Technology development manager

Strategic leader and collaborator in aerospace industry, innovating and executing plans for exceptional technological innovations, product development, and team performance. Fluent in German, English, and Bulgarian, and functional in Russian languages.

·         Demonstrate expertise in business development, operations direction, procedure development, process improvement, program and project management, quality assurance, and client satisfaction.

·         Specialise in aerospace and vacuum technology projects with comprehensive understanding of aerospace propulsion and plasma physics.

·         Identify emerging trends and new technologies to define new directions for research and development.

·         Facilitate product releases through concept innovation, feasibility studies, technical specifications, prototype creation, product development, and testing.

·         Collaborate with academic institutions for achievement of corporate agenda.

·         Perform technical needs assessments for customised client solutions, align technical projects with short and long-term organisational plans, and build and focus teams to exceed expectations.

·         Prioritise and advance concurrent projects in challenging settings.

Strategic Planning • Project Management •Component Innovation & Design

Research & Development •Creative Initiatives • Goal Setting • Reporting

Communications •Presentations Networking

ConsensusBuilding•Problem Solving

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

European Space Agency, Noordwijk, The Netherlands ·2011-Present

Facilitator of development in European space industry through industrial and academic partners.

Research Fellow (Postdoc), Advanced Concepts Team, Plasma Physics & Advanced Space Propulsion: Realise outstanding performance through technology scouting, definition of new research projects for technology horizons with 20 years or more, and initiation of research projects. Supervised 2 trainees, 4 doctoral students, and 3 external students during tenure.

Engage as Expert Member of Tender Evaluation Board evaluating recent R&D proposals from European consortia on highly advanced space propulsion technology. Achieved status as Research Fellow with highest number of scientific publications in 2011 among scientific collegues of same department. Project highlights:

·         Performed kinetic modelling of nuclear fusion processes in inertial electrostatic confinement devices and catalysis in high enthalpy flows on basis of varying particle weights, radiation processes in atomic particles, and reactive atom collisions at very high energies.

·         Provided European radiation modelling community with consistent Carbon datasets for new algorithms.

·         Oversaw hybridisation of DSMC code capabilities in terms of low Knudsen numbers.

·         Facilitated experimental set-ups of 2 European universities for potentially ground-breaking space propulsion thruster though provision of ARIADNA study investigating new plasma-based space propulsion concept, as well as engagement in main research project.

Stuttgart UNIVERSITY, Stuttgart, Germany ·2005-2011

Institution of higher education.

Head of Plasma Modelling & Simulation Group, Space Transportation Systems Department, Institute of Space Systems (2010-2011): Performed duties of earlier position while supervising 6 doctoral students in aerospace R&D. Defined new research directions and drafted research grant proposals to support hire of new researchers and fund science staff. Project highlights:

·         Facilitated laser-based removal of space debris project embedded in local Soyus capsule.

·         Engaged in plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition project for Bosch.

·         Executed modelling and simulation of hollow cathode-based coating process at low pressures with DSMC.

·         Oversaw theoretical investigation of Inertial Electrostatic Confinement thrusters.

·         Performed theoretical and experimental investigations for ESA’s Aerothermochemistry project.

·         Established research field “Modelling of continuum-non-continuum flows” relevant e.g. for atmospheric re-entry manoeuvres and industrial vacuum processes.

·         Provided theoretical analysis of thermonuclear fusion reactors in space.

Research Engineer, Space Transportation Systems Department, Institute of Space Systems (2005-2009): Prepared doctoral thesis and oversaw as many as 15 students. Performed role of Research Engineer in particle code modelling, development, implementation, validation, and application for rarefied gases and plasma. Secured Research Fellowship of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Attained status as Research Engineer with highest number of scientific publications in largest number of research fields among colleagues of same department. Project highlights:

·         Performed research at University of Tokyo on numerical and experimental investigation of catalysis effects in an arcjet facility.

·         Engaged in research at Summer Mathematical Research Center on Scientific Computing and Its Applications in Marseille, France on Computational Aeroacoustics and CFD in Turbulent Flows.

·         Developed numerical program system for design of applied field magnetoplasmadynamic thruster for DFG.

·         Analysed ablation materials for Lockheed Martin UK.

·         Investigated ablation heat-shield material for Fluid Gravity Engineering Ltd.

·         Provided DSMC-based modelling and simulation of vacuum nozzle expansion for Sulzer.

·         Lectured on topics including Electrical Space Propulsion, Unconventional Space Propulsion Systems, Plasma Technology for Industrial Applications, Atmospheric Entry Technology, and Energy Systems for Space from 2006-2010.

EDUCATION

Dr.-Ing., Aeronautics & Aerospace Engineering

Diploma, Aeronautics & Aerospace Engineering

StuttgartUniversity, Stuttgart, Germany

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

Parallel Programming for High-Performance Computers ·Start-up Seminar

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Fortran 77/90/95/03 ·Maple ·Matlab ·Windows OS ·Linux/Unix ·Microsoft Office ·AutoCAD

PUBLICATIONS

More than 15 reviewed articles in scientific journals and books and more than 20 conference contributions.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS

Member, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Member, NATO RTO Task Group, “Catalytic Gas Surface Interactions” (AVT-199)

International PPT & iMPD Working Group

Guest Scientist, Institute of Space Systems, Stuttgart University, Stuttgart, Germany

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Participated in industrial project focused on vacuum technology in 2006, resulting in related patent.