Elfen · Aerospace Business Development & Engineering

Global reach.
Sharp strategy.
Engineering depth.

Elfen pairs a global sales network with engineering experience across traditional and new space, translating ambiguity into identified opportunities, sharpened product strategy, and new business.

Current Clients
Redwire Space Components Edge Aerospace Liftero
About

A global network, grounded in engineering

Elfen pairs a global sales network with engineering experience across traditional and new space industries, translating ambiguity into identified opportunities, sharpened product strategy, and new business.

With presence in both Europe and the United States, Elfen maintains close awareness of existing and emerging players on both sides of the Atlantic. The network reaches further still: to customers across Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, the Middle East, India, Oceania, and the broader Americas. Transatlantic work is a particular specialty; the reach is global.

Behind the network is more than two decades of hands-on engineering and leadership roles — spacecraft components and system development at TRW, Aerojet, Beal Aerospace, Blue Origin, Vulcan, and Stratolaunch. That experience turns fuzzy concepts into qualified opportunities, and rough ideas into differentiated products customers love.

01
Global Sales Network
A strong transatlantic core, and active relationships with primes, OEMs and emerging companies across the Americas, Europe, the UK, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
02
Engineering Depth
Systems engineering, propulsion systems and components, avionics and compute solutions, navigation sensors, camera systems, and payloads — across both traditional and new space — enabling credible, technically rigorous customer conversations.
03
Ambiguity to Business
Identify the real opportunities, sharpen product strategy against what the market will actually buy, and build the pipeline that closes.
Services

Where Elfen adds value

Business development and technical support for satellite and launch vehicle organizations, drawing on cross-disciplinary experience in traditional and new space.

01
Business Strategy & Development

Strategic market analysis, industry-trend mapping, voice-of-customer research, and competitive assessment to shape product roadmaps and impactful launches — then cultivate qualified opportunities and build a sustainable sales pipeline for aerospace OEMs and emerging commercial space companies.

02
Systems & Detailed Engineering

Combines system-level expertise with detailed engineering to develop spacecraft, launch vehicles, and mission-critical components — from requirements definition through rigorous verification and validation, qualification, and acceptance testing.

03
Program Management

Brings clarity to complex, ambiguous programs — aligning interdisciplinary teams, defining actionable paths forward, and guiding the development of new components and systems that meet program objectives and delight customers.

Clients

Current & previous clients

Current
Redwire Space Components
GNC Components & Camera Systems

Sun sensors, star trackers, and camera systems with speciality algorithms for OpNav, SSA, & RPO applications. Facilities across the US and EU.

Edge Aerospace
On-Board Computing & Networking

Space-rated, radiation-tolerant data-processing units and network switches engineered for reliable, high-performance computing and communications in demanding orbital environments.

Liftero
Green Chemical Propulsion

Green, non-toxic propulsion systems using nitrous oxide and ethane, offering low cost, short lead times, and simplified handling and logistics.

Previous
Agile Space Industries
Propulsion Solutions

Durango, Colorado. In-space propulsion including 3D printed thrusters and monopropellant & hypergolic propellants.

Pyroalliance
Separation Systems

Les Mureaux, France; part of ArianeGroup. 60+ years of pyrotechnic separation systems and mechanisms for spacecraft and launch vehicles.

Sodern
Optical Instruments

Limeil-Brévannes, France; part of ArianeGroup. Star trackers and space optical instruments for satellite attitude control.

Stratolaunch
Air-Launch & Hypersonics

Seattle, WA & Mojave, CA. Air-launch platform and hypersonic flight test systems.

Blue Origin
Launch Vehicles

Kent, WA. Reusable launch vehicles, rocket engines and spacecraft.

Dawn Aerospace
Green Propulsion

New Zealand and the Netherlands. Green propulsion systems and thrusters for satellites.

Career Highlights

Where the engineering depth comes from

May 2014 – Present
Business Development Consultant
Elfen, LLC — Self-employed

Provides business and technical services to satellite and launch vehicle organizations. Supports clients in product development and sales pipeline building. Clients have included Redwire Space Components, Edge Aerospace, Liftero, Agile Space Industries, Pyroalliance, Sodern, Stratolaunch, Blue Origin and Dawn Aerospace.

Jun 2015 – Jun 2018
Director of Engineering
Vulcan, Inc.

Led large interdisciplinary teams developing aerospace systems for earth observation and telecommunications. Advised the Stratolaunch program on spacecraft and rocket engine development. Developed machine learning-enabled UAS for wildlife conservation in Africa.

Aug 2004 – Nov 2010
Department Manager & Project Lead
Blue Origin

Led teams developing launch vehicles and spacecraft with $10M+ budget responsibility. Managed NASA Commercial Crew Development program testing, designed rocket engine test facilities, and led interdisciplinary teams of 25+ in propulsion system development.

Dec 2000 – Jul 2004
Chief Engineer
Aerojet Rocketdyne

Administered rocket engine development for NASA, US Air Force, and Department of Defense contracts. Led development of pre-burners for the Integrated Powerhead Development program. Best paper award, 2004 JANNAF Liquid Propulsion conference.

Contact

Start a conversation

Whether you are entering a new market, sharpening a product, or looking for a technically credible partner to open doors abroad — Elfen works with a small number of clients at a time to give each one full attention.