My Work
Skyborne Technologies
At Skyborne Technologies, I've thrived in a fast-paced R&D environment surrounded by brilliant minds who push me to expand my capabilities daily. My role spans across multiple technical domains, giving me the creative freedom to tackle diverse challenges.
My proudest achievement has been leading the ISTAR Mugin project for Defence Science and Technical Group. Starting with bare Mugin 350 airframes and a collection of components (flight controllers, PDBs, ESCs, motors, and navigation systems), I designed the entire wiring installation and developed comprehensive schematics to integrate all systems. The biggest challenge was creating three fully serviceable aircraft under tight time constraints.
After successful field trials where I served as both safety pilot and technical support during defense exercises, I got the opportunity to strip the aircraft and rebuild them to meet my higher workmanship standards – creating a more maintainable and reliable platform.
I work extensively with Kicad for electrical schematics, integrate optical systems including LIDAR, design custom flight controllers and power distribution boards, and implement various propulsion and control systems. I've also become the lead technical documentation writer, creating the essential manuals and procedures for our specialized UAV platforms.
What I value most at Skyborne is the autonomy to pursue creative solutions and continuously learn new skills. No two days are alike, and there's always an opportunity to explore new technologies and approaches if you're hungry for knowledge.
Cobham Aviation Services Australia
At Cobham Aviation Services, I transitioned from the structured military environment of Bristow into the dynamic world of R&D for mission-critical systems. Working on the Australian Border Force's Coastwatch fleet of Bombardier Dash-8 aircraft and Bombardier Challenger 604 opened up new creative possibilities that fundamentally changed my approach to aviation electronics.
My responsibilities centered around designing and troubleshooting sophisticated mission systems including optical sensors, power distribution networks, communication radios, and weather radar installations. The environment was fast-paced, with technical documentation constantly evolving as requirements shifted which was a stark contrast to my previous military work.
One of my proudest achievements was developing the video distribution unit for the aircraft. I had complete ownership of the project, selecting components and creating the electrical schematic that allowed video signals from various mission systems to be dynamically displayed across multiple screens. This gave operators crucial flexibility during surveillance operations.
Another technical highlight came when I needed to integrate an obsolete VHF radio system with newer equipment. I designed a custom VHF radio programmer using an Arduino and C++, which automatically configured the radio at power-up. This project sparked my passion for programming and opened my eyes to how software could solve complex hardware challenges.
The retrofitting work for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority's search and rescue aircraft brought unique challenges—coordinating with defence personnel, adapting to changing requirements, and ensuring every system worked flawlessly in critical situations. These high-stakes projects taught me to maintain precision while working under pressure, a skill that continues to serve me today.
Cobham marked a pivotal shift in my career, from following rigid protocols to embracing innovation and creative problem-solving—a transition that perfectly aligned with my natural inclinations as an Aerospace Specialist.
Bristow Defence Industries
I started my aerospace avionics career at Bristow Defence Industries, qualifying as an Aircraft Maintenance Avionics Engineer (AME). Earning my private pilots licence a year earlier gave me a deep passion for anything that flies, and so I chose this path with a clear goal: to build a fulfilling career that combines aviation with hands on electronics and systems work.
I was immersed in avionics from day one, joining a Type G heavy maintenance check on the AS332 M1 Super Puma. My early tasks were hands-on and direct, as my mentors preferred a ‘learn by doing’ approach to instructing which I resonate with. As my technical competence and familiarity with the aircraft developed, the scope of my work extended to flight-line maintenance, diagnosis and rectifications, modifications, calibrations, refurbishments and new installations. This growth and development was reinforced by formal type-specific training on the AS332 M1 Super Puma avionics suite.
I was selected to deploy as part of the Singaporean Armed Forces Exercise Wallaby in 2015, where I operated in demanding field environments with minimal support from senior AMEs. I was required to perform rectifications on avionics faults within tight deadlines, accommodate last-minute requirements changes, and communicate directly with senior military personnel in order to balance my unyielding safety-first priority with mission needs.
This deployment would go on to be the defining period of my training.
Training in a military context instilled values I’ve carried with me throughout my career such as a safety-first mindset, precision work, thorough documentation, and flexibility in the face of changing conditions. I’m glad I began with the 126 Squadron of the Royal Singaporean Air Force and am grateful for what the experience taught me.