Phil Pesce

BLUE ORIGIN, Blue Moon Mk1 and Mk2 – Senior Software Engineer, Feb 2022 - Present

Architected the Data Distribution Services (DDS) middleware solution and software interface code generation tooling for Mk1. Led a team of entry-level software engineers in the development of software applications interfacing with spacecraft hardware sensors and actuators. Developed and implemented Mk1’s star tracker interface software application. Served as the responsible engineer for the Mk1 Fuel Cell Controller software, designing, implementing, and testing microcontroller embedded software for Blue Origin’s first fuel cell demonstrator. Architected and implemented Mk2’s software interface code generation tooling, ensuring compatibility with NASA's Core Flight System (cFS) software framework.

BOOM SUPERSONIC, XB-1 Avionics Software – Senior Avionics Software Engineer, Oct 2020 – Feb 2022

Designed, implemented, and tested vehicle subsystem control and monitoring applications, including flight control system (FCS) linear actuators, fuel quantity and center of gravity estimation, and cockpit environmental control. Authored software requirements and description documentation. Integrated Simulink-generated code with the application framework. Conducted unit testing using the MATLAB test framework and Google Test. Maintained and updated the corresponding application CI/CD pipeline jobs. Deployed and tested applications on the aircraft. Managed a contract to redesign a subcontractor’s PCB critical to the FCS, overseeing requirement investigation and redefinition, conducting weekly meetings, reviewing test plans, and performing acceptance testing. Developed vehicle simulation software and served as code owner, responsible for pull request review and approvals. Collaborated with test pilots and subsystem engineers to understand stakeholder expectations and requirements. Prepared and hosted critical design reviews, and contributed to XB-1 first flight preparations through control room training rehearsals.

AURORA FLIGHT SCIENCES, Software Division – Senior Software Engineer, Jun 2019 – Oct 2020

Supported the block upgrade and productization of the Centaur optionally piloted aircraft (OPA) for customer delivery. Performed critical analysis and reverse engineering of existing vehicle autonomy functions, including servo actuation, INS/GPS sensing, fuel management, and flight control logic. Created high-level (HLR) and low-level (LLR) software requirements, along with software design descriptions (SDD) for flight-critical software functions. Collaborated with the SEIT team to refine and create system-level requirements. Identified and resolved software defects and system single points of failure through flight and simulation testing, data analysis, software redesign, and unit-level testing. Discovered a design flaw in the actuator vendor’s proposed solution; worked closely with Centaur’s chief engineer and the vendor to improve communication of program needs by performing serial timing analysis and developing a software interface control document (ICD) and associated requirements. Developed tools to automate data analysis and tune configurable autopilot automatic takeoff and landing (ATOL) runway parameters. Created and briefed test pilots on formal procedures for using Centaur to conduct ATOL runway surveys across multiple airports. Trained early-career software engineers on the Centaur system and software development toolchain/lifecycle. Provided feedback to program and senior leadership on improvements to company-wide software development and testing practices.

BLUE ORIGIN, New Shepard Avionics – Software Engineer III, May 2017 – Jun 2019

Lead Software Engineer for New Shepard’s Cabin Payload System (CPS); implemented embedded Linux applications interfacing with customer scientific payloads. Built and maintained the embedded Linux kernel using Xilinx PetaLinux Tools. Developed input/output peripheral device drivers utilizing SPI and I2C protocols. Led requirement development, design, testing, and documentation for the payload customer benchtop simulation environment. Tested avionics software on the Crew Capsule (CC) HIL simulator. Authored and executed pre-launch payload integration and checkout procedures for customer payloads. Performed post-flight data analysis and software troubleshooting across multiple missions. The Cabin Payload System successfully executed on-board NS-10 and NS-11 sub-orbital flights, carrying more than a dozen payloads, and will continue to be used on future payload flights. Developed, unit/coverage tested, and documented avionics hardware input/output device drivers for Blue Origin’s New Shepard CC in preparation for the first human flight.

AURORA FLIGHT SCIENCES, Aerial Robotics Group (ARG) – Software Engineer, Sep 2012 – Apr 2017

Developed real-time autonomous subsystem control and vehicle management software for multiple UAS aircraft using MATLAB/Simulink/Stateflow and C/C++. Integrated auto-generated code with custom C/C++ code. Executed the full software development lifecycle, from requirements definition to vehicle flight testing. Built and configuration-managed flight-critical real-time operating system executables. Performed system-level Failure Mode and Effects Testing (FMET) using HIL and Processor-in-the-Loop (PIL) simulators. Coordinated updates to the vehicle HIL simulation model for testing new flight software. Collaborated with customers to define functional and performance requirements, as well as software interfaces. Deployed to customer sites for aircraft hardware and software upgrades, testing, and troubleshooting. Served as Lead Flight Test Engineer during multiple Orion UAS flight test series, performing on-console duties. Collected, processed, analyzed, and reported flight data, and compiled flight test reports. Briefed Flight Readiness Review board members on test results. Developed and executed flight crew emergency training simulation scenarios. Designed and developed the following software: differential/anti-lock braking, braking system fault detection, servo effector actuation and fault detection, fuel system management, cockpit robotic arm command arbitration, and mission route management.

LOCKHEED MARTIN (SPACE SYSTEMS COMPANY), Space Vehicle Integration Lab (SVIL), Jun 2008 – Sep 2012

Space vehicle hardware component simulation modeler for SVIL’s GeoEye-2 (WorldView-4) and IRIS programs. Developed GN&C and communication hardware component simulation models using MATLAB/Simulink/Stateflow, including high-fidelity star trackers, coarse and digital sun sensors, magnetic torque rods, and narrow-band/wide-band transmitters. Planned the integration of space vehicle simulation models within LabVIEW. Auto-generated, compiled, and executed model code in real-time, HIL space vehicle simulators. Developed and executed system-level test procedures to validate model code. Developed LabVIEW code for handling simulation commands and telemetry. Presented modeling processes to program executives to obtain new business. Interviewed, selected, coordinated, and led summer interns.