Sierra Space Establishes New Engineering & Test Organization

Sierra Space has announced the establishment of a cutting-edge engineering and test organization aimed at driving unprecedented advancements in space technology and products for both commercial and government clients.

Sierra Space has selected Jen Splaingard, a seasoned industry veteran with over two decades of experience to lead the new engineering and test organization.

The newly formed engineering and test organization will be guided by a set of core principles closely aligned with Sierra Space's values. Disruptive innovation will be a hallmark of the organization, geared toward substantially reducing the cost of accessing and maintaining microgravity research facilities in Low Earth Orbit.

A culture of continuous learning will encourage curiosity and empower the team to push the boundaries of exploration. Collaborative efforts and empowerment will be integral to the organization's structure, fostering shared responsibility and leveraging collective intelligence to engineer innovative solutions.

"Sierra Space has always been committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation and technological excellence. The formation of this world-class engineering organization is a major milestone that marks our unwavering commitment to creating industry-leading solutions. Jen will empower our valuable engineering team members with the support, tools, processes, and resources they need to do their very best work." - Tom Vice, CEO of Sierra Space

Jen Splaingard assumed the role of Senior Vice President, Engineering and Test, when she joined Sierra Space in October. Her primary focus with the new organization will be nurturing the growth and skill development of Sierra Space's exceptional team of engineers. She will drive a resolute approach to end-to-end life cycle digital transformation and spearhead the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into the company's operations.

“Our Engineering and Test culture is one committed to learning, growth, and a relentless drive to uncover breakthrough innovations and discoveries...It is an honor to be able to harness that tremendous ‘can-do’ spirit that resonates so clearly at Sierra Space and vector it to support our ongoing growth trajectory. My goal is to grow our team by providing exciting, diversified career experiences, while engineering Sierra Space’s vision of building a platform in space to benefit life on Earth.” - Jen Splaingard

Before joining Sierra Space, Splaingard accumulated a wealth of experience during her 19-year tenure at Boeing, where she held various engineering, managerial, and executive leadership roles. Her most recent position as Vice President, Program Manager for the F/A 18 and EA-18G programs involved overseeing a $2 billion production and development portfolio supported by a team of 2,000 members.

Splaingard's proven ability to lead large-scale, multi-disciplinary teams to achieve complex technical designs while maintaining cost, schedule, and technical performance objectives earned her recognition and promotions within Boeing. Splaingard's impressive career journey at Boeing also encompassed roles such as Senior Manager, Systems Engineering Capability; Radar Cross Section Engineer; and Enterprise Auditor. Her diverse background began as a mechanical engineer at Kimberly-Clark.

Splaingard holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology, as well as an executive MBA from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis.

Sierra Space's latest initiative underscores its unyielding commitment to shaping the future of space exploration.

---

Correction : A previous version of this article listed Tom Vice as the CEO of Axiom Space, he is actaully the CEO of Sierra Space.