Our Executive Mentors

Jenny Cech

Director of Thermal Systems Engineering | Blue Canyon Technologies

Jennifer Cech is the Director of Thermal Systems Engineering at Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT), where she has been a key contributor since joining the company as a startup in 2016. With a passion for next generation small-satellite solutions, she has played a vital role in transforming the space industry through researching and infusing new technologies and processes.  Blue Canyon Technologies designs and builds small spacecraft including all of the components within the bus.  Jennifer has be involved in every program at BCT and every component, including Minisats, CubeSats, star trackers, reaction wheels, software defined radios, control moment gyros, sun sensors, solar panels, battery packs, structures, payload interfaces, and propulsion systems. 

As a 30-person startup in 2016 to a leading provider of small satellite solutions with a team of over 400 professionals, the company Jennifer contributed to developing has established itself as a key player in the space industry, delivering cutting-edge spacecraft, components, and mission solutions for NASA, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the Department of Defense (DOD), the U.S. Space Force, universities, and commercial space enterprises, interfacing with SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, and Space Station deployments. With a commitment to innovation, BCT continues to push the boundaries of small satellite technology, supporting a wide range of Earth observation, deep space exploration, and national security missions for LEO, GEO, Lunar, and Mars.

Before her tenure at BCT, Jenny spent a decade (2004-2014) as a Thermal Engineer at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado. Her expertise has contributed to the success of numerous NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) missions, including:

  • GOES-R – The latest generation of NOAA’s geostationary weather satellites

  • MMS – A formation-flying constellation for magnetospheric research

  • New Horizons – The first mission to explore Pluto and the Kuiper Belt

  • MAVEN – A mission studying Mars' upper atmosphere and ionosphere

Jenny earned her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado in 2002. Beyond engineering, she is an avid outdoor enthusiast and is dedicated to empowering new engineers, developing engineers, women, minorities, and youth in STEM fields, aerospace, art, and leadership