Summary
Joseph Bowkett is a Robotics Technologist and Group Lead at NASA JPL with eight years of hands-on experience designing and deploying robotic manipulation and sampling systems for space missions. He combines a PhD and MS in Mechanical Engineering from Caltech with a First Class BE in Mechatronics from the University of Auckland, blending deep academic rigor with practical product development experience. At JPL he has progressed from research affiliate to group lead, translating advanced manipulation research into fieldable hardware and mission-ready software. His background includes early product development and internships in precision engineering, giving him a strong appreciation for manufacturability and systems integration. Known for tinkering with robots, he pairs curiosity-driven experimentation with disciplined engineering processes to solve novel autonomy and sampling challenges. Based in Pasadena, he brings a rare mix of academic depth, leadership in a high-stakes government lab, and a maker’s instinct for iterative prototyping.
8 years of coding experience
1 year of employment as a software developer
Bachelor of Engineering - BE, Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering, First Class Honours, Bachelor of Engineering - BE, Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering, First Class Honours at The University of Auckland
California Institute of Technology