JEANDRÉ DU PLESSIS
Profile:
Mechanical Engineer with close to ten years of experience in development and qualification of novel robotic and space technologies, with a proven track record in project and technical management, having successfully secured and executed ESA and commercial technology development contracts totaling over €9M combined to date. At Exobiosphere, Jeandre is in charge of the technical management of biotech payloads for next generation commercial space stations and free flyers.
Work History:
2025 - Current: Exobiosphere, Luxembourg Technical Manager & Lead Mechanical Engineer
Technical management of biotech payloads for next generation commercial space stations and free flyers.
Technical management of diverse engineering team including Mechanical, Electrical, Systems and Software engineers.
Defining development roadmaps of key technologies.
Leading mechanical design and implementation of CLD payload.
2024 - 2025: Lunar Outpost, LuxembourgProject and Engineering Manager
Project and Engineering Manager at EU satellite office, responsible for leading development activities related to lunar night survival technologies.
Defining project scope, development of project proposals, plans and schedules while ensuring project goals and objectives are met.
Management of project budgets, resources and risks.
Defining development roadmaps of key technologies.
Technical management of diverse engineering teams including Mechanical, Electrical, Systems and Thermal engineers.
Interfacing with ESA as main project liaison and appointed Technical Officer.
2020 - 2024: OffWorld, Luxembourg/South Africa Senior Mechanical Engineer (EU) / Project Manager (RSA)
Senior Mechanical Engineer at OffWorld Europe satellite office, responsible for the design and development of technologies within OffWorld’s Lunar Processing Module for water extraction from icy lunar regolith.
Led mechanical design for the volatile extraction system of the OffWorld lunar processing module.
Worked closely with the R&D team to integrate and develop downstream processing methodologies.
Assisted in onboarding of company processes, procedures and engineering tools within the newly operating EU offices.
Mechanical Engineering department head for OffWorld Africa satellite office, responsible for overseeing and management of mechanical design and development of new robotic mining technologies.
Scoping and outline of lab tests and verification of newly developed technologies and sub-systems.
Leading mechanical and inter-departmental design reviews (Weekly, PDR, CDR, TRR, etc.).
Generation of ATPs (Acceptance Test Procedures) and qualification documentation.
Drafting of project scope of work and commercial proposals.
Project budget forecast, budget allocation, and budget management.
2019 - 2020: SURION, South Africa Lead Mechanical Design Engineer
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2016 - 2019: Ryonic Robotics, South Africa Roboticist & Lead Mechanical Engineer
Head of mechanical department responsible for design and development of robotics systems for the hazardous environment sector, both product oriented, and once-off or limited production run, bespoke systems.
EDUcation:
University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg Master's degree, Master in Space Technologies and Business
University of Pretoria, South Africa Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.), Mechanical Engineering