Senior Mechanical Design Engineer - Space & Launch Systems

Christian Kiefer

Salt Springs, FL • 952-***-**** • ********@*******.***

U.S. Citizen • Willing to Relocate • Security Clearance Eligible Professional Summary

Senior Mechanical Design Engineer with 20+ years of experience in the design, analysis, and testing of complex mechanical systems across aerospace, launch systems, and heavy equipment industries. Expert in PTC Creo and Windchill with strong proficiency in GD&T; (ASME Y14.5), FEA, and full product lifecycle development. Proven ability to deliver high-performance, manufacturable designs in fast-paced, design-build-test environments while leading cross-functional collaboration and resolving complex engineering challenges. Core Competencies

1 Mechanical Design, Analysis & Test

2 PTC Creo (Expert) SolidWorks (Working Knowledge) 3 Windchill PLM (12+ Years)

4 GD&T; (ASME Y14.5) & Tolerance Stack-Up

5 Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

6 Top-Down / Skeleton Modeling

7 Fluid, Gas & Hydraulic Systems

8 GSE & Launch Vehicle Systems

9 Injection Molded, Cast, Machined & Welded Parts

10 Root Cause & Failure Analysis

11 ECN / ECR / Configuration Management

12 Design for Manufacturability (DFM)

Professional Experience

Mechanical Design Engineer – Lockheed Martin

Cape Canaveral, FL • July 2025 – Present

1 Design, detail, and support testing of mechanical systems for NGI, Orion, and FBM programs 2 Develop 3D models and ASME-compliant drawings using Creo 10 and Windchill 12 3 Perform tolerance analysis to validate fit, form, and function of complex assemblies 4 Design ground support equipment (GSE) and tooling solutions 5 Collaborate across multiple sites to meet program and customer requirements Senior Technical Designer – Blue Origin

Merritt Island, FL / Remote • Oct 2021 – Mar 2025

1 Designed fluid and gas umbilical interface systems for New Glenn launch vehicle 2 Developed machined components, piping systems, and transfer interfaces 3 Applied GD&T; and performed tolerance stack-up analysis 4 Built top-down CAD architecture using skeleton models and Windchill 5 Managed EBOM/MBOM structures and supported PDR/CDR reviews 6 Conducted root cause analysis and implemented design improvements 7 Provided training on Creo, Windchill, and visualization tools Mechanical Design Engineer – Bechtel National

Kennedy Space Center, FL • Nov 2019 – Oct 2021

1 Led Creo and Windchill implementation for NASA SLS ML2 program 2 Established CAD standards including start parts, layer rules, and model check systems 3 Designed structural and piping systems with focus on manufacturability 4 Performed mass property control and top-down architecture development 5 Integrated ISOGEN piping systems and coordinated with vendors 6 Developed automation scripts to resolve modeling issues Mechanical Design Engineer – Jacobs (TOSC)

Kennedy Space Center, FL • Feb 2018 – Nov 2019

1 Designed launch vehicle umbilicals, hydraulics, and GSE systems 2 Performed kinematic and force analysis using Creo Mechanism 3 Routed hoses, wiring, and cables within complex assemblies 4 Supported build, integration, and system testing 5 Managed ECNs, ECRs, and Windchill product structures Mechanical Designer – E-One / REV Group

Ocala, FL • Feb 2017 – Feb 2018

1 Designed emergency vehicle chassis, enclosures, and fluid systems 2 Created sheet metal and structural components for manufacturability 3 Integrated fuel, exhaust, and hydraulic systems into vehicle platforms 4 Supported PLM system testing and Windchill integration Mechanical Design Engineer – Shaw Development

Bonita Springs, FL • Feb 2015 – Sep 2016

1 Led design of DEF systems including stainless steel tanks 2 Integrated pumps, manifolds, and control systems 3 Coordinated with FEA teams and fabrication vendors 4 Supported assembly, testing, and production integration Mechanical Design Engineer – John Deere

Augusta, GA • Oct 2013 – Feb 2015

1 Designed hydraulic and mechanical systems for tractor attachments 2 Led development of drive-over mower deck system

3 Performed FEA and mechanism dynamics analysis

4 Supported product validation and manufacturing implementation Earlier Experience

Enerpac • Johnson Controls • Varian Medical Systems • Triumph Gear Systems • BAE Systems • Case New Holland • RFA Engineering

1 Hydraulic system design and routing

2 Structural and electromechanical component design 3 Large assembly modeling and top-down design

4 Injection-molded, cast, and machined components

5 Manufacturing support and supplier coordination

6 Extensive use of GD&T; and Pro/E (Creo)

Education

Mechanical Engineering Technology – Dunwoody College of Technology – Minneapolis, MN Certifications

1 PTC Creo Certification

2 Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)

Technical Tools

1 PTC Creo (2.0–10) • Windchill • Creo Simulate • Creo Mechanism 2 SolidWorks (Working Knowledge)

3 SAP • Teamcenter • Intralink

4 MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams)

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