Sid Vaidyanathan

Hey there... I'm the CTO & Co‑Founder of SkyBourne Aerospace

Space nerd, cheesecake connoisseur, jiujitsu junkie and world explorer all rolled into one. I love building satellites from scratch and bringing crazy ideas to life.

About Me

Sid Vaidyanathan at an ASU NewSpace booth talking to participants.

Sid Vaidyanathan in a cleanroom holding the DORA CubeSat.

As the CTO and Co‑Founder of SkyBourne Aerospace, I thrive on building satellites and space hardware from the ground up. I’ve led NASA-funded missions like DORA and SPARCS and helped turn startups into multi‑million‑dollar successes.

Off the clock, you’ll find me on the wrestling mat, hiking, or traveling across the world. I also ride motorcycles and love collecting legos (I have every aerosapce lego set). You could also catch me in a Taco Bell drive thru ordering my crunchwrap supreme as I am an avid Taco Bell Enthusiast and I cannot express how much I love chessecakes!!!

Aerospace Experience

SPARCS CubeSat Mission

NASA‑funded 6U CubeSat focused on observing low‑mass stars. I led payload integration and environmental testing, ensuring the spacecraft was ready for launch.

CubeSat Engineer • 2023–present

DORA CubeSat

Served as lead mechanical engineer for a 3U CubeSat built with NASA JPL for communications and cosmology. I designed the structure, managed integration/testing and even set up a ground station for mission operations.

Lead Mechanical Engineer • 2022–present

Satellite constellation coverage over South Africa

LEO Satellite Constellations

Investigated formation‑control strategies for a seven‑satellite swarm to enhance a low‑frequency radio astronomy array. Developed simulations and control laws to keep satellites in precise hexagonal formation.

Research Project • 2024

Product Development

OpenAI TARS prototype with articulated arm

GPT‑TARS Robot

Brought the robot TARS from Interstellar to life as a fully articulated desktop companion. I designed the cam‑driven mechanism, built prototypes and integrated an AI‑powered voice interface.

Lead Designer • 2024

Memory Glass

Developed a wearable attachment that uses facial recognition to display names, helping those with Alzheimer’s recognise loved ones. I designed the enclosure, integrated the electronics and wrote the software.

Systems Integration Engineer • 2021–2022

Professional Experience

Interplanetary Lab – CubeSat Engineer

Jun 2022 – Present

Lead mechanical and systems engineer for multiple NASA‑funded CubeSat missions including DORA, SPARCS, Coconut and SquidSAT. Coordinated mission status, ensured spacecraft safety compliance and managed mechanical design, analysis and testing.

Amazon – Engineering Intern

Dec 2022 – Jun 2023

Supported design and implementation of medium‑scope automation projects in high‑speed fulfilment centres. Led technicians to improve packaging efficiencies and reduce downtime while ensuring safety and ergonomic design.

Turn Systems (Vytal) – Mechanical Engineering Intern

Mar 2022 – Apr 2023

Worked at a ground‑up startup developing reusable container systems to eliminate single‑use plastics. Contributed from the early 10‑person team stage through its growth into a multi‑million‑dollar company.

Skills & Tools

Engineering & Design

SolidWorks, Fusion 360, BIM360
ANSYS, Thermal Desktop, STK, Soap
AutoCAD, KiCAD, LTSpice
Orbit analysis and systems engineering

Programming & Controls

MATLAB & Simulink
C++, Rust, Python, Arduino
Linux environments & shell scripting
Embedded systems and microcontrollers

Hardware & Fabrication

Soldering & PCB assembly
CNC machining & lathe work
3D Printing (FDM & Resin)
Arc welding & prototyping

Leadership & Communication

Team leadership and project management
Technical writing & documentation
Mentoring and training junior engineers
Cross‑functional collaboration