Stefaan Yorucu

At SpectX, together with a capable and diverse team, we share the humble SME's vision: Become industry leaders in the autonomous NDT of industrial assets.

Currently, I am managing a project of the company where two very-large drones, capable of emitting and absorbing X-rays, fly autonomously in coordination, to inspect wind turbine blades.

This mission aims to enable detailed internal inspection, significantly reducing the general inspection times and operational/maintenance costs of industrial asset owners. In addition, a large increase in inspection quality, and even predictive maintenance will be possible, resulting in more effective asset management.

Some of my responsibilities are itemised below:

• Successfully managed multiple projects simultaneously by prioritizing tasks according to urgency, resource availability, and alignment with organizational goals.
• Planned, designed, and scheduled phases for large projects.
• Collaborated closely with senior management to align project objectives with strategic company initiatives, ensuring that efforts contributed to overall business growth.
• Coordinated cross-functional teams and resolved conflicts, maintaining a positive work environment throughout the project lifecycle.
• Managed risk assessments and implemented mitigation strategies to minimize potential issues during project execution.

At Stratos V in DARE, I took the initiative of leading and managing a team of over 80 passionate engineering students, all from different backgrounds and disciplines.

Stratos V aims to launch the most advanced, fully-reusable student rocket in the world. To achieve this goal effectively and efficiently, a resourceful coordination of the efforts of over 80 people was paramount.

Being the team leader, I had a multitude of responsibilities, such as acquiring new partners, representing the team and project in events, conferences, and more. In addition to that, I was involved in the fostering and cultivation of the partnerships that project Stratos has forged over the past 21 years.

More of my responsibilities are summarised below:

• Maintained an inclusive and diverse team culture, promoting respect and understanding among all members.
• Collaborated with other department leaders to establish shared goals and ensure alignment across teams.
• Set performance expectations for the team, monitoring their progress towards goals and providing constructive feedback as needed.
• Empowered team members by delegating responsibilities according to individual strengths and areas of expertise.
• Established open and professional relationships with team members to achieve quick resolutions for various issues.

My time in Lambach Aircraft was spent mostly working as an Aerodynamics Engineer, on Project ATTIS: Designing, manufacturing and testing the efficiently performing wings of an autonomous drone/UAV. The project has the vision to cheaply counter the poaching efforts in the national parks of Zimbabwe.

Over my time at Lambach, I have learned to build small teams, as well as foster pleasant and effective environments. This has taught me to be more patient and versatile.