Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic
Ian Gaetano Monda

Ian Gaetano Monda

PRINCIPAL SYSTEMS ENGINEER
Francavilla al Mare

Summary

I am an engineer with over 22 years' experience working in the Aerospace and Defense industry. Over the last couple of years, I have worked across several projects; working through Novel Engineering Consultants on the Vertical Aerospace VX4 eVTOL project as a Systems Engineer in the Tilt Actuation IPT and I am currently supporting the development of the fuel system for the VX4 hybrid demonstrator aircraft. Alongside this work I am involved in the GT Wings Ltd Wind Assisted Propulsion project (through BadgerWorks Ltd) where I have developed the system control logic using the Matlab/Simulink toolset. This has been code-generated and installed onto the current prototype system. I have also worked with KDC Projects supporting the development of a hydrogen fueled propulsion system for the Dronamics Black Swan project. Prior to the above I spent many years contracting at Cobham Mission Systems (CMS) where I worked in R&D as a lead engineer on a next generation air-to-air refueling (AAR) program. In addition, I worked in the Fuel Systems and Simulation & Modelling teams focused on the development, qualification, and certification of AAR systems for A400M and KC-46. My technical specialism is in the analysis of fluid and thermal dynamic problems, either through the revision of test data or modelling, using software toolsets such as CFD (Fluent & Gambit), Flowmaster or Excel VBA macros. I also have experience with Matlab and Simulink modelling control systems. I have many years’ experience in systems roles and I have a good understanding of requirements management and systems engineering processes.

Overview

37
37
years of professional experience

Work History

Control Systems Engineer (Contract)

BadgerWorks Ltd
Wimborne
04.2024 - Current
  • Control Systems Engineer responsible for the development of the control system logic for the AirWing20 Wind Propulsion System for GT Wings Ltd.
  • Management of system ICD, the drafting of the control system requirements and architecture plus preparation of RFPs.
  • Defining and modelling of the control system logic (Matlab / Simulink), configuration management (Github) and code generation.
  • Analysis of sea trial test data

Principal Systems Engineer (Contract)

Novel Engineering Consultants
Bristol
05.2022 - Current
  • Systems engineer as part of the Tilt System IPT for Vertical Aerospace eVTOL VX4 followed by support to the PowerTrain team in developing the fuel system for the hybrid aircraft and Principal Systems Engineer responsible for the development of the electrical system (ATA24) for the Aeralis Modular Jet Trainer:
  • Vertical Aerospace (Tilt System IPT): Maturing/deriving system and equipment requirements for the tilt actuation system in JAMA. Processing of limit load data and liaising with suppliers. Reviewing FMEA and system level FHA.
  • Vertical Aerospace (PowerTrain): Reviewing CS-27 guidelines and drafting fuel system design requirements. Scheming and proposing fuel system architectures and defining interfaces with external systems. Preparing deliverables in support of pre-PDR.
  • Aeralis: Scheming of aircraft electrical system architecture. Preparation of electrical loads analysis (ELA). Emergency power and battery sizing, functional analysis (Capella), writing of system level requirements and liaising with equipment suppliers. Preparation and presentation at PDR.

Systems Engineer (Contract)

KDC Projects
Bournemouth
01.2023 - 01.2024
  • Working in a small team researching hydrogen propulsion system options in support of the Dronamics autonomous platform Black Swan:
  • Preparing hydrogen propulsion system requirements document
  • Preparing the RFQ for propulsion system and hydrogen tank suppliers.
  • Liaising with suppliers
  • Scheming tank configurations and performing hydrogen/tank mass and platform range calculations.

Systems Engineer (Contract)

Ferchau UK
09.2021 - 05.2022
  • Supporting fuel system development and qualification work for the A220 ACT and Single Aisle (SA):
  • A220 ACT Fuel System Qualification: Reviewing fuel system qualification documents (QTP/ATP/QSR/DCS) / Managing the review process / Customer facing – liaising with the supplier (Parker) and customer (Airbus) to ensure comments are agreed and delivered the customer.
  • SA (A319/A320/A321) Step4: Preparation of system development and process assurance plan to meet Airbus maturity gate 3 review requirements.

