I am a robotics engineer based in the Washington, DC area. My primary area of interest is robot design.

Originally from Mexico City, I first became interested in the field of space robotics while watching with fascination the landing of the Mars Pathfinder mission in 1997. Seeing the Sojourner rover make the first-ever wheel tracks on another planet inspired me to pursue a career in this field, and I have been fortunate to be involved in a wide array of aerospace robotics projects since.

Initially focused on optimization and motion planning, I discovered my passion for mechanical design while analyzing the joints of the ATHLETE robot during my PhD work. I have since led the design of various robots, grippers and actuators for industrial and aerospace applications. See more about my work in the Projects section of this website.

Outside of robotics I am an avid pilot and woodworker, and enjoy going on adventures with my family.

Education

“Gait Optimization for Multilegged Walking Robots with Application to a Lunar Hexapod”

“ Hierarchical Optimization of Virtual Rigid Body Spacecraft Formations”

  • M.S. Artificial Intelligence | Johns Hopkins University | Ongoing

  • B.S. Aeronautical Engineering | Instituto Politecnico Nacional | Mexico | 2000

Work

  • NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory | 2022 - Present

  • Maxar Space Robotics | 2016 - 2022

  • Intel Corporation | 2011 - 2016

  • SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory | 2010 - 2011

  • NASA Ames Research Center (Internship) | 2007 - 2009