Brandon Colón

Experience

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  Ethicon, Inc.

  Aug 2013 - Dec 2013

  Research And Development Engineer - Co-Op

  Served as an R&D Co-op Engineer tasked with providing support with design verification testing. In charge of test method development and documentation, design of various test fixtures and stress - strain analysis of key components. Part of the Technical Classes group in charge of organizing various technical classes by experienced colleagues for benefit of all the co-ops; organized Design of Experiment class.

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  University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez

  May 2015 - Jun 2017

  Team Captain - Human Exploration Rover Challenge Competition

  UPRM Moonbuggy Design Team• Led the overall design and manufacturing process of the vehicle. • Developed original design requirements and testing criteria. Coordinated fabrication process and schedule of each sub system with team leads as week as overall vehicle assembly and testing.• In charge of the overall team organization. Established project plans, work breakdown structure and initial Gantt chart using Microsoft Project. • Develop funding proposals for sponsors such as Boeing, General Motors, and Chevron. Successfully secured over $10k in sponsorship from these companies. • Won 3rd Place Overall & Most Improved award with an 85%-time improvement in NASA’s Human Exploration Rover Challenge hosted by NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. Show less

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  NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

  Jun 2015 - Aug 2015

  Design Engineer - Intern

  • Designed, analyzed, and assembled ion optics interface using CAD software NX• Wrote code to simulate ion trajectory using simulation software SIMIONFirst Author: • Colon, B. J., “In Optics Stage for the Organics Analyzer for Sampling Icy Surfaces”. NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center Internship Poster Presentations, August 2015, poster forum, Greenbelt, MA.

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  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Jun 2016 - Aug 2016

  Undergraduate Researcher

  MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) • Worked in Dr. Cahoy's Space Telecommunications, Astronomy and Radiation Laboratory (STAR) Lab in the AeroAstro department• Developed structural design for spaceflight hardware of CubeSat using SolidWorks.• Performed a one node thermal analysis. • 3D printed proposed design for PMR1 deliverable.First Author:• Colon, B. J., “Structural Design and Analysis of a 3U CubeSat for the Free-Space Lasercom and Radiation Experiment”. MIT Summer Research Program Symposium, August 2016, poster forum, Cambridge, MA. Show less

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  General Motors

  Sept 2017 - Sept 2019

  Associate Engineer - GPS TRACK Rotational Program

  Systems Integration Engineer – Software Testing (Rotation #4) • Integrated engineering software for vehicle level testing • Performed root cause analysis and led issue resolution for latest released test software • Developed python scripts to automate standard portions of test procedures CAE Engineer (Rotation #3) • Performed study using Amesim simulation software to identify source of vibration sensitivity • Developed python scripts to automate data post processing procedures • Integrated post processing tool with simulation models to reduce overall project timeDevelopment and Validation Engineer (Rotation #2) • Led Function Check testing on Integration Vehicle Engineering Release units • Led investigation for root cause failure on transmission unit returned from Warranty Part Center • Supported High Speed and TEDD (Transmission Engine Dynamometer Durability) testingVerification Engineer (Rotation #1) • Performed root cause analysis using Vspy software to identify blackout issues on the vehicle’s IPC (Instrument Panel Cluster) • Led BCM (Body Control Module) software update implementation on vehicle fleet. Show less

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  Georgia Institute of Technology

  Jan 2021 - Jul 2022

  Leading the mechanical design of a dual-mode, green propulsion system for small spacecrafts referred to as Spectre in collaboration with MIT and NASA MSFC. This system will make use of high impulse chemical propulsion, combined with high efficiency electric propulsion while using the same AF-M315E propellant from a single, shared source.• Designing system for additive manufacturing practices based on L-PBF printing of Ti-6AI-4V. • Preparing the system design to a Preliminary Design Review (PDR) ready level. This includes defining all the major external and internal interfaces and placement of the major components (thrusters, valves, controller boards, sensors, etc.). • Developing the Master Equipment List (MEL) and Powered Equipment List (PEL) documents for the Spectre PDR. • Performing a preliminary structural analysis of the propellant tank. • Performing a printability assessment of the current propellant tank design. Show less • Designed 3D printed fixtures for assembly procedures that required micrometer level adjustments to ensure tolerances were met. • Wrote various assembly procedures in collaboration with NASA MSFC support. • Supported assembly and integration procedures including mechanical integration, wire staking and building electrical connections.• Supported system level testing including leak and proof pressure tests, controller checkout and thermal vacuum testing of the system operating valves, pump, and thruster heaters.• Led the final propulsion system bake out test and electrical checkout pre/post bake out. Show less

  • NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunities (NSTGRO) Fellow

    Aug 2021 - Jul 2022

  • Lead Mechanical Engineer – Spectre: A Dual Mode Green Propulsion System

    May 2020 - Dec 2021

  • Assembly, Integration & Testing Support – Lunar Flashlight Propulsion System (LFPS)

    Jan 2021 - May 2021
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  NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  Jun 2021 - Aug 2021

  Testing Engineer Intern - Exploration Systems Developments in Dual-Mode, Green Propulsion Technology

  • Designed a test article referred to as a “FlatSat” of the Spectre propulsion system.• Led the assembly and integration of the FlatSat including tube routing, installation of fittings/fasteners, 3D printing the necessary standoffs, and coordinating the shipping of all the components to be precision cleaned. • Performed the necessary updates/modifications to the computer program interface used to communicate with the controller on the FlatSat.• Built the necessary electrical connections for communicating through the vacuum chamber using a DB-9 RS422 to USB and a DB-9 RS422 extender.• Supported test equipment preparation such as building communication passthroughs to interface components inside the vacuum chamber with the lab’s DAQ system set up, thermocouple installations and power set ups. Show less

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  The University of Texas at El Paso

  Aug 2022 - now

  Ph.D. Student and NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunities (NSTGRO) Fellow

  Advisor: Dr. Francisco Medina Current Ph.D. student with research emphasis on Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM), Laser Powder Directed Energy Deposition (LP - DED) parameter development for refractory materials, and uncertainty quantification in the additive manufacturing cycle as applied to aerospace propulsion components. - Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) and optimization leveraging traditional and advanced software (SolidWorks, Netfabb, nTopology).- Parameter development of refractory materials on LP - DED platform.- Build file preparation including support and powder removal design. - Operation of L - PBF and LP - DED machines: EOS M100 & RPMI's 222 XR- Material Characterization (microstructure and mechanical)- Mechanical Testing (tensile and fatigue)- Structural and Thermal Analysis.- Uncertainty Quantification and Propagation. Show less