Sub-System Lead Engineer (Contract Position)

KDC Projects
01.2020 - 08.2021
  • Lead Engineer for the Control System Movement sub-system for a next generation AAR drogue and coupling development project. Led successfully through TRL3 and TRL4 development milestones. Activities included:
  • Working with and managing a team of engineers. Supporting mechanical, aerodynamic and control logic development activities. Management Planning, capturing project risks and progress reporting.
  • Leading the planning and execution of wind tunnel test development activities at Southampton University and Airbus Filton.
  • Post-processing and data analysis of aerodynamic test and numerical data. The sizing of aerodynamic control surfaces.
  • Leading brainstorming activities of new aerodynamic control concepts, including the scheming and assessment of new drogue designs.
  • Spreadsheet analysis to support parametric studies of design concepts, estimating aerodynamic characteristics together with mechanical torques and power requirements.
  • Development of control logic for aerodynamic control surfaces and integration into system level control models (Matlab/Simulink).
  • Updating of systems documents and requirements in DOORS in addition to supporting MBSE activities (Enterprise Architecture).

Systems Engineer (Contract Position)

Cobham Mission Systems
10.2019 - 12.2019
  • Work package to complete Monte Carlo analysis work for 808E/908E AAR systems in support of on-going work at Cobham A400M System level IPT:
  • Analysis of fuel system component performance data and tolerances as part of Monte Carlo statistical analysis of system pressure variation to assess and ATP/PAT yield probability. Technical Reporting.

Fuel Systems Engineer/Simulation and Modelling Engineer (Contract Position)

Cobham Mission Systems
02.2014 - 09.2017
  • Employed as systems engineer within the fuel systems group and system level IPT responsible for managing the development of AAR systems and component level assemblies through the engineering project life cycle. Also as a performance engineer in the Simulation and Modeling department. Supporting design, development and qualification of AAR products through the monitoring and prediction of critical performance criteria Projects worked on include A400M/KC-390/KC-46. Activities include the following;
  • Monte Carlo analysis work to evaluate the influence of component tolerances on fuel system performance and production yields for air-to-air inflight refueling systems.
  • Composing QSARs in support DDP updates. Updating ATP/PAT documentation.
  • Analyzing and reporting on fuel flow test data in support of system level qualification and driving software constant updates where necessary.
  • Analysis and reporting of steady state and transient fuel flow test data. Analysis activities considering RAM air turbine performance, pump performance and system pressure losses
  • Preparing and presenting technical design reviews (PDR and CDR)
  • Management of requirements (using CRADLE) and preparation of verification matrices.
  • Preparation of statements of work and technical management of external suppliers. Liaising with internal customers and specialists. Scoping of development testing, test procedures, test equipment and driving component development.
  • Writing VBA Excel Macros in support of test data post processing activities.
  • Thermal, fluid flow and system behavior modeling activities of AAR systems and sub-systems using Excel (VBA)/CFD/Flowmaster/Matlab/Simulink in support of qualification and development activities.

Anti-Icing Systems Engineer (Contract Position)

SONACA
04.2011 - 12.2013
  • Supporting design, development and qualification of wing anti-icing systems for the Airbus A400M, Pilatus PC-24, Bombardier and research projects through modeling and test data analysis, including the following:
  • CFD analysis of bleed air flows (using Fluent & Gambit)
  • Wing runback ice-shape analysis (in-house ice-shape analysis codes)
  • Calibration and validation of runback ice-shape models.
  • Development of aerodynamic, thermal and icing scaling methodologies for wind tunnel testing.
  • Planning and development work of new wing anti-icing concepts (hybrid laminar flow control/electro-thermal). Building theoretical pneumatic models.

Senior Performance Engineer

Cobham Mission Equipment
04.2007 - 04.2011
  • Supporting design, development and qualification of auxiliary mission and AAR products through the monitoring and prediction of critical performance criteria. Projects worked on included: Typhoon, A330-MRTT, FSTA and A400M. This role included the following activities:
  • Extensive use of the CFD package Fluent to assess the:
  • Thermal performance of air-cooled electronics and the frictional heating of pump components.
  • Internal and external air flows, through and around re-fueling pods and fuselage-mounted units.
  • Steady state and transient modeling of fuel transfer systems to evaluate system pressure losses, pump and motor performance and surge suppression using both Flowmaster and VBA macros.
  • Development of prototype gas launcher system models (Flowmaster). Model validation against test data in support of continued prototype development.
  • Working as part of an Integrated Project Team (IPT) supporting missile launcher qualification (including MEL for Typhoon). Monitoring and post processing of trials data, ensuring compliance with performance specifications, identifying failures and their cause.
  • Wind tunnel trials of experimental drogues. Testing, data processing and writing test plan/report.

