Nickey Raines
About Nickey Raines
Nickey Raines serves as the Manager of the Stennis Propulsion Test Complex at Rocket Lab, where he has worked since 2022. He has a background in Mechanical Engineering from Mississippi State University and has held various engineering roles in the aerospace industry, including positions at Blue Origin and SpaceX.
Work at Rocket Lab
Nickey Raines has been employed at Rocket Lab as the Manager of the Stennis Propulsion Test Complex since 2022. In this role, he oversees operations at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, a NASA facility dedicated to rocket testing. His responsibilities include the development and management of ground systems and test equipment specifically for the Archimedes engine, which is a key component of the Neutron program.
Current Role at Blue Origin
In addition to his position at Rocket Lab, Nickey Raines has served as the Rocket Test Operations Engineering Manager at Blue Origin since 2016. His work is based in Van Horn, Texas, where he has contributed to various rocket testing operations for over eight years, focusing on enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of test procedures.
Previous Experience at SpaceX
Before joining Blue Origin, Nickey Raines worked at Space Exploration Technologies Inc. (SpaceX) as a Principal Engineer in Development Test from 2015 to 2016. During his tenure at SpaceX, he was involved in critical testing and development processes, contributing to the advancement of rocket technology.
Education and Expertise
Nickey Raines studied Mechanical Engineering at Mississippi State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. His academic journey spanned from 1984 to 1986, providing him with a solid foundation in engineering principles that he applies in his current roles in the aerospace industry.