Work Experience
since 2020
Fox2Space
CEO (Owner)
Through my venture Fox2Space, I developed game-changing new technologies that fundamentally improve the design of mission critical systems. I invented the relevant technologies independently and took them to maturity. I successfully constructed an ecosystem of prototype hardware and powerful full-system test-as-you-fly spacecraft simulators for industrial commercialization (TRL5). These are are self-designed, self-manufactured, self-integrated, tested and validated, with everything in place to go to TRL6. To do so, I built up an SMD manufacturing, assembly, and test laboratory, which required two years of systems engineering, research into process optimization, material science, RF/high-frequency and low-noise electronic design and EMI/noise mitigation. In the process, I conducted serveral spin-off projects, e.g., collaboration with RIKEN researchers on SMD reflow and process quality optimization, with optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the creation of an additive manufacturing setup.
The technologies I developed enable the design, construction, and operation of better, more reliable, resilient, and scalable spacecraft with a high level of redundancy using only widely-available standard COTS components. None of this depends on classical hardening. Instead, as faults and failures accumulate throughout a mission, my technologies enable a spacecraft to remain functional and mitigate the effects of failures at a system level, not if but when they happen. It can adapt to a shrinking set of functional components and subsystem capabilities, and bleeds system performance but does not loose functionality. Such systems therefore behave similar to biological cell-based systems: they collaborate, compensate for damage, adapt, and instead of failing outright, they age over time. Using these technologies, a spacecraft, can specifically be designed to achieve a certain design lifetime, without having to rely on hope and trust in the numbers produced through reliability engineering.
The technology offered by Fox2Space are mature and can be applied far beyond spaceflight, from power plants, mass transport, and automotive applications, to systems that must assure trust and integrity under threats from yet unknown vectors.
2018 – 2022
Consortium Moderator
Xilinx Radiation Test Consortium (XRTC)
Support and coordination for ongoing radiation test campaigns. Hardware development for XRTC Kintex Ultrascale DuT and the Gen4 Common Test Infrastructure, as well as design of support/bugfix-PCBs. Worked on the XRTC’s Xilinx Series-7 Radiation Effects Characterization Report.
2019
Guest Researcher
National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
Worked with a PhD/MSc student team in developing a SystemC/ArchC model of my fault-tolerant MPSoC architecture for fault-injection. Collaboration with researchers in electrical engineering and astronomy.
2016 – 2019
Research Staff
Leiden University, The Netherlands
Ran an ESA funded research project to development of a novel approach to fault-tolerance for modern COTS electronics in space, using software-side measures and FPGA reconfiguration, and mixed criticality concepts. Collaboration with Leiden Observatory astrochemists on astrochemical models (numerical codes) for analysis of observations. Cooperation with the JWST-MIRI team in the preparation, debugging and testing for the MIRI Simulator. Based on MIRISim produced an example payload application for fault-tolerance proof-of-concept, which was later replaced with ESA NIRcam.
2013 – 2016
Research Scientist
Technical University Munich, Germany
On-orbit operations and post-mortem work on the CubeSat FirstMOVE. Command & data handling team leader of the MOVE-II CubeSat mission. Was one of the main project organizers, worked on every aspect of MOVE-II’s. Helped obtain funding from the German Space Agency (DLR) through proposal ourselves. Began to develop a novel fault on-board computer architecture (continued later on in Leiden and at NTHU, followed by prototype development independently). Collaboration with astrophysicists from Max Plank Institute for Extraterrestrial physics on data reduction, analysis and modeling. Deep interest and interaction with the adaptive optics instrumentation researchers as well as the Herschel HIFI team.
2011 – 2013
Software Developer (Part-Time)
GNUnet: GNU’s network protocol stack
Development on several of GNUnet’s core services, e.g., VPN and cryptography related components for Unix and Windows. Research on protocol reliability, security, cryptography, and secure multiparty computing.
2010 – 2012
Research Assistant
Fraunhofer Institute for Applied and Integrated Security, Germany
Designed and implemented a secure, automated, highly parallelized malware collection and analysis environment. Development QEMU-based high-interaction honeypots and hypervisors for binary introspection.
2007 – 2009
Consultant, Security & Network Engineer
Ars Electronica Linz, Austria
Designed and implemented a new server and network landscape. Abundant experience in disaster recovery. Consulting for international projects. Participated in planning the infrastructure of new corporate campus, including datacenters, security concept, and contingency planning.
2004 – 2010
Freelance Technical Consultant
Mainly on topics related to network architecture and design, technology support, and IT security.
2002 – 2007
Electronics Repair Technician and Consultant
DataLink International, Austria
Technical consultant for approximately 3000 corporate customers across Europe. Responsible for project consulting, supervision of trainees, and contact with suppliers in Asia. Department leader since 2005.
2001 – 2002
Developer & Admin
Rosenmayr & Partner, Austria
Created a web-based GIS platform based on Gentoo Linux, concept-wise comparable to Google maps upon release. Also responsible for system and server administration.
Education
PhD for Interdisciplinary Research
Leiden University, Netherlands
In collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA)
Thesis Title: Fault-Tolerant Satellite Computing with Modern Semiconductors
Master of Science, GPA: 3.9 with Honors
Munich Technical University, Germany
Major in Computer Engineering and Minor in Space Engineering,
Thesis Title: Dependable Architectures and Software Concepts for Next-Gen Nanosatellites
Bachelor of Science in Engineering, GPA: 3.76 with Honors
University of Applied Sciences of Upper Austria, Hagenberg Research Center, Austria
In collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied and Integrated Security (AISEC)
IT-Security and Cryptography Track
Science Thesis: Designing a Secure Malware Collection and Analysis Environment for Industrial Use
Engineering Thesis: Binary Level Protocol Identification for Malware Analysis and Collection
Computer Engineering Apprenticeship with Greater Honors
Professional College No. 4, Austria
Awards
2017
Winning Team of the COSPAR Satellite Design Competition
Design of a Low-Cost Satellite Relay Constellation consisting of Nanosatellites
2016
ESA/NPI Research Grant (90,000€ / 100,000$)
Awarded by the European Space Agency for my PhD research at Leiden University
2016
Winning Team of the ESA Academy Satellite Saving Challenge
ESA Advanced Concepts Division, Redu Ground Station Complex
2016
Winner of the ZARM Award for Young Scientists
for my outstanding master thesis consisting of my 4 published, peer-reviewed research papers
2015
ESA/NPI Research Grant (100,000€ / 130,000$)
Awarded by the European Space Agency for my research with TU-Delft, re-issues to Leiden University
2015
Grant 50RM1509 of the German Space Agency (DLR)
for the development, and launch of the MOVE-II CubeSat, as well as salaries for PhD candidate and MSc support scientist positions.
2011
National Austrian Study Grant for Researchers Aboard
Support in funding master-level studies in a foreign country
2008
National Austrian Study Grant for Industry Professionals
Support in funding bachelor-level studies