Derek Paxson

Derek Paxson is a Staff Mechanical Engineer at Form Energy, specializing in mechanical design and analysis for iron-air battery cells since July 2023. Previously, Derek served in various roles at Astra from December 2018 to June 2023, including Technical Lead for the Upper Stage Vehicle, overseeing design and testing for Astra's Rocket 4, and as a Senior Mechanical Engineer focusing on thermal and structural design for rockets 3 and 4. Derek's experience also includes positions at Hyperloop One as a Senior Thermal Design Engineer and as a Design Engineer, contributing to thermal management and electromagnetic design for hyperloop prototypes. Early roles involved significant engineering projects with the MIT Hyperloop Team, MIT Gas Turbine Lab, and internships at National Robotics Engineering Center and BorgWarner Inc. Derek holds a Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University.