Peter Z. Schulte, PhD

Head of Engineering at SARsatX

Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

About

*Early career research & development engineer with implementation experience on multiple aerospace flight projects *Focus on aerospace systems engineering, Guidance, Navigation, & Control (GN&C), & flight software *Practical experience with simulation & modeling software development (MATLAB/Simulink, C/C++) *Interest in fault protection, autonomy, orbital mechanics, flight dynamics, trajectory design & analysis, and attitude dynamics Software Skills: MATLAB/Simulink, C/C++, simulation & modeling software, Monte Carlo tools, Trick, Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) Excellent verbal & written communication, leadership, interpersonal, & teamwork skills; Cross-cultural experience, English (native), Arabic (intermediate), Spanish (intermediate)

Experience

  • SARsatX (Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia)
    • Head of Engineering
      Aug 2023 - Present · 2 yrs 11 mos

      ●Leading an engineering team developing spacecraft and sensor technology for a constellation of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and optical satellites optimized for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region ●Contribute technical expertise for systems engineering, spacecraft subsystems, mission/orbit design, mission operations, and guidance, navigation, & control

    • System Engineer
      Apr 2023 - Aug 2023 · 5 mos

  • Space Technology & Policy Advisor at NEOM
    Jan 2023 - Apr 2023 · 4 mos

  • Draper (Full-time · 4 yrs 5 mos)
    • Principal Member, Technical Staff
      Dec 2021 - Dec 2022 · 1 yr 1 mo

      Technical Director: Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle GN&C (May 2020-Dec 2022) *Managed budget and staffing allocations for Draper contracts with NASA and Lockheed Martin *Set strategic technical direction with Draper, NASA, and Lockheed Martin management Orion GN&C Sequencing Lead (May 2020-Dec 2022) *Performed technical integration of sequencing concept of operations design and implementation between GN&C, flight software, mission event sequencing, displays, and flight operations teams *Developed GN&C sequencing design for rendezvous, proximity operations, docking to Gateway *Supported real-time console operations in Mission Evaluation Room at Mission Control Center Team Lead: Orion Orbit Guidance & Controls Development (Jul 2019-Apr 2022) *Guided team of ~12 developers to deliver GN&C flight software for first Orion crewed mission *Coordinated GN&C software development schedule & technical contributions for project reviews

    • Senior Member, Technical Staff
      Aug 2018 - Dec 2021 · 3 yrs 5 mos

  • PhD Candidate at Georgia Institute of Technology, Space Systems Design Laboratory
    Aug 2013 - Aug 2018 · 5 yrs 1 mo

    Performed research within the Space Systems Design Lab (http://ssdl.gatech.edu/) under advisor Dr. David Spencer Doctoral Research: A State Machine Architecture for Aerospace Vehicle Fault Protection Master’s Research: Prox-1 Small Satellite for Automated Proximity Operations Teaching Assistant: Flight Dynamics (Aircraft & Spacecraft) [1 semester], Senior Space Systems Design II [1 semester] Teaching Assistant: Flight Dynamics (Aircraft & Spacecraft) [1 semester] *Prepared & delivered 15 lectures, including 10 lectures on spacecraft attitude dynamics *Instructed students individually on concepts and homework solutions during weekly office hours *Proctored and graded 6 quizzes and 2 exams and discussed solutions during lecture Teaching Assistant: Senior Space Systems Design II [1 semester] *Provided technical feedback for space mission design projects in bi-weekly design reviews *Assisted students by answering detailed questions regarding mission concept development

  • Astronautical Engineering Instructor (Rice University) at Duke University Talent Identification Program
    May 2018 - Jul 2018 · 3 mos

    *Taught a three-week intensive course to students in 8th through 10th grades (ages 13-16) *Developed undergraduate-level curriculum focused on orbital mechanics and spacecraft design *Interacted with students six-hours per day, six-days a week (108 contact hours of teaching time)