Steven Nikolov

About Steven Nikolov

Aerospace Engineer with a master\'s from Cornell University and bachelor\'s from San Diego State University. My passion and experience lie within the field of propulsion. As a current Performance Engineer working on gas turbine engines at Solar Turbines, I continue to gain theoretical and practical experience in propulsion system design and analysis. Past experiences at GE Aerospace and NASA Glenn Reseach Center provided me the opportunity to demonstrate my ability to work effectively in a team and apply my knowledge to complex real-world problems on Earth and in space.During my master\'s, I researched multidisciplinary optimization of porous media combustion. I developed a multi-objective optimization framework surrounding a computational fluid dynamics solver which simulated combustion through a continuously changing porous media burner. The NOx emissions were minimized, and the flame stability region was maximized simultaneously with the goal of expanding the operational limits of the burner. Beyond technical work, I’ve held leadership roles in various engineering organizations, reflecting my collaborative mindset and ability to lead teams toward innovative solutions. I thrive in environments that challenge me to think critically, work cross-functionally, and push the boundaries of aerospace technology.

Experience

1. Performance Staff Engineer

   Solar Turbines

   Jul 2025 — Present · San Diego, CA, US

Education

• San Diego State University

  Minor, Computer Science

  2020 — 2024

• Cornell University

  Masters of Engineering, Aerospace Engineering

• San Diego State University

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering

  2020 — 2024