Duncan Mc Nae
About Duncan Mc Nae
Duncan Mc Nae is the Flight Analysis Lead at Rocket Lab, where he has worked since 2020. He has extensive experience in flight safety analysis, aerodynamics, and computational fluid dynamics, supported by a strong academic background in mechanical engineering and fluid dynamics.
Current Role at Rocket Lab
Duncan Mc Nae serves as the Flight Analysis Lead at Rocket Lab, a position he has held since 2020. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing flight analysis processes and ensuring the safety and efficiency of flight systems. His expertise in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and numerical analysis plays a significant role in the development and evaluation of flight systems. Mc Nae's background in mechanical design further supports his contributions to the company's mission of advancing space technology.
Previous Experience at Rocket Lab
Before his current role, Duncan Mc Nae worked at Rocket Lab as a Senior Flight Safety Analyst from 2018 to 2020. During his tenure in Auckland, New Zealand, he focused on flight safety protocols and risk assessments, contributing to the overall safety and reliability of launch operations. His experience in this position laid the groundwork for his advancement to Flight Analysis Lead.
Education and Expertise
Duncan Mc Nae has a solid educational foundation in engineering. He earned a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Canterbury from 2005 to 2008. He furthered his studies at Imperial College London, where he completed a PhD focusing on the fluid dynamics of tidal and wind power turbines from 2009 to 2012. His academic background equips him with the necessary skills in computational fluid dynamics and numerical analysis, which are essential for his work in flight analysis.
Professional Background
Duncan Mc Nae has a diverse professional background in engineering and flight analysis. He worked as an Aerodynamics Research and Development Engineer at Enercon GmbH in Germany from 2014 to 2015. Following that, he served as a Senior Research and Development Engineer at HydroWorks Ltd from 2015 to 2017. Additionally, he held the position of Vice Chair - Head of Technical Development at e.quinox from 2010 to 2011. Each of these roles contributed to his expertise in mechanical design and flight systems.
Programming Skills and Applications
Duncan Mc Nae possesses programming skills that enhance his capabilities in flight analysis. These skills enable him to conduct advanced simulations and perform detailed data analysis, which are critical components of his work. His proficiency in programming complements his engineering background, allowing him to develop innovative solutions and improve the efficiency of flight systems at Rocket Lab.