Bob Ess

About Bob Ess

Decisive, action-oriented, and results-focused leader with 35+ years of experience spanning large-scale government programs, commercial space, and start up environments. I am equally comfortable in large-scale, multi-discipline, multi-location program management as well as the (semi) organized chaos at a startup. My strong technical management experience is well integrated with employee and team building priorities to ensure success at all levels. I relish fast-paced, complex, ground-breaking development and high-stake operations.

Experience

1. President

   Starlab

   Sep 2025 — Present · Houston, TX, US

Education

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering

  1983 — 1987

• University of Houston

  Master of Science (M.S.), Mechanical Engineering

  1988 — 1992

• University of Houston, C.T. Bauer College of Business

  Master of Business Administration (MBA), Finance

  1992 — 1995

Skills

• Earned Value Management
• Configuration Management
• Aerodynamics
• Avionics
• Leadership
• Technical Management
• Technology Management
• Proposal Writing
• Large-Scale Project Management
• Requirements Management
• Project Management
• Integration
• Spacecraft
• Analysis
• Project Completion & Success
• Testing
• Team Building
• Management
• Operations
• Engineering Management
• Strategic Planning
• Flight Test
• Lean Manufacturing
• Program Management
• Engineering
• Aerospace
• Cost Assessment & Control
• Systems Engineering
• Space Systems
• Change Management