# Sierra Catelani > Senior Software Engineer at Astranis Location: San Francisco, California, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/sierracatelani Dedicated Software Engineer with emphasis in Python, Linux, and QA automation and a track record of cross-functional leadership. I specialize in developing Python/Linux based software and SWQA solutions using CI/CD tools including Jenkins and Ansible. Driven to leverage my technical expertise for mission-driven technology, particularly in green technology / healthcare, I am dedicated to creating impactful and sustainable change through my engineering work. I have also enjoyed bolstering early career engineers and have collaborated with local universities (UC Santa Cruz) on projects between my company and their engineering departments. ## Work Experience ### Senior Software Engineer @ Astranis Space Technologies Jan 2024 – Present | San Francisco, California, United States Scaling production test infrastructure & Testing satellites before sending them to space! ### Senior Software Engineer @ ChargePoint Jan 2022 – Jan 2024 | Campbell, California, United States As a Senior Software Engineer and cross-functional collaborator, I drove the development of an SWQA system using Python, Jenkins, and Ansible, while collaborating with various engineering/operations teams to expand and improve test automation tools across the company. My technical contributions include: - I led the development of a SWQA system using Jenkins/Ansible - using the QA system I created pipelines that automated integration/validation of manufacturing softwares on a nightly basis. - I developed Python/Linux-based solutions focused on test system management and manufacturing features. This includes integrating 3rd party services using HTTP-based APIs for data reporting features. I was a leader for a variety of projects: - I initiated a partnership with UCSC to create two Senior capstone projects to develop two new pieces of technology for my Test Engineering department. After the school year ended, I mentored and managed students whom we hired as interns. - I actively engaged with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to promote new initiatives and opportunities for leveraging Test Engineering automation tools, including the QA system my team and I developed. ### Hardware/Senior Test Engineer @ ChargePoint Jan 2021 – Jan 2022 | San Francisco Bay Area Lead the development of Manufacturing Test Systems of ChargePoint's DC products for assembly testing of products prior to shipment to customers. My main responsibilities included: - Engineered and managed test software using Python/Github within a Linux environment to run manufacturing tests on complex DC products. - Worked with product design teams to defined test coverage requirements for hardware products. - Architected test system hardware and instrumentation, with a focus on modularity of hardware components and simplified software interfaces. Worked with vendors to ensure test solutions met needs of the company. - Lead the bringup and validation of test systems at HQ, and successful deployment of test systems on manufacturing lines in California and Mexico. - Provided diagnostics and resolution of test issues, with aim of increasing units per hour (UPH) and first pass yield (FPY). ### Hardware Design Engineer I/II @ Ciena Jan 2018 – Jan 2021 | San Francisco Bay Area Responsible for the system level design of PCBs in ethernet switching systems used for metropolitan area networks. Oversee electronic product development through all stages including initial research and analyzing tradeoffs, system design and schematic capture, hardware bring up, and supporting manufacturing when moving into production. - Design 26-layer PCBs that integrate 50G ethernet, optical transceivers, PCIe, I2C, and others. - Perform schematic capture using Cadence and collaborate with CAD engineer to design PCB layout. - Design test hardware for functional verification of switch products during development and production. - Conduct hardware bring-up during prototyping while working with diagnostics to develop test software. - Collaborate with signal integrity, software, and mechanical teams to ensure successful product integration. - Assist in design verification to stress hardware systems’ power and thermal boundaries. ### Graduate Student Researcher @ University of California, Santa Cruz - Jack Baskin School of Engineering Jan 2016 – Jan 2018 Lead the development of a high-voltage electronic system for specialized device fabrication and utilized system to conduct research on novel microfluidic sensors and devices. Development of experimental setups using LabVIEW, mainly in instrumental control and data acquisition. Began as undergraduate (2016) and continued into graduate studies (2017) - Design, layout, and fabrication of experimental setup, which applies high voltage (12 kV) to a crystal sample while monitoring its electrical response. - Designed and lead experiments to test and characterize microfluidic medical devices using microscopy. - Created experimental setups using LabVIEW to interface with photodetectors, cameras, and I/O devices. - AutoCAD used for layout of microfluidic devices and other mechanical components. ### Mechatronics Lab Tutor @ University of California, Santa Cruz - Jack Baskin School of Engineering Jan 2016 – Jan 2016 Prepared for class Mechatronics class by building hardware and assembling lab robots. This class is a 10 week course on the mechanical, electrical, and software design and build of an autonomous robot. During class, most work was spent in lab, assisting students with lab activities. Tutoring mainly involved the following topics: - Design and build of analog electronics, mainly for sensors and control of motors. - Integration and control of sensors and motor with an UNO32 microcontroller. - Control software for autonomous robot in C by using a hierarchical state machine structure. - Mechanical design and prototype of robots using SolidWorks. ### Senior Design Project Leader @ University of California, Santa Cruz Jan 2015 – Jan 2016 Led Senior Design team of nine engineering UC Santa Cruz students in the development of a DECT Radio Testing system. The project was sponsored by the Test Engineering team of Plantronics Inc. The test system was developed to test the RF modulation parameters of Plantronics' DECT headsets. Parameters such as carrier frequency, frequency drift, and signal power were measured to ensure products worked to specification. Major technological components of project included: - Design of RF hardware to down-convert high frequency signals so they could be sampled by our ADC. - Development of LabVIEW control software to execute tests. LabVIEW enabled interfaced with DECT headset to output test signals, ADC device to collect test data, and processed data in order to calculate RF measurements. - System was built using two different ADC devices - a National Instruments Digitizer and a Tektronix RSA 306. Analysis and comparison of the two systems performance and cost. ### Test Engineering Intern @ Plantronics Jan 2015 – Jan 2016 | Santa Cruz, CA Assist test engineering team in the development of equipment used to test the operation of Plantronics products. Lead Senior Design Project, with task to develop test system to analyze RF parameters of Plantronics’ wireless headsets. Lead of a team of nine hardware and software students, providing team management, direction, and coordination. ### Academic Mentor @ UC Santa Cruz Jan 2015 – Jan 2015 | University of California, Santa Cruz I work one-on-one for 3 hours a week with a student who is struggling academically to assist him/her learn successful study strategies, navigate the university, find appropriate resources, set goals and maintain steps to attain goals. ### Modified Supplemental Instruction Learning Assistant @ UC Santa Cruz Jan 2014 – Jan 2015 | University of California Santa Cruz I lead 1.5 hour long group study sessions for students in engineering classes that I’ve taken. I must to attend lectures, hold 3-4 study sessions a week, respond promptly to the needs of my students, and prepare a plan for my sessions. I keep track of who’s coming to sessions and hold additional review sessions for exams. ### Teaching Assistant @ Center For Talented Youth (Johns Hopkins University) Jan 2014 – Jan 2014 | Franklin and Marshall College and University of California, Santa Cruz CTY summer programs allow middle and high school students to take challenging three-week long classes. I collaborated with the instructor of the class to maintain successful and efficient use of class time. My main responsibilities were setting up and leading labs, providing classroom management, tutoring students, acting as a role model, and teaching the class in the instructor’s absence. ## Education ### Master of Science (M.S.) in Electrical and Electronics Engineering University of California, Santa Cruz ### Bachelor of Science (BS) in Electrical Engineering University of California, Santa Cruz ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sierra-catelani --- Source: https://flows.cv/sierracatelani JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/sierracatelani/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-01