Expatriate aerospace engineer, Dr Carl Seubert, is returning to Australia to take up the role of Chief Research Officer at the SmartSat CRC.

A graduate in aerospace engineering from the University of Sydney, Dr Seubert will help guide the CRC’s federally funded $245 million R&D investment program.

Dr Seubert currently works at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he has been involved in missions such as the Perseverance rover that landed on Mars in February. He will take up his SmartSat position at the end of May.

“I am thrilled to be joining the SmartSat team. It will be a privilege and an honour to apply my NASA space engineering and leadership experience back home,” said Dr Seubert.

“I look forward to engaging with world-class academic and industry partners and forging research collaborations to develop technology for Australia’s future space missions. I am passionate about extending Australia’s reach into space and for us to become a renowned space-faring nation.”

SmartSat CEO, Professor Andy Koronios said Dr Seubert’s appointment would benefit the entire Australian space industry.

“Dr Seubert’s impressive career has seen him lead key missions for NASA JPL and win numerous awards for innovation, technical leadership and engineering excellence. His extensive experience at NASA JPL will certainly advance SmartSat,” said Professor Koronios.

“The international connections Dr Seubert will bring to the new role in SmartSat as Chief Research Officer will undoubtedly further develop Australia’s expanding ecosystem of space companies and start-ups,” added Enrico Palermo, Head of the Australian Space Agency.

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