Jared Collins

Title:
Principle Engineer
Education:
BS, Aerospace Engineering, Virginia Tech; MS, Systems Engineering, George Washington University
How did you get into the job you have now?
My entire career has been in the spacecraft development world. After working for a major defense contractor for nearly two decades I desired to pivot to a new scene by moving from the prime contractor side of things to supporting a government program office on a national program.  Working mostly on defense programs for my career, I’ve really enjoyed seeing the impact of these programs on enhancing the military’s capabilities.
Favorite planet?:
I was always fascinated by Jupiter since I was a kid: Biggest planet, coolest moons (Io, Europa), Great Red Spot.  In grade school I remember wondering what it would be like to land on Jupiter only to later find out it has no surface! What a let down…..these are the things space geeks think about:)
Hobbies outside of work?
I really enjoy any activity outside whether it’s walking, running, hiking or playing any sports with my kids.  I’ll even go as far as say I enjoy yardwork most of the time!  A lot of my time nowadays is spent on the sidelines for my three kids’ practices and games.  I enjoy working out and it’s a treat to find some time to play tennis or pickleball.
Why did you choose SSI?
In my previous job I had worked with several SSI employees and all had a lot of experience, brought a lot of value by being able to serve in a variety of roles and were essentially plug-and-play resources.  I knew I was joining a group of highly qualified professionals and a trusted company in the industry when I moved to SSI.
Bio:
Coming out of college I worked for 18+ years with Northrop Grumman (previously Orbital) in the roles of Mission Assurance, Systems Engineering and Program Management.   I started out on commercial spacecraft and moved to the national security programs over a decade ago.  In all of those roles I’ve been able to experience the entire program life cycle (from proposals to on-orbit support) which has always kept the job fresh and exciting with the highlight being the various launch campaigns I’ve been fortunate enough to take part in.