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The Techne Connect
Julie Newman, Vice president of Engineering at Outpost
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In this episode we speak with Julie Newman, VP of Engineering at Outpost, about building a next generation space reentry vehicle and shaping the future of in space logistics.
Julie walks through her journey from Caltech to SpaceX, NASA JPL and Boeing, including her work on the Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter. She explains why she transitioned from large aerospace primes to startup leadership and how that experience shaped her approach to ownership, speed and culture.
The conversation explores why reentry is becoming critical to the space economy, how Outpost’s deployable heat shield and precision paraglider system enable high mass return, and why in space manufacturing only scales if you can bring product back affordably. Julie also shares her passion for STEM outreach, developing future engineers, and building teams that move fast with accountability.
The Techne Connect Podcast 🎧
Thank you for listening to Techne Connect! This podcast takes you inside the companies and conversations shaping the future of engineering.
From space and defence to robotics, AI, clean energy, advanced manufacturing and next-generation mobility, each episode features the founders, engineers and technology leaders building tomorrow's world.
Through candid discussions on innovation, leadership, product development and career journeys, the podcast uncovers the ideas, challenges and breakthroughs driving the world's fastest-moving industries. Whether you're an engineer, founder, investor or simply fascinated by emerging technology.
Techne Connect offers a front-row seat to the people creating what's next.
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Raumi Sidki, Director of Robotics at Robust AI
38:10|In this episode of Connect to Robotics, Raumi Sidki, Director of Robotic Systems at Robust AI, shares his journey from watching the 2004 DARPA Grand Challenge as a child, where his father competed, to developing cutting-edge robotics at Apple, Amazon, and now Robust AI.He discusses what it feels like to come full circle by competing in the same challenges that first inspired him, why safety and human-first design are central to Robust AI's philosophy, and the engineering talent they're looking to hire, from motion control specialists to fleet simulation experts.
Carlos Fernández: Chief Solutions Officer at Auto Store
41:30|Building a career in robotics does not always mean following a fixed path. In this episode of Behind the Robot, Carlos Fernandez, Chief Solutions Officer at AutoStore, shares how he progressed from an engineering role in a small 20-person company to executive leadership in a global robotics business.Carlos explains how AutoStore scaled from an early-stage company into a publicly listed organisation, and what he learned across technical, commercial, product and leadership roles. He also discusses hardware development, customer-led innovation, physical AI, warehouse automation and the skills needed for the future of robotics. Whether you are an engineer, graduate or business leader, this episode offers practical insight into building a long-term career and developing technology that solves real operational problems.
Justyna Redelkiewicz, Venture Partner at Depo Ventures
44:00|In this episode of Connect to Venture Capital, Joe Reed speaks with Justyna Redelkiewicz, Venture Partner at Depot Ventures, about Europe's evolving space investment ecosystem. Drawing on 16 years of experience shaping programmes including Galileo, Copernicus and the €1 billion Cassini initiative, Justyna explains how public funding helped transform venture capital's appetite for space startups and why collaboration between governments, investors and founders remains essential to the industry's growth.The conversation also explores what investors look for in early-stage space companies, why founders should start selling long before their technology is finished, and the opportunities emerging in AI, Earth observation, in-orbit servicing and dual-use technologies. Justyna shares practical fundraising advice, common mistakes technical founders make, and the commercial mindset needed to build scalable businesses in the European space sector
Marek Plavcan, Co-founder & CBO at Airvolute
01:07:20|Marek Plavcan, Chief Business Officer and co-founder of Airvolute, shares his journey from studying international business and working in government to helping build a technology company at the forefront of unmanned systems. He explores the unexpected evolution of Airvolute, from developing autonomous warehouse inventory drones to creating an autopilot platform now used by more than 100 customers across 30 countries.Marek also discusses why open architecture and modularity could shape the future of unmanned systems, the importance of building a strong engineering community, and the lessons he's learned about perseverance, founder alignment and delegation. He shares his perspective on the skills needed to build meaningful technology companies and why creating solutions that have a real-world impact is at the heart of Airvolute's mission.
