About Us
Founded in 2017, Asteria Engineering Consultancy was founded to provide electrical, mechanical and aerospace engineering consulting services to New Zealand’s burgeoning space sector.
Since then, Asteria has grown to provide these services to a range of customers internationally as well as at home.
As leaders in electrical and aerospace engineering, Asteria provides reliable, high quality and timely services customised to each client. Every project is different, and our approach should be too.
From concept to manufacture, Asteria works closely with clients to see their projects through to completion. Some of our recent projects include:
High power density smart batteries for space
Communications and power distribution systems
Instrumentation systems
GaNFET power systems
Proof of concept prototypes
Scientific experiments in space
Nanosatellites and payloads
Small scale rockets and unmanned aerial vehicles
We pride ourselves on our ethical and sustainable approach to engineering. We love working with customers and seeing their ideas to come life. Asteria Engineering Consultancy takes its name from the Greek Goddess of the Stars, Asteria.
Our Team
David Wright - Lead Engineer
With a wealth of knowledge and an upbeat, positive attitude David leads Asteria. He is an expert in electrical, mechanical and aerospace engineering, having worked for several companies in these industries before starting Asteria. David is known for his attention to detail, innovative ideas, and dedication to his projects and clients.
David loves the variation and thrill of working in the aerospace sector. “You’ve got to be able to think big and small in this industry,” David said. “Sometimes I’m working on huge projects and other times I’m soldering tiny parts to circuit boards. Every day is wonderfully different.”
David has a Mechatronics Engineering degree from the University of Canterbury and a Masters degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University. Outside of work, David enjoys rock climbing, running, and generally being outdoors.
Sarah Pratt - Business Manager
A neat addition to David’s skillset, Sarah brings the business expertise to Asteria. Sarah has a range of experience in marketing, project management, accounting, and event management and enjoys using these skills at Asteria.
“It’s great to be a part of the burgeoning space sector here in New Zealand and working with established industry leaders overseas. I’ve learned so much working here, and I never intend to stop.”
Sarah has a Masters Degree in Marketing from the University of Canterbury. When she isn’t working on the website or talking with customers, Sarah can usually be found seeking out coffee or writing a quick short story.
Anthony Watson - Electrical Engineer
Anthony joined us in early 2022, bringing with him a strong background in electrical engineering and power electronics.
Working in the admin team at a local power distribution company during school sparked Anthony’s interest in electrical engineering. He went on to achieve both a Bachelors degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering with Honours and a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Canterbury.
Now, Anthony develops and tests electrical hardware, firmware and software at Asteria. Known for his analytical and detail-orientated approach, Anthony consistently delivers high quality and innovative solutions. Anthony enjoys the opportunity to use his engineering expertise and problem-solving skills to help our clients achieve their goals. His ability to work well under pressure, adaptability and keen persistence are key assets to our team.
Outside of work, Anthony can be found following football and tinkering with electronics. He’s also learning to play the bass guitar.
Tom Mitchell - Mechatronics Intern
Known for his diligence, Tom makes a fantastic addition to our team. He loves problem-solving and hands-on work, and he harnesses his detail-oriented and pragmatic mindset to help the Asteria team and our clients on a daily basis.
Joining our team in November 2023, Tom brings with him a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Mechatronics and a range of experience in mechanical design and fabrication, electrical design, software design, and implementation and testing.
As our Mechatronics Summer Intern, Tom is now leading a new research and development project, which includes novel uses of modern computer vision technologies and hardware development to create safer environments for travel. Tom enjoys the opportunity this project provides for flexibility and creativity as he works towards a proof-of-concept device. He also works closely with the rest of our engineering team to help client projects progress smoothly.
Outside of work, Tom can often be found cooking, gardening, hiking and working on hobby robotics projects.
