Olivier L. de Weck, Ph.D.

Robert N. Noyce Career Development Professor

Assistant Professor of Aeronautics &
Astronautics and Engineering Systems

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Room 33-410
Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Engineering Systems Division
77, Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139, U.S.A.

Phone: (617) 253-0255
Fax: (617) 258-0863
Email: deweck@mit.edu

Professional Objectives

1. To develop the art and science of Strategic Engineering of Macro Systems by bridging the fields of System Architecture and Multidisciplinary Design Optimization with an emphasis on aerospace and automotive applications.

2. To improve graduate and undergraduate engineering education by teaching innovative, technology-enabled systems courses based on the principles and methods of active learning.

3. To serve the community of students, academic colleagues and practitioners by acting as a mentor, reviewer, organizer and friend.

Education

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1997-2001), Ph.D. in Aerospace Systems (2001), advisor: Prof. David W. Miller. Master of Science (1999). Courses include satellite engineering, spacecraft sensors & instrumentation, signals & systems, thermal control and dynamics of space structures. Graduate research assistant in control and design of large flexible space structures, communications, satellite constellations, integrated modeling and simulations of space telescopes. GPA: 5.0/5.0

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich (1987-93), Diplom Ingenieur degree (“mit Auszeichnung” – with honors) in Industrial Engineering and Production Management. FEM simulation and modeling for manufacturing, project and technology management, technology transfer. Undergraduate research assistant at the Institute of Virtual Production (Prof. Josef Reissner), FEM simulation group (Prof. Pavel Hora). GPA: 5.85/6.0

Professional Experience

Program Manager F/A-18 Engineering, McDonnell Douglas/SF Aircraft & Systems Co., St. Louis, MO. March 1, 1996 - January 1, 1997. Led a team of 13 specialists on aerospace vehicle subsystems including avionics, structures, propulsion and aeromechanics. Implemented a 19.6 million US$ technology transfer and development program for the SF/A-18 aircraft system.

Technical Liaison Engineer, McDonnell Douglas Aerospace, St. Louis, MO. January 5, 1994 - January 1, 1997. Performed function as SF’s main technical liaison on a 2.6 billion US$ aircraft procurement program. Supported the development of a low-drag-pylon (LDP), structural modifications of 9g-airframe and avionics subsystems integration on MIL-STD-1553 data bus. Successfully coordinated over 30 engineering training courses (~250 participants) and specified numerous CAE software packages.

Research and Development Staff Engineer, SF Aircraft & Systems Co., Emmen, Switzerland. November 11, 1993 - January 1, 1994. Proposed and planned technology transfer program between the Swiss and US partner companies. Special assistant to VP Research and Development.

Internships

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, June 29,1998 – August 28, 1998
Research Internship at GSFC on the Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST) research program. Performed integrated modeling and simulation work for structures, optics and controls in order to predict scientific performance of the observatory under the influence of dynamic on-orbit disturbances.

ABB Process Automation Ltd., March 20, 1992 - April 9, 1992
Internship focusing on Computer-Integrated-Manufacturing (CIM). Investigated the quality control (QC) process for industrial circuit board manufacturing of small lots, proposed improvements to the QC data flow and defect tracking process.

McDonnell Aircraft Co. St. Louis, August 19, 1991- December 6, 1991
Engineering intern in Environmental Control System (ECS) group, resolved numerous manufacturing issues, wrote engineering change proposals (ECP’s), evaluated new technologies for equipment installation designs such as Superplastic Forming (SPF).

Metallwarenfabrik Nägeli AG, Switzerland. January 5, 1992 - March 17, 1992 Conducted technical process analysis and documented findings using innovative flow charts for ISO 9001 certification, small company experience (25 people).

Merits / Awards

Salutatorian: College St. Croix May 1987
ETH Best Research Project: “Simulation of tube hydro-forming” Apr. 1992
Co-Valedictorian: Industrial Engineering ETH, 1st out of 67 May 1993
ETH Zurich – Auszeichnung (hons.) GPA above 5.8/6.0 May 1993
Fulbright Scholarship, Swiss National Finalist June 1996
Pellegrini-Medicus Exchange Scholarship Mar. 1997
Carroll L. Wilson Award – M.I.T. June 1998
Robert N. Noyce Career Development Professorship – M.I.T. Sept. 2002
INCOSE 2003 Robotics Competition, 2nd place Aug. 2003
Best Paper Awards (2) at INCOSE 2004 Conference Aug. 2004

Languages (in order of decreasing proficiency)

German: mother tongue
English: proficiency equivalent to a native speaker
French: father’s tongue, proficient in business/technical situations
Italian: command of basic conversational vocabulary and grammar
Russian: high-school level competency

Technical Skills

Spacecraft Engineering: spacecraft configuration and structures layout, orbital mechanics, system level trade studies, RF link budgets, electrical power budgets, finite element analyses, attitude control design, laboratory integration and testing.
System Engineering: Requirements definition, milestone planning, functional and cost analyses, failure and reliability analysis, PERT plans and project management tasks, real options analysis
Software proficiency: MATLAB, ANSYS, NASTRAN, STK, MARC
Programming: MATLAB, BASIC52, HTML, Fortran77

Publications
(see separate list)

Personal

Senior Member AIAA, Member INCOSE, IEEE, ASEE, SPIE, AOPA, VSBI, Sigma Xi honorary research society,
Private Pilot, IFR rating, single-engine land,
Dual citizen: USA and Switzerland
Personal interests include family, languages, space exploration, flying, cultural events, astronomy, skiing,