Marco Tyler Rodrigue
About Marco Tyler Rodrigue
Marco Tyler Rodrigue is a GNC Engineer at Rocket Lab, specializing in Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) systems. He has a background in mechatronics and aerospace engineering, with previous roles at Rocket Lab and Syft Technologies.
Current Role at Rocket Lab
Marco Tyler Rodrigue currently serves as a GNC Engineer - HITL at Rocket Lab, a position he has held since 2021. In this role, he is responsible for supporting the qualification of flight hardware and software for the Electron rocket within the Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) environment. He also performs launch simulations to ensure the reliability and safety of Rocket Lab's missions. His work includes improving software integration systems to enhance the performance of space flight hardware and developing hardware and software testing equipment as part of the HITL team.
Previous Experience at Rocket Lab
Rodrigue previously worked at Rocket Lab in various capacities. He was a Junior GNC Engineer - HITL from 2020 to 2021, where he contributed to mission operations for launch and stage stacks. Additionally, he served as a Space Ambassador for two months in 2021. Earlier in his career at Rocket Lab, he completed a Propulsion Operations Engineering Internship from 2018 to 2019, which lasted three months.
Education and Expertise
Marco Rodrigue holds a Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.HONS) in Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering from the University of Canterbury, where he studied from 2016 to 2019. He furthered his education by obtaining a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical Engineering from The University of Auckland, completing this program in 2023. His academic background provides a strong foundation for his engineering roles in the aerospace sector.
Internships and Early Career
Before his roles at Rocket Lab, Rodrigue gained valuable experience through internships. He worked as a Mechatronics Engineering Intern at Syft Technologies for three months in 2017 to 2018. He also served as an Undergraduate Engineer at Syft Technologies for eight months in 2018. Additionally, he completed a Propulsion Operations Engineering Internship at Rocket Lab in 2018. These positions helped him develop practical skills in engineering and operations.
Leadership and Teaching Roles
Rodrigue has held leadership and teaching positions during his academic career. He was the President of UC Robotics from 2017 to 2018, where he likely led initiatives related to robotics projects. He also worked as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Canterbury from 2018 to 2019, assisting in educational activities and supporting fellow students in their learning.