Matt Jenkins is Chief Space Systems Officer of Vantor, a role he’s held since September 2024. Over more than two decades, he has established himself as a leader in systems engineering, shaping some of the most advanced space-based capabilities supporting both commercial innovation and national security.
His work spans the design and delivery of sophisticated remote sensing systems, with deep expertise in electro-optical and infrared technologies, laser systems, and radio frequency architectures. Across his career, he has contributed to the development of dozens of spacecraft now operating in orbit—each reflecting the precision and discipline required to translate complex engineering into reliable
performance in space.
Prior to joining Vantor, Jenkins led engineering for Amazon’s Leo Government Solutions team, where he directed the development of resilient, next-generation systems aligned with U.S. national security priorities. Earlier, as Director of Space Engineering at Pacific Defense, he served as architect of the Moonraker system designed for operations in the Earth–Moon L1 cislunar regime—which has since launched and successfully demonstrated on-orbit performance.
Jenkins spent more than 15 years at Raytheon, where he played a central role in the development of major Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) systems critical to missile warning and defense. He also led the creation of the WorldView Legion optical imaging system, advancing the state of the art in space-based Earth observation.
During his tenure, he held senior technical leadership roles, including Chief Systems Engineer, and led the company’s Space System Engineering team.
He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Optics from the University of Rochester, as well as a Master’s degree in Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. An inventor and innovator, Jenkins is credited with two patents in remote sensing and has developed more than twenty trade secrets in optical system assembly, integration, and testing.
