John Ziemer

Background

About John Ziemer

John Ziemer is currently the Program Area Manager for Strategic Missions and Technology within the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Astronomy and Physics Formulation Office, focusing on concept formulation in support of JPL’s strategic science and technology goals. John's educational background includes a BSE in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Michigan and a MA and PhD in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering from Princeton University specializing in plasma science and electric propulsion. John began work at JPL in as a technologist developing new microthrusters for small spacecraft and is now a Principal Engineer with a specialty in thrusters for fine-pointing and precision control of space-based observatories. He was the cognizant engineer for the flight hardware delivery of Busek Colloid Microthrusters and the payload systems engineer for the successful Space Technology 7 Disturbance Reduction System (ST7-DRS) technology demonstration mission that was part of LISA Pathfinder. John has also led development of Team Eureka and the A-Team with the JPL Innovation Foundry, which use subject matter experts on a variety of topics to generate new ideas, examine feasibility, and explore the architecture trade space in support of all of JPL’s ongoing programs. Before taking on the program office role, John managed starshade technology development as part of NASA’s Exoplanet Program (ExEP) and microthruster technology development as part of the NASA LISA Study Office for the ESA-led LISA Mission, including being part of ESA’s LISA systems engineering office.Specialties: Advanced space architecture studies and early mission concept development. Technology development and integration into flight missions, experimental research and data analysis, root-cause investigation, advanced mission and system studies, project management and facilitation.