The Spaceship Company
Mark Hughes is a seasoned engineering professional with extensive experience in mechanical design and systems engineering. Currently serving as a Senior Engineer in Mechanical Design at The Spaceship Company since February 2019, Mark has previously held the position of Mechanical Systems Engineer III at MD Helicopters, Inc. from May 2012 to February 2019, and worked as Lead Engineer at Alpical Industries from April 2003 to January 2009. Throughout the career, Mark has successfully led teams in designing and building systems for commercial helicopters, navigating the rigorous FAA certification process for critical components such as emergency flotation and air conditioning systems. Mark holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechatronic Engineering from California State University, Chico.
The Spaceship Company
The Spaceship Company (TSC) is Virgin Galactic’s aerospace-system manufacturing organization. Headquartered in Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California, it is building and testing a fleet of WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft and SpaceShipTwo reusable spaceships that, together, form Virgin Galactic’s human spaceflight system. We are proud to share the Virgin Group heritage and value our position as an integral part of a remarkable story and globally celebrated brand. Like many Virgin companies across the world, its team of over 430 talented and dedicated engineers, technicians and professionals are drawn together by a willingness to disrupt and challenge the status quo and deliver innovative aerospace solutions to our customers’ needs. The Spaceship Company has a straightforward name: as you would expect, we build spaceships. But we also do much more. The Spaceship Company’s extensive capabilities encompass preliminary vehicle design and analysis, manufacturing, ground testing, flight testing and post-delivery support. The Spaceship Company team is uniquely positioned to offer end-to-end aerospace development with extensive experience in design, manufacturing, and testing. We are proud of our relaxed and informal culture that encourages individuality and innovation. Our team is built on motivated, enterprising and enthusiastic contributors. Our company culture and values are set up in such a way that you need to be able to “check your ego at the door”, be a self-starter and possess a sense of humility. We thrive under pressure, are driven by challenges and aren't afraid to set the goals that will take us to new heights.