Steve Mance
About Steve Mance
Steve Mance is a Senior Perception Engineer at Zipline, where he has worked since 2021. He has extensive experience in aerospace engineering, having held various roles at SpaceX and the University of Kansas.
Work at Zipline
Steve Mance has been employed at Zipline as a Senior Perception Engineer since 2021. In this role, he focuses on developing perception systems that enhance the operational capabilities of Zipline's drone delivery services. His expertise contributes to the company's mission of providing efficient and reliable logistics solutions using unmanned aerial vehicles.
Experience at SpaceX
Steve Mance has extensive experience at SpaceX, where he held multiple engineering positions from 2010 to 2019. He served as a Mission Operations Engineer, Systems Engineer, Senior Systems Engineer, and Lead Systems Engineer. His work included designing and implementing systems for various missions, participating in the first grappling of a private space vehicle to the International Space Station, and leading teams responsible for Starlink operations.
Educational Background
Steve Mance studied Aerospace Engineering at The University of Kansas, where he earned a Master of Science degree from 2008 to 2010. He also completed his undergraduate studies in Aerospace Engineering at the same institution from 2004 to 2008. During his academic career, he participated in various research and teaching assistant roles, contributing to the university's engineering programs.
Previous Roles and Internships
Before joining Zipline, Steve Mance held several positions that contributed to his engineering expertise. He worked as a Graduate Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant at The University of Kansas and completed internships at Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Hawker Beechcraft. Additionally, he served as a Summer Scholar at the Air Force Research Laboratory, gaining valuable experience in aerospace engineering.
Key Contributions to Space Missions
Steve Mance played a significant role in several key space missions during his tenure at SpaceX. He was an operator on console for multiple Falcon 9 and Dragon missions and participated in four at-sea recovery efforts. He also designed and installed a worldwide network of ground stations to support SpaceX missions, enhancing the company's operational capabilities.