My name is Stephen Mack, and for over a decade I have worked as an engineer and project manager in the commercial space industry. I have supported over a dozen geostationary and MEO launch campaigns and built satellite communication systems on six continents.
I have experience in all aspects of running a successful satellite network including: 24/7 satellite operations, link budget & network design, spacecraft payload testing in a clean room environment, telemetry tracking and control, FCC and ITU regulatory licensing, in-orbit-testing, downlink service performance, interference protection, Earth station design, and more.
In addition to RF engineering, I specialize in large scale data analytics to support spacecraft systems and broadcast services. Large data sets can be invaluable tools to determine the health of satellite network infrastructure, quantify the quality of services delivered, and locate RF interference.
Currently, I am a Senior Staff Engineer of Space Systems at SiriusXM working with a brilliant team to ensure optimal service delivery to our millions of customers.
He/Him
Professional Skills & Experience
Large projects don’t happen without carefully managing budgets, logistics, regulations, people, and strategic plans. I have over a decade of experience leading domestic and international teams of engineers to deliver superior satellite solutions.
I have been a major part of the design process for multiple satellite and terrestrial systems. My experience spans critical design reviews, clean room spacecraft testing, bring-into-use missions, Earth station & TT&C design, link budgeting, satellite operations, contingency planning, frequency planning, and much more.
I design, test, and carry out spacecraft procedures for routine and non-routine activities. I monitor many spacecraft performance metrics, provide health analysis, and watch for anomalies. My custom built analytics platform catches service-impacting events and notifies engineers within seconds.
I have built satellite ground infrastructure solutions on six continents for a wide range of services. Projects have ranged from large aperture antenna installations, broadcast system integration, earth station upgrades, spectrum monitoring systems, and much more.
Satellite systems are regulated by the FCC in the United States and the ITU internationally. I have designed satellite uplink and downlink frequency plans, licensed US Earth Stations, licensed spacecraft with the FCC and ITU, and submitted comments to regulatory bodies to protect frequency rights.
RF interference is a major problem, and I have built interference and spectrum monitoring solutions for fixed and mobile satellite systems all over the world. I have developed custom algorithms and software packages to log, detect, locate, and classify types of wireless interference.
Who I’ve Worked With
Education
Speaking & Publications
My research publications can be found on Google Scholar. Research topics include aerospace control theory, wireless systems, and data science.
I have spoken at conferences and universities with topics including space & wireless architectures, data analysis, and astronomy/astrophotography. If you are interested in having me speak at your event please contact me.