Tara Smith
About Tara Smith
Tara Smith is a Sr. Systems Engineer at BLUE ORIGIN, specializing in Integrated Test & Certification for the New Glenn project. She has extensive experience in aerospace engineering and project management, with a strong focus on ethics and emotional intelligence.
Company
Currently, Tara Smith works at BLUE ORIGIN as a Sr. Systems Engineer - Integrated Test & Certification since 2021. Her tenure at BLUE ORIGIN spans various roles since 2019, including Lead Systems Engineer and Systems Engineer, all located in Kent, Washington, United States. BLUE ORIGIN is renowned for its space exploration innovations, where Tara plays a critical role in developing integrated test plans and leading certification initiatives.
Title
Tara Smith holds the title of Sr. Systems Engineer - Integrated Test & Certification at BLUE ORIGIN. Her responsibilities in this role involve the development of system-level integrated test plans and leading the Human-Rating Certification Plan for the New Glenn rocket.
Education and Expertise
Tara Smith studied Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical Engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she obtained both her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Masters of Science (M.S.). Her academic background provides a strong foundation for her engineering roles, particularly in the fields of aerodynamics and systems engineering.
Background
Tara Smith has an extensive background in the aerospace industry, starting her career as a Quality Engineering Intern at ATK in 2005. She then progressed to an Aerodynamic Analysis Intern at Boeing in 2006, later holding multiple roles at Boeing from 2007 to 2013, including P-8 Project Manager, Aerodynamics Engineer, and Systems Engineer. Her subsequent positions include Market Research and Technical Consultant at Filosano, Sustainable Solutions Consultant at PuraTerra LLC, and Operations Project Manager at SSL. Before her current role, she served as Project Manager at PureBlue in 2016.
Achievements
At BLUE ORIGIN, Tara Smith is noted for leading the Human-Rating Certification Plan for the New Glenn rocket and developing system-level integrated test plans. Her work contributes significantly to BLUE ORIGIN's mission to build reusable space vehicles. Her commitment to high ethics and emotional intelligence enhances her effectiveness as a Systems Engineer in a cutting-edge field.