Timeline of Experience

Research, industry, technical leadership, and professional experience have each shaped how I approach complex systems, communicate across teams, and carry ideas into working hardware.

2026 — Present
Research

Aerospace Robotics Laboratory

Undergraduate Researcher · Georgia Institute of Technology

Aaron Kingslien working on aerospace robotics hardware

I joined the Aerospace Robotics Laboratory to work on mechanical systems for robotic aerospace platforms. My work has ranged from independently redesigning and integrating a lunar rover chassis and drivetrain to leading development of AeroLatch, a compact mechanism for autonomous aerial docking and future mid-air battery exchange.

The lab has pushed me to treat CAD, manufacturing, electrical integration, accessibility, testing, and controls interfaces as parts of one system rather than isolated design tasks.

Key Contributions

  • Redesigned and integrated a 1,000+ component lunar rover assembly while reducing mass by 20%.
  • Increased rover maximum climbing angle from 23° to 42° through drivetrain and chassis changes.
  • Leading AeroLatch mechanism development from concept selection through physical prototype testing.
Tools & Skills: SolidWorks Design for Manufacturability Mechanical Assembly Electrical Integration Rapid Prototyping
2025 — Present
Engineering Leadership

Georgia Tech Design/Build/Fly

Propulsion Lead · Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia Tech Design Build Fly competition aircraft during flight testing

As Propulsion Lead, I owned the aircraft propulsion workflow from modeling and component selection through wind-tunnel validation and developmental flight testing. The system had to perform within a 450 W power limit while continuously adapting to changing mass allocations and requirements from other subteams.

I also led a propulsion team and maintained the cross-subteam communication needed to keep propulsion decisions aligned with the complete aircraft.

Key Contributions

  • Improved thrust-to-weight ratio by 18% through propulsion modeling, selection, and testing.
  • Validated configurations with static and dynamic wind-tunnel testing and 100+ developmental flights.
  • Contributed to an aircraft that placed 1st in flight performance at competition.
Tools & Skills: Propulsion Modeling Whitmore Trajectory Driver Wind Tunnel Testing Flight Testing Technical Leadership
2025 — Present
Professional

Office of Scholar Programs

Undergraduate Assistant · Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia Tech Office of Scholar Programs

Alongside a demanding engineering course load, research, and technical leadership responsibilities, I work as an Undergraduate Assistant in Georgia Tech's Office of Scholar Programs.

The role gives me experience operating in a professional university environment where I often organize and compile program data through tools like Microsoft Excel.

Key Contributions

  • Support day-to-day program operations and administrative needs for scholar programming.
  • Plan Stamps Scholars Weekend, a multi-day program for 150 full-ride scholarship candidates.
  • Communicate with students, staff, and program stakeholders in a professional environment while maintaining confidentiality.
Tools & Skills: Excel Organization Time Management Professional Communication Confidentiality
Summer 2024
Industry

Southwest Research Institute

Aerospace Engineering Intern · San Antonio, Texas

Southwest Research Institute aerospace engineering internship

At Southwest Research Institute, I worked in an aerospace hardware environment supporting assembly, integration, and test activities for spaceflight instrumentation associated with NASA's PUNCH mission.

The experience gave me early industry exposure to working with real flight hardware, where documentation, handling, repeatability, and careful integration matter as much as the design itself.

Key Contributions

  • Supported assembly, integration, and test work on spaceflight imaging hardware.
  • Worked within documented aerospace hardware processes and clean room environments.
  • Developed practical experience with instrumentation, verification, and flight-hardware handling.
Tools & Skills: AI&T Space Hardware Instrumentation Technical Documentation Hardware Integration
2023 — 2024
Research

NASA SEES

Student Researcher · Austin, Texas

NASA student research during a reduced-gravity flight campaign

Through NASA's STEM Enhancement in Earth Science program, I developed and tested a lunar dust mitigation experiment designed to compare spacesuit fabrics across Earth, Mars, Moon, and microgravity conditions.

The project combined experimental design, mechanical development, rapid redesign under a late mass constraint, reduced-gravity flight testing, data interpretation, and scientific communication.

Key Contributions

  • Redesigned the experiment after the allowable mass dropped from 50 lb to 5 lb shortly before flight.
  • Successfully completed all 16 planned fabric and gravity-environment combinations.
  • Presented the research at the American Geophysical Union as first author.
Tools & Skills: SolidWorks Experimental Design Rapid Redesign Microgravity Testing Scientific Communication

Let's Connect

I'm looking for the next challenge worth building.

I am interested in opportunities involving aerospace systems, robotics, spacecraft mechanical design, and hardware development where I can take ownership of challenging engineering problems.

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