Sean Hancock

About Sean Hancock

Senior aerospace systems engineer with 15+ years providing mission-level technical leadership for major NASA spacecraft and flight demonstration programs, including VERA, LOFTID, Ascent Abort-2, and SAGE Currently serve as Systems Engineering & Integration (SE & I) Lead for VERA, a NASA Langley Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) project involving complex technical scope, a large interdisciplinary workforce, and significant NASA–industry (ULA) partnership integration.My expertise spans system architecture, requirements development, verification and qualification strategy, AI & T leadership, and high-consequence flight hardware development, with a strong foundation in mechanical/structural design, aerodynamics, flight mechanics, and aero-thermal analysis. I am experienced in leading technical preparations and products for major NASA milestone reviews, ensuring engineering rigor, interface compatibility, and risk-informed decision-making.I am known for sound engineering judgment, cross-organizational collaboration, and the ability to integrate diverse technical disciplines into coherent, mission-ready systems—particularly in first-of-a-kind and technology demonstration environments.Core Focus Areas• Systems Engineering & Integration (SE & I)• Mission Architecture, Requirements, and Interfaces• Verification, Qualification, and Test Strategy• AI & T and Flight Hardware Development• EDL Systems and Inflatable Decelerator Technologies• Cross-Center, Cross-Agency, and Commercial Partnership Integration• Technical Leadership, Mentoring, and Review ReadinessM.S. and B.S. in Engineering.Contact: s••••••••@yahoo.com

Experience

1. Lead Aerospace Engineer - Stc

   Nasa Langley Research Center

   Jun 2023 — Present · Hampton, VA, US

   Senior systems engineering leader providing mission-level technical authority for NASA spacecraft and flight demonstration programs. Currently serve as SE & I Lead for the Vulcan Engine Recovery Aeroshell (VERA), a NASA Langley Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) project integrating Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (HIAD) technology into ULA’s Vulcan-Centaur launch system to enable BE-4 booster engine recovery.Lead system architecture, requirements, interfaces, verification, and qualification strategy for high-consequence flight hardwareProvide cross-discipline SE & I leadership (thermal, structural, flight mechanics, aerosciences, materials & processes, AI & T)Serve as focal point for cross-center and commercial integration (LaRC, ARC, MSFC, ULA, industry, academia)Lead technical preparation and execution of NASA milestone reviews (SRR, PDR), including entrance/success criteria and Independent Review Team coordinationProvide technical leadership for critical and complex Ground Support Equipment (GSE) development, ensuring verification rigor and interface compatibilityKeywords: Systems Engineering & Integration (SE & I)| Mission Architecture | Requirements Management | Verification & Validation | Qualification | AI & T | EDL Systems | Risk & Configuration Management | NASA Engineering Processes | Commercial Partnership Integration

Skills

• Budgeting
• Matlab
• Systems Engineering
• Fortran
• Pro/Engineer
• Aerospace
• C++
• Integration
• Engineering Management
• Technical Writing
• Research
• Thermodynamics
• Engineering
• Project Engineering
• Finite Element Analysis
• Program Management
• Product Development
• Cad
• Cfd
• Testing
• Simulations
• Project Planning
• Hvac
• Budgets
• Mechanical Engineering
• Pro Engineer
• Space Systems
• Simulink
• Spacecraft
• Proposal Writing
• Wind Tunnel Testing
• Ansys
• Pro/Mechanica
• Aerodynamics
• Requirements Management
• Aeronautics
• Aerospace Engineering
• Stress Analysis
• Design for Manufacturing
• Propulsion