Chris Wainer
About Chris Wainer
Chris Wainer serves as the Chief Engineer for Optical Sensor Systems at General Atomics, bringing extensive experience in optical payload integration and testing. His background includes significant roles at L3Harris Technologies and EO Vista, along with advanced degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University and Northeastern University.
Work at General Atomics
Chris Wainer currently serves as Chief Engineer for Optical Sensor Systems at General Atomics. He has been in this role since 2023 and is based in Acton, Massachusetts. His responsibilities include overseeing the development and integration of optical sensor systems, ensuring they meet performance and operational requirements.
Previous Experience at L3Harris Technologies
Prior to his current position, Chris Wainer held multiple roles at L3Harris Technologies. He worked as a Senior Systems Engineer and Manager in Mechanical Engineering from 2011 to 2015, followed by a tenure as Principal Systems Engineer and Manager of Systems Engineering from 2015 to 2017. He concluded his time at L3Harris as a Senior Principal Systems Engineer from 2017 to 2020.
Experience at EO Vista
From 2020 to 2023, Chris Wainer worked as Chief Engineer for Space Systems at EO Vista in Greater Boston. In this role, he focused on the development and management of space systems, contributing to various projects during his three-year tenure.
Education and Expertise
Chris Wainer earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) from Northeastern University, where he studied from 2002 to 2005. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) from Cornell University, obtained from 1997 to 2001. His educational background supports his expertise in optical payload integration, structural and dynamic modeling, and optical telescope design.
Technical Skills and Achievements
Chris Wainer possesses significant experience in optical payload integration and testing for spacecraft, including on-orbit initialization and ground operations. He specializes in structural and dynamic modeling, launch vibration analysis, and testing. His expertise extends to optical telescope design using various materials and he has designed subsystems for over 20 spaceborne hardware programs.