Research Scientist

Air & Weapon Systems Dept DSTL
10.2003 - 03.2007
  • Assessing the RADAR and IR signatures of aerospace platforms. Activities included the following:
  • Managing radar cross-section (RCS) analysis tasks from problem definition, target preparation (using MSC PATRAN), the running of convergence tests and production of baseline data through to the production and analysis of final RCS prediction data.
  • Use of high and low frequency RCS signature prediction codes (FACETS and CLASP) within a UNIX environment. Analysis of RCS prediction and measurement data.
  • Modeling of exhaust plumes using CFD (FLUENT) and VBA in support of IR signature studies.
  • Project management responsibility for several small tasks requiring the delivery of RCS data.

Quality Engineer

Hawker Pacific Aerospace Ltd
06.2003 - 08.2003
  • Role in the quality control of landing gear maintenance. Reviewing processes and procedures. Collating shopfloor process and machining error data from break-down, maintenance and landing gear rebuild.

GPS Surveyor

Parsons Group Intl Ltd
08.2002 - 09.2002
  • Working in the field at Hohenfels, Germany mapping off-limits areas on a US army training facility.

Teacher of English as a Foreign Language

Inlingua
10.1998 - 07.1999

Systems Admin/Banking Ops

SG Hambros Bank & Trust
07.1995 - 08.1998

Securities Clerk

MeesPierson
10.1994 - 06.1995

Recreation Assistant

Beau Séjour Leisure Centre
10.1990 - 05.1994

Jnr Trust & Company Administrator

Saffery Champness
09.1988 - 09.1990

Education

MSc - Aerospace Engineering

Kingston University
01.2006

Radar Cross Section (RCS)

Thales UK
02.2004

Radar Principles

Cranfield University
12.2003

BEng (Hons) - Aerospace Engineering (CENG route)

Kingston University
01.2003

HND - Aerospace Engineering

Handley Page Association
01.2001

CELTA - Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults

International House
09.1998

A level - Physics

Grammar School
01.1988

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Les Beaucamps Secondary School
01.1986

Skills

  • Proficient in CFD software (Fluent, Gambit, Ansys Workbench)

  • Excel VBA macro development

  • Effective communication skills

  • Bilingual in English and Italian

Timeline

Control Systems Engineer (Contract)

BadgerWorks Ltd
04.2024 - Current

Systems Engineer (Contract)

KDC Projects
01.2023 - 01.2024

Principal Systems Engineer (Contract)

Novel Engineering Consultants
05.2022 - Current

Systems Engineer (Contract)

Ferchau UK
09.2021 - 05.2022

Sub-System Lead Engineer (Contract Position)

KDC Projects
01.2020 - 08.2021

Systems Engineer (Contract Position)

Cobham Mission Systems
10.2019 - 12.2019

Fuel Systems Engineer/Simulation and Modelling Engineer (Contract Position)

Cobham Mission Systems
02.2014 - 09.2017

Anti-Icing Systems Engineer (Contract Position)

SONACA
04.2011 - 12.2013

Senior Performance Engineer

Cobham Mission Equipment
04.2007 - 04.2011

Research Scientist

Air & Weapon Systems Dept DSTL
10.2003 - 03.2007

Quality Engineer

Hawker Pacific Aerospace Ltd
06.2003 - 08.2003

GPS Surveyor

Parsons Group Intl Ltd
08.2002 - 09.2002

Teacher of English as a Foreign Language

Inlingua
10.1998 - 07.1999

Systems Admin/Banking Ops

SG Hambros Bank & Trust
07.1995 - 08.1998

Securities Clerk

MeesPierson
10.1994 - 06.1995

Recreation Assistant

Beau Séjour Leisure Centre
10.1990 - 05.1994

Jnr Trust & Company Administrator

Saffery Champness
09.1988 - 09.1990

Radar Cross Section (RCS)

Thales UK

Radar Principles

Cranfield University

BEng (Hons) - Aerospace Engineering (CENG route)

Kingston University

HND - Aerospace Engineering

Handley Page Association

CELTA - Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults

International House

A level - Physics

Grammar School

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Les Beaucamps Secondary School

MSc - Aerospace Engineering

Kingston University
Ian Gaetano MondaPRINCIPAL SYSTEMS ENGINEER