Bryan Z. Holm

Building Spacecraft

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If you're building something that goes to space, I'm in.

I am a spacecraft systems engineer with spacecraft and launch vehicle development experience. My background in physics, coupled with a wide variety of industry experience, makes me a technical generalist and well suited for the holistic development of any space-based system. I aim to combine that versatility with my outgoing personality to develop complex space systems and help organize diverse teams in solving tomorrow’s problems.

Currently, I work towards this goal at Firefly Aerospace where I work on the systems engineering team for the Blue Ghost lunar lander program.

What I can do

Technical Skills

  • Systems Engineering

    • Technical budgeting

    • Requirements management

  • Optical systems

  • Manufacturing Processes

  • 3D Modelling

  • Testing

  • Design

  • System Architecture

Software and Programming Knowledge

  • MATLAB

  • Python

  • Visual Basic (Excel scripting)

  • Adobe Design Software (Photoshop)

  • Odoo ERP

  • Jira/Confluence

  • Autodesk Inventor/Vault

  • Siemens NX

  • Siemens Teamcenter

  • Office Suite

Soft Skills

  • Problem Solving

  • Interdisciplinary Communication

  • Public Speaking

  • Customer Service

What I've done

Firefly Aerospace

All of my relevant post-graduate work experience has been at Firefly Aerospace, a space transportation and launch services provider. The small company enabled me to be proactive and fill roles with more variety than what might normally be available on a single career track. The startup environment also allowed me to explore functions beyond what my job title might typically imply.

Spacecraft Systems Engineer - Blue Ghost Lunar Lander

Firefly AerospaceMarch 2021 - Present

This position involves a progression in function that mirrors the development cycle of the Blue Ghost Lunar Lander. It follows the spacecraft from design (System Engineering), to integration (AI&T), and finally to fulfillment of the mission (Ops functions).

  • Manage spacecraft technical budgets (mass, power, data, etc.) and allocations

  • Define requirements and verification methods

  • Track technical performance metrics

  • Facilitate effective interfacing between subsystems by defining interface controls and tracking critical design features

  • Improve "Ergonomics of data" (design/test data interactivity, availability, and usefulness)

  • Acted as Mass/Performance Lead

  • Presented budgets at major milestone reviews

  • Did interfacing with teammates (for IT/collaboration stuff)

  • Help with SC Interface matrix

  • Requirements management

  • Manage compliance of subsystems to SC requirements

  • Define verification methods

  • Schedule verification milestones

  • Explore and define tools

  • Developed Kairos Ops planner and Power/data analysis tool

  • Write test plans/procedures and execute those procedures

  • Verify requirements based on results of testing

  • Integrate lander subsystems

  • Interface with diverse teams to ensure both product and personnel safety

Information Systems Engineer

Firefly AerospaceMarch 2020 - March 2021

  • Define company processes

  • Build procedural systems to maximize manufacturing efficiency

  • Implement tools for streamlining company processes

  • Educate employees on using Odoo ERP, including formal training

  • Lead a team in onboarding inventory control

Manufacturing Engineer

Firefly AerospaceDecember 2018 - March 2020

  • Implement MRP/ERP system (Odoo)

  • Design inventory, receiving, and machine shop workflows

  • Renovate configuration management processes to include streamlined production-to-design feedback

  • Assist with quality certification

  • Design tooling used to assemble carbon composite airframes

  • Oversee manufacturing for specific projects start to finish

Design Engineering Intern

Firefly AerospaceSeptember 2018 - December 2018

  • Create detailed 3D models and technical drawings for the design of spacecraft and launch vehicles

  • Organize CAD parts directory

  • Maintain vehicle and sub-system assembly models

  • Design conceptual models for next-generation spacecraft

HR/Recruitment Intern

Firefly AerospaceJune 2018 - September 2018

  • Support the engineering team with a variety of tasks including test platform/vehicle assembly

  • Perform a variety of recruitment-related tasks including candidate sourcing, interview facilitation, and new hire onboarding

Education and Undergraduate Experience

Colorado State University - Physics

Bachelor of ScienceGraduated May 2017

Selected Coursework

  • Introduction to Lasers (graduate level)

  • Optics and Waves

  • Analytical Math Methods

  • Electric Fields and Device

  • Thermodynamics

  • Modern Physics

  • Classical Mechanics

  • Statistical Mechanics

  • Principles of Microeconomics

Student Outreach/Instructor

The Little Shop of PhysicsAugust 2013 - May 2017

Educational outreach organization with Colorado State University. The aim of the Little Shop of Physics is to present physics in an everyday and approachable manner by showcasing homemade demonstrations to K-12 students around the world. This was one of the most rewarding and enjoyable things I did in college.

  • Built experiments/demonstrations that clearly demonstrate physical principles

  • Teach K12 students all across Colorado using those experiments/demonstrations

  • Requires strong communication skills

  • Requires the ability to think quickly and act confidently in uncertain situations

Extreme Ultraviolet Research Project Undergraduate

CSU Engineering Research CenterMarch 2015 - August 2015

Joint venture between Colorado State physics and electrical engineering departments. I updated a project that used computer vision to monitor cryogenically cooled amplifying crystals for extreme ultraviolet lasers.

  • Created monitoring apparatus for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lasers and associated amplifying crystals

  • Built custom housing units for cameras and associated lenses from machined plastics and COTS optical hardware

  • Designed computer vision analysis for monitoring crystal status through Matlab

  • Presented work in a talk to industry professionals

Engineering Intern

Amergint TechnologiesMay 2011 - August 2011, June 2014 - August 2014

Colorado Springs based satellite ground systems provider. I worked here for two summers and was introduced to the satellite and space systems world.

  • Designed a spectrum analyzer for satellite uplink monitoring

  • Updated satellite orbital propagator to include the latest SGP4 models

  • Learned Python and some C++ on the job

  • Tested PC boards that were eventually shipped out to customers.

  • Wrote a large BASH script to implement Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIG)

  • Designed and built a Timing Reference module for testing satellite modems