Q&A with Lauren Waltz, Test Engineer

What excites you about working at Apex?

I'm most excited about working with such a committed and brilliant team on the first Apex bus, and soon to be many more. I set out to continue learning new skills and to challenge my problem-solving abilities. Apex has definitely fulfilled this need for me, as I have been learning a great deal each day while working alongside different departments to solve complex problems with creative solutions. I am proud to be a part of the team that brings the contrarian approach to the satellite bus manufacturing market.

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Why are you excited about space?

It has always been the ultimate long-term goal for me to work in the space industry. For this first bus, SN1, I feel like I am going to be sending a small piece of myself (emotionally speaking, no FOD!) into space with each spacecraft I've worked on. That is pretty exciting!

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What has surprised you at Apex?

I've been amazed at the ability of the Apex team to deliver on every proposed deadline.  To see the first bus transform from parts on an inventory shelf to a fully integrated flight unit beginning its environmental test campaign is really quite inspiring and motivating. It truly is a marvel to see how much we've accomplished in such little time with our small but mighty team.

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Tell us a bit about what you do in your free time?

When I'm not vibing a spacecraft, I enjoy vibing to live music of all genres. As an LA transplant, I've been having fun exploring historic yet new-to-me venues. I'm an avid music collector, with an extensive collection that's not just digital, but includes vinyl, CDs, cassette tapes, and even 8 tracks. I thrive in warm, sunny weather so when I'm outside the lab you can likely find me flying a kite on the beach, tie dying, hiking, or mountain biking.