Jorge L. Valderrama
About Jorge L. Valderrama
Jorge L. Valderrama is a GNC Engineer I at Rocket Lab, specializing in guidance, navigation, and control of launch vehicles. He has a strong educational background in aerospace and mechanical engineering, with experience in various engineering roles across multiple countries.
Work at Rocket Lab
Currently, Jorge L. Valderrama serves as a GNC Engineer I for the Neutron project at Rocket Lab in Auckland, New Zealand. He has been in this role since 2023, contributing to the guidance, navigation, and control systems of the Neutron launch vehicle. His responsibilities include applying his expertise in multibody simulation and control to ensure the successful operation of the vehicle.
Previous Experience in Aerospace Engineering
Before joining Rocket Lab, Valderrama worked as a GNC Engineer at Astos Solutions in Stuttgart, Germany, from 2022 to 2023. His role involved developing guidance, navigation, and control systems for launch vehicles. He also completed an internship at ONERA - The French Aerospace Lab in 2021, focusing on uncertainty quantification for launch vehicles.
Educational Background in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Jorge L. Valderrama holds a Master of Science in Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical Engineering from ISAE-SUPAERO, which he completed between 2019 and 2021. He also earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Universidad EAFIT, graduating in 2019. Additionally, he participated in an exchange semester at Queensland University of Technology in 2015.
Internships and Early Career Experience
Valderrama gained valuable experience as a Computer Aided Design (CAD) engineering intern at IECOS in Monterrey, Mexico, from 2018 to 2019. He also worked as a Drivetrain Engineer for the Solar Car Racing team at Universidad EAFIT from 2014 to 2016. His early career roles provided him with a strong foundation in engineering principles and practical applications.
Technical Skills and Expertise
Jorge L. Valderrama possesses a strong background in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and manufacturing, which he developed through his mechanical engineering education. His expertise extends to multidisciplinary design optimization and uncertainty quantification, essential for the aerospace industry. He has also engaged in launch vehicle optimization during his master's research project in collaboration with ONERA.