Edward (Ned) Riedel

Exec. Director of Technology at Blue Canyon Technologies

Boulder, Colorado, United States

About

I have worked in a broad range of design of mechanical systems, including: machinery, data acquisition and controls, embedded systems, fire suppression and explosions, cryogenic systems, opto-mechanical systems and mechanisms. My skills include: System Architecture Conceptualization: Design conceptualization and preliminary analysis of complex engineered systems. Electro-mechanical (EM) System Design: Design of mechanisms (SolidWorks) using motors/actuators, sensors/detectors, analog/digital signals and controls. Experienced with best practices for electrical noise minimization, with a good understanding of the electrical engineering concepts needed to design EM systems. Opto-mechanical Design and Analysis: Experienced designer of powered optical layouts and optical element mountings. Especially adept at optical system fabrication and alignment. A strong understanding of optical aberration theory, and how optical fabrication/alignment errors affect system performance. Especially adept in the analysis of telescope systems, using Zemax. Design of Carbon Fiber Components: Significant experience with fibers and resin systems, manufacturing techniques (especially the limitations of) and design best practices.

Experience

  • Blue Canyon Technologies (8 yrs 10 mos)
    • Executive Director of Technology
      Aug 2025 - Present · 11 mos

      Technology, tech strategy, research and development

    • Mechanical Engineering Team Manager
      Jan 2019 - Present · 7 yrs 6 mos

    • Principal Engineer
      Sep 2017 - Present · 8 yrs 10 mos

      Micro-satellite bus design lead, Opto/Mechanical lead for Star Tracker products.

  • Owner at Riedel Engineering
    Jan 2002 - Present · 24 yrs 6 mos

    Riedel Engineering offers engineering expertise in the areas of machine design, automation, mechanisms and test systems, with specific specialties in thermal systems and cryogenics.

  • Principal Engineer at Redstone Aerospace
    Oct 2006 - Sep 2017 · 11 yrs

    Lead technical engineer on various projects involving: System Architecture Conceptualization, Electro-mechanical (EM) System Design, Opto-mechanical Design and Analysis

  • Research Professor / Project Engineer at Colorado School of Mines
    1997 - 2001 · 4 yrs

    Design of laboratory, air-born and space flight experiments.