Jeroen Cappaert

Technology leader | Independent Consultant | Co-Founder at Spire Global (NYSE:SPIR)

Luxembourg

About

I'm an experienced technology leader, manager, startup founder and adviser. After founding Spire Global in 2012 and spending more than a decade helping to build it into a NYSE-listed company with over 100m$ in revenue, I've stepped back and started a consulting business to apply my skills and experience to a wider scope of companies and areas of interst. In general I have focused on driving innovation and building out and executing on new technology development programs with a time horizon of 5yrs+. This has meant both managing strong technology teams internally, but also harnessing a global external partner network (academia, startups, government agencies etc.) when required. My educational background is in Mechanical/Electrical/Aerospace engineering, and I'm passionate about a variety of topics, including space, climate change and technology etc. Previous work and research includes high-enthalpy flow simulation, computational mechanics and fluid dynamics, spacecraft avionics and payload design, geo-engineering, and low-thrust astrodynamics at institutions such as NASA Ames, Von Karman Institute, International Space University.

Experience

  • Owner / CEO at Jeroen Cappaert Consulting
    Jan 2025 - Present · 1 yr 6 mos

    I provide independent consulting services across startup advising, technical development and system architecture (aerospace and other sectors), leadership coaching and training, as well as investor-focused due diligence and strategic guidance.

  • Spire (14 yrs 3 mos)
    • Senior Advisor / Co-Founder
      Jan 2025 - Present · 1 yr 6 mos

      After more than a decade in a full-time role, I’ve transitioned into a Senior Advisor position while remaining deeply connected to the company I co-founded. While I’ve stepped back from daily operations, I continue to provide strategic guidance, mentorship, and support to help drive long-term growth and innovation.

    • CTO & Co-Founder
      Feb 2017 - Dec 2024 · 7 yrs 11 mos

      As the CTO I led the development of all of the core technology, deployment of our systems and operations of the fleet and products. In the last few years my focus has been on long-term technology development projects like advanced RF and microwave sensors, RF signals intelligence, AI/ML and autonomous operations, optical communication systems and more.

    • Lead payload & Avionics Engineer & Co-Founder
      Apr 2012 - Dec 2024 · 12 yrs 9 mos

      I have been the lead designer on payload design and satellite avionics. This includes internal payload and avionics development, interfacing with off-the-shelf and space-graded subcontractor components and software-hardware integration.

  • Smlallsat and Fluid mechanics researcher at NASA Ames Research Center
    May 2012 - Aug 2012 · 4 mos

    Working on CubeSat avionics design, batteries and testing for future missions including: - TechEdSat - SPQR (small payload quick return from ISS)

  • Student at International Space University
    Sep 2011 - May 2012 · 9 mos

    Graduate student. Includes: - Core lecture modules - Team project: Space based geoengineering using solar shields in L1 - Individual project: Libration point orbits as a low-thrust passageway for interplanetary travel - Extracurricular project: Quadcopter flight in reduced gravity environment: design, implementation and testing

  • Intern - Master's thesis at von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics
    Jul 2010 - Jun 2011 · 1 yr

    Master thesis: Uncertainty quantification for hypersonic flow simulations. Includes aspects like non-equilibrium flow, grid adaptation, reentry flow and physics, uncertainty quantification techniques, CFD simulation