Ryan Stockton
Senior Robotics Engineer with extensive experience designing and developing novel actuators and precision mechanisms for extreme environments
Ryan Stockton
Senior Robotics Engineer with extensive experience designing and developing novel actuators and precision mechanisms for extreme environments
Engineering Roles
Actuator Design SME/Senior Robotics Engineer
NASA Johnson Space Center, Engineering Directorate, Robotic Systems Technology Branch (ER4)
Contractor through S&K Engineering & Research
Cross Project Roles:
Lead Robotic Mobility Engineer, NASA Robotic Systems Technology Branch: May 2019-Present
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Responsible for conceptual development, execution, manufacturing, assembly, integration, and testing of all R&D robotic mobility platforms developed by the Robotic Systems Technology Branch
Actuator Design Subject Matter Expert: Nov 2023-Present
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Participate in SRR, PDR, and CDR for actuators designed across multiple NASA centers, commercial partners, and academic institutions
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Recent CDRs include NASA-KSC IPEx flight rover design and Texas A&M University Robotics & Automation Design Lab Space Modular Manipulator actuators designed for commercial and military customers
Engineering Manager for Intelligent Robotic & Control System Services Contract: Nov 2024-Present
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Supervisor for a team of 10+ engineers, interns, and support staff working in the NASA Robotic Systems Technology Branch
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Work with NASA civil servant management to hire specialized engineering workforce that NASA needs to meet program execution goals and bypass government hiring limitations
Project Roles
Artemis III Block 1.0 Space Suit Mass Simulator Lead Designer: Jun 2026-Present
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Design a mass simulator of Axiom EMU space suit to fly on Artemis III mission with instrumentation for recording launch loads and acoustic loading in Blue Origin lunar lander
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Redesigned space suit Hard Upper Torso (HUT) to reduce manufacturing time from 1 year to 1.5 months and cost from $1.2 million to less than $150,000
Mobile Utility Transporter (MUT) Lead Chassis and Integration Engineer: Nov 2025-Apr 2026
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Designed, manufactured, and assembled the MUT, a powered tool cart prototype for use on early Artemis lunar surface missions
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SME and design mentor for brushed actuator with custom vacuum compatible cycloidal geartrain
Common Robotics Project Mechanisms Design Engineer: Jan 2025-Oct 2025
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Worked alongside Texas A&M University Research Engineers to design 3 degree-of-freedom solar array gimballing arms for a commercial space station customer
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Owned the design of the Extravehicular Robotic Override mechanism, motor controller integration, and ensuring that entire project is compliant with NASA Standard 5017B, Design and Development Requirements for Mechanisms
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Designed the machine shop for the Texas A&M University Space Institute
Jan 2023-Jan 2024
Project Roles:
Lunar Terrain Vehicle Crew Interfaces and Payloads Design Lead: May 2023-Dec 2024
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Worked closely with human factors engineers and space architects to bring concepts to life after core LTV chassis was operational
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Owned sensor accessory bar, crew steps, bodywork, all payload interfaces. Mentored interns and younger engineers on center console, lunar tool carrier, edge-key displays, human machine interfaces, and seats
Robotics Mechanical Designer
NASA Johnson Space Center, Engineering Directorate, Robotic Systems Technology Branch (ER4)
Contractor through S&K Global Solutions
Lunar Terrain Vehicle Lead Mobility Engineer: Apr 2021-Apr 2023
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Responsible Engineer for the propulsion, steering, and suspension actuators along with chassis integration
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Owned the propulsion actuator and wheels from concept through to hardware integration and testing
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Owned the design of the vehicles avionics boxes, integration COTS hardware and custom electrical boards
VIPER Rover Mechanical Design Engineer: Jun 2020-Mar 2021
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Designed communication gimbal structure, doubled structure stiffness while only increasing mass by 15%
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Designed launch-lock mechanisms for communication and navigation gimbals, integrating non-explosive actuators with retraction mechanism
Chariot Unpressurized Rover Lead Mobility Engineer: Aug 2019-May 2020
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Responsible Engineer for the propulsion, steering, suspension, and thermal systems
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Owned propulsion and thermal subsystems, managed mobility system mass to remain under mass budget, developed dust mitigation strategies
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Built and tested propulsion actuator in thermal-vaccum chamber as a part of NASA's Dust Tolerant Mechanisms program
Micro-Chariot Rover Lead Engineer: Apr 2019-Dec 2019
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Responsible for design and integration of entire Micro-Chariot prototype rover platform
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Owned the propulsion actuator design, coming in 30% under mass budget while exceeding performace targets