Benjamin Putka

Benjamin Putka is a dedicated aerospace engineering student at Virginia Tech, expected to graduate in December 2026 with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering. Currently serving as the Structures and Propulsion Subteam Lead for the NASA Student Launch project, Benjamin coordinates communication among project leads and develops initial designs. As a Propulsion Systems Subteam Engineer on the Orbital Launch Vehicle Team, responsibilities include advancing a two-stage propulsion system and conducting research on propulsion fuels while also coding software solutions in Python. Previous experience includes an internship with the Federal Aviation Administration, focusing on evaluating unleaded aviation gasoline alternatives, and a role as a Magnet Team Engineer at Jefferson Lab, where Benjamin utilized ANSYS software to model cooling interactions in accelerator magnets. Additional contributions include participation as a Propulsion Engineer in the Design Build Fly team, applying propulsion engineering fundamentals for an RC aircraft design competition.