Nelson Smith
About Nelson Smith
Nelson Smith is a GNC Engineer at Rocket Lab, where he has worked since 2018. He has a background in engineering roles at various companies, including Startmate, ControlVision, and Teknique, and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Mechatronics from the University of Auckland.
Current Role at Rocket Lab
Nelson Smith currently serves as a GNC Engineer at Rocket Lab, a position he has held since 2018. His role focuses on guidance, navigation, and control systems, contributing to the company's innovative space launch solutions. Smith is involved in the research and development of advanced navigation production systems, playing a key part in enhancing Rocket Lab's operational capabilities.
Previous Experience in Engineering
Before joining Rocket Lab, Nelson Smith held several engineering positions. He worked as a Start Mate Fellow - Engineering at Startmate for one month in 2021 in Auckland, New Zealand. Prior to that, he served as a Support Engineer at ControlVision from 2015 to 2017, and as an IoT Technical Support Engineer at Teknique from 2017 to 2018. He also gained experience as an Engineering Support Technician and an Engineering Intern at Fero Ltd between 2010 and 2013.
Education and Expertise
Nelson Smith earned a Bachelor's Degree in Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering from the University of Auckland. His studies spanned from 2010 to 2014, providing him with a solid foundation in engineering principles and practices. This educational background supports his current work in developing complex engineering systems and software solutions.
Key Projects and Contributions
Throughout his career, Nelson Smith has managed multiple projects that required coordination with teams and suppliers. At Rocket Lab, he developed a full Electron Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) test rig, which included the mechanical design of a stage 1 simulator and the development of related software. He has also contributed to launch and operations automation by developing software systems, including both embedded and web applications.