“I was born in Denizli, Turkey. My parents were teachers, so we moved often - by 1985 we were living in a small village near Antalya by the sea, an idyllic place. I later attended a Boarding Science High School and enjoyed both science and basketball.
I studied Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, earning my BSc and MSc with top marks in Power Electronics and Control. During my PhD studies, I joined TÜBİTAK-UZAY as a Power Electronics Engineer. The institute had earlier worked with SSTL on BILSAT, and I contributed to follow-on Turkish satellites RASAT and GÖKTÜRK-2 as subsystem lead and then Group Leader for the Power Team.
At the end of GÖKTÜRK-2, I applied to SSTL - even taking the initial contacts to SSTL while at China’s Long March launch site! After the satellite launched in December 2012, I accepted SSTL’s offer and moved to the UK in May 2013. Since then, I’ve worked on a wide range of missions - from early product developments to flagship projects like Quantum - and have grown alongside a great team of engineers who share the same enthusiasm for space.
I began as a Power Systems Engineer, later leading the Power Team and, since 2021, serving as Head of Electrical Engineering. I work closely with the Engineering Director and senior team to deliver electrical products that meet demanding project and technology goals. The diversity of people, projects and challenges keeps the job exciting and reminds me daily how strong SSTL’s engineering culture is.
Space design has always inspired me.. the challenge, the teamwork, and the constant need to adapt. Over nearly 20 years, I’ve seen the industry become faster, smaller, and more competitive, yet more open to innovation than ever before. That evolution makes me proud to play my part at SSTL, helping shape the next generation of spacecraft and engineers who will continue pushing boundaries. One thing that hasn’t changed: success in space is always a team effort.”
Great story, Hasan, many thanks for being here with us!