James Eckstein

James Eckstein is an accomplished aerospace engineer with extensive experience in propulsion systems. Currently serving as Head of Propulsion at Varda Space Industries since June 2023, James previously held key roles at Virgin Orbit, including Chief Engineer - Propulsion and Upper Stage Propulsion Manager, where responsibilities included the development of the NewtonFour rocket engine. Prior to this, James managed upper stage propulsion systems for LauncherOne at Virgin Galactic. James's career began at The Aerospace Corporation, where as an Engineering Specialist, contributions included leading efforts on RL10B-2 engines with a focus on technical analyses and flight performance. James holds a Master's Degree in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue University and a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis.