Balachandar Ramamurthy

Chief Executive Officer @ Critical Loop

About

I am a leader with experience designing and managing complex systems. I've worked on technology development, decision-making, strategy, and real-time rocket launch control room operations. I am a systems engineer with a deep interest in physics. I served as the chief engineer responsible for human-rating Falcon 9, the first rocket to launch astronauts to orbit from the US after the retirement of the Space Shuttle. I've helped build and run startups, engineering departments, and multidisciplinary technical projects. I worked on putting antimatter to work and developing a privately funded, open-source lunar lander. My areas of technical interest include energy, climate, explosions, rocket propulsion, trajectory analysis, systems engineering, autonomous fault detection, and mathematical modeling. I enjoy coming up with new concepts, designs and apply my skills to a broad range of technical areas. Colleagues value my ability to analyze problems objectively and play the role of devil's advocate in brainstorming sessions.

Country

United States

City

Los Angeles

Industry

Information Technology & Services

Skill

Mathematical Modeling, Spacecraft, Systems Engineering, Engineering Design, Aerospace, Simulations, Engineering, Space Systems, Aerospace Engineering, Testing, Science, Matlab, Propulsion, Thermal, Labview, Robotics, Orbital Mechanics, Finite Element Analysis, Aerodynamics, Integration

Experience

Chief Executive Officer

Critical Loop

2023-2 - Present · 3 yrs 8 mos

We are solving industrial power problems.

Executive In Residence

Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

2022-10 - 2023-9 · 1 yr

Engaged in discussions about the space economy. Delivered the 36th Jenkin Lecture, '21st Century Spaceflight.'

Director of Flight Safety

SpaceX

2020-8 - 2023-2 · 2 yrs 7 mos

Hawthorne, California, United States

Kept astronauts and the public safe for all SpaceX flights. Integrated Trajectory Analysis, System Safety, Risk and Reliability analysis teams. Worked with Regulatory Affairs and Launch Operations teams to help fly new vehicles and missions safely. Built new tools, modeling and simulation capabilities, and ran test programs to advance the state-of-the-art in risk analysis, informing design and operations. Led a pioneering test program to characterize methane/oxygen explosive yield.

Principal Flight Reliability Engineer

SpaceX

2019-8 - 2020-8 · 1 yr 1 mo

Hawthorne

Launch chief engineer - technical, operations, program, and certification lead for crew rockets. Developed systems engineering tools to make reliable and safe rockets at high launch cadence. Led the development of design and construction standards for future crew vehicles.

F9 Crew Lead

SpaceX

2017-1 - 2019-8 · 2 yrs 8 mos

Hawthorne

Technical, program, operations & certification lead for human-rating the Falcon 9 rocket. Launch Chief Engineer for Dragon (Crew & Cargo) and commercial payload missions. Crafted development plan and contributed to design and execution of the test program to put US astronauts back in space. Design and development of autonomous fault detection to trigger crew escape.

Reliability Engineer

SpaceX

2011-6 - 2016-12 · 5 yrs 7 mos

Hawthorne, CA

Mission Assurance and Astronaut Safety. Launch Chief Engineer support including anomaly investigation, launch operator training, issue resolution and range safety analysis. Developed test plans for rocket upgrades.

Technical Development Director

AIAA San Francisco Section Council

2009-11 - 2011-6 · 1 yr 8 mos

I coordinated technical development activities including Team SF's participation in the AIAA Young Professionals rocket competition, meeting groups for aerospace technical interest areas, outreach activities, and technical symposium organization.

Systems Engineer

Valador Inc.

2008 - 2011-6 · 3 yrs

Fault detection to trigger crew escape and physics modeling to see if astronauts would survive. Liquid propellant rocket engine modeling to understand how failures propagate to the rocket. Probabilistic risk modeling for Moon and Mars bases.

Junior Engineer

Valador Inc.

2007 - 2008 · 1 yr

Thermal protection system geometry design, automation, material allowables development supporting thermostructural analysis team for the Orion spacecraft heatshield. Supported risk based design, engineering trades, systems engineering for lunar lander designs.