Mechanical Engineer - Space Systems & Robotics

Victoria
Ortega.

Building the systems
that move exploration forward.

My work spans lunar excavation robots, experimental flight payloads, and hardware built to face demanding environments.

Explore my projects
Victoria Ortega standing beside an excavation robot in a testbed

01 / ABOUT ME

Engineering with a purpose.

I’m Victoria, a mechanical engineer designing robotic hardware for hazardous environments. My background includes working on autonomous and robotic systems at NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Swamp Works, with experience across mechanical design, structural analysis, assembly, and environmental testing.

I earned my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in 2022. I love engineering because it’s fun to figure things out and bring ideas to life. What gives that work meaning is the chance to help people and make the world around me a little better.

View my resume

02 / PUBLICATIONS

Publications

01

The IPEx Autonomy Test-Site: Terrestrial Testing of Autonomous Excavation in Lunar South Pole Conditions

02

Design and Testing of TRL5 IPEx Actuators

03

ISRU Pilot Excavator (IPEx) Technology Readiness Level 5 Design Overview

04

Experimental Capabilities and Achievements of the Space Environment Dynamometer (SED)