteries when Li-ion battery system failed, enabling participation in North American Solar Challenge Solar Grand Prix 2009.

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Mechanical Engineering

Master'S Degree, Engineering

Pre-Engineering