Christina Rader

Sr Manager, Mechanical Engineering Avionics at Vast

Los Angeles, California, United States

About

Senior Mechanical Engineer offering 15+ years of experience in the space and defense field with emphasis on design, development, and hands on field support for a ruggedized and extreme applications. Intends to utilize experience in the aerospace and defense industry to work as a senior mechanical engineer. Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of California San Diego.

Experience

  • Vast (Full-time · 3 yrs 1 mo)
    • Senior Manager Avionics Mechanical Engineering
      Sep 2025 - Present · 10 mos

      Leading a team of mechanical engineers to conceptualize, design, analyze, build, test, deliver, and integrate Avionics, RF, GNC, and human systems electronics components in the Haven-1 human rated commercial space station. Built and scaled avionics mechanical engineering team from 1 to over a dozen mechanical engineers to support Haven-1 commercial space station. Established engineering infrastructure from the ground up, including design standards, part numbering systems, and development processes. Defined system-level mechanical design strategy across avionics, RF, GNC, and human-rated hardware. Owned hiring strategy, resource planning, and budget forecasting to support rapid program growth. Led cross-functional integration of onboard avionics systems, resolving interface conflicts across multiple engineering disciplines. Collaborated with PCB design engineers to drive PCBA guidelines for mechanical engineering including Altium and NX CAD guidelines.

    • Avionics Mechanical Engineering Manager
      Jun 2024 - Sep 2025 · 1 yr 4 mos

      Mechanical Design Engineering Manager of electronics packaging, modified vendor parts, environmental testing, and integration for a human rated space station. Covering Avionics compute, cameras, power, RF, GNC, human systems, etc.

    • Staff Mechanical Engineer
      Jun 2023 - Jun 2024 · 1 yr 1 mo

      Concept, design, development, test, and verification of Haven Demo, a low earth orbit satellite with representative components intended to gain knowledge and flight heritage for Haven-1 human rated commercial space station. Led mechanical design and flight delivery of avionics hardware for Haven Demo LEO satellite. Designed flight-critical components including flight computer, GNSS radio, structural brackets, and test hardware. Managed integration of COTS and subcontractor hardware including RF antennas, radios, and sensors. Served as final mechanical design reviewer across all avionics hardware, contributing to successful mission deployment and deorbit. Scaled avionics mechanical engineering team from 1 to 5 engineers within first year

  • Senior Mechanical Engineer at Virgin Orbit
    Jun 2022 - Apr 2023 · 11 mos

    Design, development, test, verification, manufacturing production support of high performance Avionics hardware for small satellite launch program. - Design enclosures, mounting devices, selected components for Avionics - First time build and production support - Vehicle integration support - Lead environmental testing for new products including thermal, thermal vacuum, vibration, shock, EMI/EMC on hardware components. - Responsible engineer for new replacement camera and light from concept to completion which included supporting PCB review and integration. - Improved manufacturability and production of avionics controller assemblies.

  • Raytheon (12 yrs 11 mos)
    • Senior Mechanical Engineer
      Nov 2013 - Jun 2022 · 8 yrs 8 mos

      AN/TPY-2 Prime Power Unit, NASAMS, Missile Sensor Systems Provide engineering support for the power unit which is a shelter that provides mobile power to a radar. Provide support to other programs as well including NASAMS Sentinel Radar and some Navy Shipboard Platform electronics. Performed mechanical engineering support to the design, fabrication, production, integration, testing, field support, and spares support. Performed extensive root cause failure engineering analysis. Performed extensive drawing reviews such as weld reviews, ANSI Y 14.5 geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GDT) reviews, structural integrity, and manufacturability. Performed inspections and evaluated fabrication at the top level integration assemblies. Reviewed and updated manufacturing processes to minimize errors and increase production efficiency. Developed, updated, and reviewed designs, drawings, schematics and documentation for ruggedized military equipment on multiple programs. Implemented trade studies for commercial off the shelf (COTS) design. Collaborated with multiple subcontractors and customers on engineering design, failures, and testing. Performed tests and evaluated new design to military standard (MIL-SPEC) requirements such as rain, shock, vibration, EMI, and temperature testing. Provided technical and engineering support on fielded units at radar deployed sites.

    • Mechanical Engineer
      Aug 2009 - Nov 2013 · 4 yrs 4 mos

      Navy shipboard systems support. Developed test procedures, tested, and evaluated new design to military standard (MIL-SPEC) requirements for shock, vibration, EMI, temperature, and airborne noise. Collaborated with the customer on environmental qualification recommendations. Designed and created drawings in Solid Edge mounting brackets for electronic assemblies. Reviewed structural and temperature analysis of the top level integrated electronic assembly and provided preliminary engineering analysis for the structural design. Developed systems architecture and software requirements for the Integrated Defense Systems related to system integration of tactical operations and sensor tracking.

  • Machine Shop Tutor at UC San Diego
    Jan 2007 - Apr 2009 · 2 yrs 4 mos

    While getting my Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, tutored students in an upper division course pertaining to fabrication techniques using mills, lathes, CNC machine, and other tools and assisted in fabricating and machining for UCSD graduate research projects. Fabricated countless parts in the machine shop for projects and demonstrating machining techniques. Experience with lathe, mill, drill press, band saw, sander, and measurement tools.

  • Mechanical Engineering Intern at Boeing
    Jun 2008 - Sep 2008 · 4 mos

    Redesigned and displayed commercial airplane interior architecture interfaces using CATIA V5 and IVT. Collaborated with designers using PowerPoint to define the design intent of airplane cabin interfaces in a technical document. Communicated the use and purpose of the technical document to coworkers.