Paul Ziade, CEO at North Vector Dynamics
42:12|Paul Ziade shares his remarkable journey from tenured professor of mechanical engineering to CEO of one of Canada's fastest-growing defence technology companies. He explains why he left the security of academia to build North Vector Dynamics, the importance of hiring exceptional engineers, and the sacrifices required to create a business capable of protecting nations in an increasingly uncertain world.The conversation explores the future of defence innovation, from AI and autonomous systems to manufacturing at scale and hypersonic technologies. Paul also offers practical advice for engineers considering entrepreneurship, explaining why purpose, ownership and meaningful work matter more than prestige, and why the next generation of engineers should focus on solving problems that truly make a difference.
Amy Miller, Head of Talent & People Ops at Portal Space Systems
45:34|Building a career in the space industry isn't always about following a linear path. In this episode of Connect To Orbit, Amy Miller, Head of Talent & People Operations at Portal Space Systems, shares how a career spanning global technology companies, including Amazon's satellite division, led her to one of the most exciting startups in commercial space.Amy offers a unique perspective on what it takes to attract, develop and retain world-class engineering talent in a rapidly growing industry. From hiring strategies and company culture to the technical skills shaping the future of space, she explains why curiosity, values alignment and solving real-world problems are becoming the foundations of successful space businesses. Whether you're an engineer, graduate or business leader, this episode provides practical advice for building a meaningful career in one of the world's fastest-moving industries.
Kris Moell, Founder and CEO of Frost Unmanned
33:36|In this episode of Connect To Visionaries, we speak with Kris Moell, Founder & CEO of Frost Unmanned, to explore an entrepreneurial journey that spans aviation, international operations and defence technology. From flying aircraft parts across the US and working in Indonesia to building a next-generation defence company in Sweden, Kris shares how his career evolved through curiosity, resilience and a willingness to embrace new challenges.The conversation explores how first-hand experiences in Ukraine reshaped his mission, why simplicity and automation will define the future of defence technology, and the leadership lessons he's learned while scaling a fast-growing startup. This episode offers valuable insights for engineers, founders and defence professionals interested in innovation, autonomous systems, military technology and building companies with purpose.
Ethan Barajas, Co-Founder & CEO at Icarus Robotics
51:50|Ethan Barajas, Co-Founder and CEO of Icarus Robotics, shares how an internship at NASA transformed his career ambitions and inspired him to tackle one of space's biggest challenges: labour. Rather than sending more astronauts to perform repetitive maintenance tasks, Ethan is building robotic systems capable of operating autonomously in orbit, unlocking the future of commercial space infrastructure. From securing customer validation before writing a single line of code to preparing for a NASA deployment, he explains how listening to customers has shaped every stage of Icarus Robotics' journey. The conversation also explores the entrepreneurial mindset required to build a deep-tech company, why commercial space is entering a new era of infrastructure investment, and how robotics will become the workforce that enables humanity's expansion beyond Earth. Ethan shares lessons on resilience, purpose, leadership and why solving meaningful problems, not chasing technology for technology's sake, is what ultimately drives lasting innovation.
Jackson Moses, Founder & Managing Partner at Silent Ventures
39:57|Jackson Moses, Founder and Managing Partner of Silent Ventures, joins Connect to Venture Capital to discuss why defence technology is entering a new era of investment. Drawing on his experience as both a founder and investor, he explains how Silent Ventures identifies exceptional operators building the next generation of defence, aerospace and national security companies, and why manufacturing, hardware and industrial capability will define the future of innovation.The conversation also provides practical advice for founders preparing to raise capital. Jackson shares what venture capital firms truly look for beyond technical expertise, why founders must obsess over solving real problems before seeking investment, and how confidence, preparation and resilience separate the companies that secure funding from those that don't.