# Shey Sabripour

> Shey Sabripour is the Austin-based founder and CEO of CesiumAstro, which he established in January 2017 to develop modular, software-defined communications systems for space and airborne applications. His career includes 24 years at Lockheed Martin, ultimately as director of spacecraft design, and service as Firefly Space Systems’ chief technology officer. CesiumAstro now builds integrated satellites and communications systems, with Element-1 reaching orbit in October 2026 and manufacturing expansion underway.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at CesiumAstro
- **Organizations:** CesiumAstro, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Firefly Space Systems, Altumaxis Technologies
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.S. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, North Dakota State University
- **Known for:** Oversaw an organization of 370 engineers, scientists, and business professionals as Lockheed Martin director of spacecraft design., Helped grow Firefly’s engineering team from 11 to more than 160 by 2016; the team won a NASA VCLS mission and two DARPA contracts., Named Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems person of the year in 2005, according to his published interview biography.

## Career timeline

- **1985** — Earned a B.S. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at North Dakota State University.
- **1986–2010** — Worked within the spacecraft business described in public biographies as Lockheed Martin Space Systems, ultimately serving as director of spacecraft design.
- **2001–2005** — Directed the Agile Payload Program, including development and flight of Lockheed Martin’s first commercial active phased-array payload.
- **2010** — Established Altumaxis Technologies, described in his historical personal biography as a renewable-energy technology company.
- **2014–2016** — Served as CTO of Firefly Space Systems, responsible for technical and program management of Alpha rocket development.
- **2017** — Founded CesiumAstro in January.
- **2026** — Led CesiumAstro through financing, three announced acquisitions, manufacturing expansion, and the October launch of Element-1.

## Achievements

- Oversaw an organization of 370 engineers, scientists, and business professionals as Lockheed Martin director of spacecraft design.
- Helped grow Firefly’s engineering team from 11 to more than 160 by 2016; the team won a NASA VCLS mission and two DARPA contracts.
- Named Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems person of the year in 2005, according to his published interview biography.
- Named a finalist for the Austin Business Journal Best CEO Award in 2025.
- Company biography in September 2025 reported three issued and three pending U.S. patents.
- Founded CesiumAstro, which reported more than 850 employees in October 2026.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — CesiumAstro announced a planned $25 million engineering and manufacturing expansion in Melbourne, Florida, with 100 jobs expected over the following 12 months; the announcement reported more than 850 employees.
- **2026-10** — Element-1 reached orbit; Sabripour reported deployment, sun-pointing safe mode, solar-array deployment, and bidirectional connectivity, with commissioning to follow.
- **2026-09** — Signed a $300 million EXIM credit agreement, including a $20 million J.P. Morgan revolving credit line, at the future Texas headquarters and manufacturing complex.
- **2026-08** — CesiumAstro announced acquisitions of Jariet Technologies and 1Aardvark, following its February Vidrovr acquisition announcement.
- **2026-02** — CesiumAstro announced $470 million in growth capital: $270 million equity plus a $200 million EXIM/J.P. Morgan financing package.

## Links

- Website: https://www.cesiumastro.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shey-sabripour
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/Shey_Sabripour

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/shey-sabripour
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-26