Lucas Salvador
With over 14 years of experience and participation in 40+ industrial and research projects, I have gained extensive knowledge in space engineering, specializing in thermal design, simulation, and testing of spacecraft and payloads. I have also taught master’s students and junior engineers, providing hands-on training in this field. My expertise in systems engineering and project management enables me to see the bigger picture and optimize efficiency in your projects.
So I decided to provide my experience to the industry by creating TESA in 2019. Along the way I could help various companies to understand the depth of space thermal control and the interactions with other fields like electronics and mechanical engineering. In addition I developed customized tools for several teams to help them speed up the design process.
Thermal Engineering
Systems Engineering
Teaching / Training
Python and AI
Project Management
Senior Thermal Engineer
Jan. 2019 - Today
Consultant
- Support on thermal and systems engineering. Thermal design and systems engineering, test management, technical sales support (e.g. Vacuum chambers acquisition for thermal tests, space payload, Veoware Space CMGs).
- Transfer of knowledge for the best practices (e.g. space thermal control training, AITEX custom training for conductivity tests on fire-protection textiles….)
- Notable projects:
- Innovative Cryogenic Heat Switch for cryocoolers (ESA);
- PLATO FPA thermal lead;
- Innovative Control Moment Gyroscopes for micro-satellites;
- Satellite components thermal development;
- Technical responsible for vacuum chamber procurement.
- Notable projects:
Project Manager
Oct. 2023 - May. 20184
Arquimea Space
- Part of PMO, I participated in heat pipes and MLI projects: budget management (100k€ – 1.5M€) including Netsuite use, planning management (Microsoft Project, PowerBI, Microsoft Planner), team management, reviews (PDR, CDR, MRR, DRB), change requests and contract change notices.
- Identified operational bottlenecks and proposed actionable solutions to enhance team productivity (project management tools, API, processes, automation, team communications…). Presented findings and recommendations to leadership, enabling informed decision-making and paving the way for significant workflow improvements.
- Participation in proposals: management and support on technical sections.
- Attended in-house practical course on MLI design, manufacture, assembly.
Lead Systems Engineer
Aug. 2021 - Aug. 2023
Coactum
- Head of multidisciplinary satellite team for development of a last-mile delivery space tug. Co-lead with heads of propulsion and software teams. Coordination with Mission Operations lead.
- Support PM, PA/QA and procurement activities. Developed team management processes from scratch.
- Functional analysis, logical decomposition, WBS, PBS, requirement management, technical budgets, feasibility studies and trade-offs, test plans and procedures, definition and supervision of interfaces (ICDs), assistance to bid work, risk management, FMECA, supervision of AIT work
- Familiar with relevant ECSS/MIL/NASA, ISO 9001, ISO 15288, AS 9100, MBSE.
Guest Lecturer
Oct. 2020 - Dec. 2021
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
- Online and on-site lessons on Space Thermal Engineering (including Esatan-TMS) and systems engineering (Aerospace Engineering Master)
Thermo-mechanical Engineer
Oct. 2010 - Oct. 2018
Liège Space Center (CSL)
- Built thermal designs and provided support on various test setups and projects.
- Finite element and thermo-mechanical analyses.
- Notable projects:
- NOMAD payload (ExoMars);
- Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (Solar Orbiter);
- UVN calibration instrument (SENTINEL 4);
- Back Telescope payload (Meteosat Third Generation);
- VMUMK2 electronic box payload (International Space Station-FSL);
- ASPIICS camera (PROBA-3 core payload);
- UVN calibration instrument (SENTINEL 4);
- 49K-423K test setup cycling chamber (JUICE).
Project Manager
Oct. 2012 - Apr. 2018
Liège Space Center (CSL)
- Managed 24/7 thermal tests.
- Guided development heat exchanger system with phase change material.
- Managed Flying Laptop microsatellite thermal tests (University of Stuttgart).
- Coordinated development of a web-interface database for space optics (ESA).
Small Satellites Activities
Oct. 2014 - Apr. 2018
Liège Space Center (CSL)
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- Supported CSL strategic vision (microsatellite projects, market research and collaborations, point of contact at Space Generation Advisory Council for QB50 project, preliminary design and supervision of UV imager for 3U cubesat).
- Supervised OUFTI-1 thermal design, first Belgian cubesat.
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Lecturer and Promoter
Oct. 2010 - Apr. 2018
Liège Space Center (CSL)
- Lecturer on Spacecraft Thermal Control, Space Environment and Spacecraft Payload Mechanical Design (master students and junior engineers)
- Promoted ideas and supervised about 40 students.
- Lecturer on Spacecraft Thermal Control, Space Environment and Spacecraft Payload Mechanical Design (master students and junior engineers)
Team lead
Jul. 2010 - Apr. 2012
Liège Space Center (CSL)
- Recruited and led 7 students team to develop main camera payload onboard European Student Moon Orbiter (ESMO) small satellite.
- Coordinated activities in between the ESA Education Office, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) and CSL experts.
- Project management and systems engineering (risk analysis, planning, CONOPS, requirement flow-down…).
Education
- Online certifications include: Agile with Atlassian Jira; Additive Manufacturing (University of Michigan), Digital Twins (University of Michigan), Leading People and Teams (University of Michigan), Renewable Energy Specialization (University of Colorado Boulder); Deep Learning Specialization (deeplearning.ai), Google Project Management (Google); Model-Based Systems Engineering (University of Buffalo).
- MBA (2015-2017, outside working hours) – HEC Liège. Final project: VEOWARE corporate strategy, business development, marketing, artificial intelligence for Earth Observation imagery.
- Educational and Teaching training sessions (2012-2013) – University of Liège.
- Alpbach Summer School (2012) – Exploration of Giants Planets and their Systems. Lead and coordinated a 10 people engineering team for the feasibility study of a mission to gain new insight into the formation and evolution of icy giants.
- MSc in Aerospace Engineering (2008-2010) – University of Liège. Final project: Thermal design and modal analysis of the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (Solar Orbiter). Professor assistant in the Aerospace & Mechanics department.
- BSc in Physics & Mechanics (2005-2008) – University of Liège. Professor assistant in the faculty of Physics: supervised science and medicine students in physics laboratories.