Ken Salas

Ken Salas is a highly experienced engineering professional currently serving as the Director of Vehicle Structures Engineering at Relativity Space since May 2022, where Ken also holds the title of Principal Engineer. Prior to this role, Ken Salas contributed as a Principal Engineer at SpaceX, focusing on the design and analysis of primary structures for Starship's Super Heavy booster. At Raytheon Missiles & Defense, Ken Salas was the Principal Mechanical Engineer leading hardware development for hypersonics and missile production programs. An academic background includes a position as a Systems Engineering Lecturer at the University of Arizona and previous research roles at the University of Michigan, where extensive work in aerospace engineering was conducted. Educational qualifications consist of a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering and an MBA with a focus on Finance and Strategy. Ken Salas has a comprehensive foundation in additive manufacturing and mechanical engineering, having held various positions at GE Global Research, where leadership in technology development and advanced manufacturing processes was prominent.