About Us
Let’s be honest: we’ve always been space nerds.
We started our engineering consulting company in 2017 with the dream of providing our electrical, mechanical and aerospace design services to New Zealand’s burgeoning space sector.
Since then, we’ve expanded to provide our innovative design and engineering skills to a range of customers internationally and at home. We’re proud to say we’ve helped dozens of companies achieve their goals, never letting the harsh realities of their environment hold them back.
We realised that our skills are useful beyond the harsh realities of space—whether you’re in agriculture or Antarctica, high-reliability technology that can handle the environment you’re in is absolutely vital.
We’re known for our knack for innovation, problem solving, creatively and delivering unique solutions. But we also understand when to buy off-the-shelf, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel! Using standard parts enables us to keep costs down too.
Asteria Engineering Consultancy takes its name from the Greek Goddess of the Stars, Asteria. We are 100% New Zealand owned and operated.
Our Team
David Wright - Lead Engineer
David is known for his upbeat attitude, absolute dedication to his clients, innovative approach to engineering, and his wealth of knowledge. He worked as an electrical engineer in the aerospace industry both in New Zealand and abroad for several years before starting Asteria in 2017. David has a Mechatronics Engineering degree from the University of Canterbury and a Masters degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University.
David loves the variability and thrill of working on complex electronic design projects for harsh environments. “Every day comes with different and fantastic challenges,” David said. “In the morning I could be working with a large company on cutting-edge power systems and in the afternoon I might be sitting down with a scientist to discuss their goals and how we can achieve them.”
Outside of work, David can usually be found rock climbing, running, spoiling his cat or spending quality time with his wife and friends.
Sarah Pratt - Business Manager
A neat addition to David’s skillset, Sarah brings the business expertise to Asteria. Sarah has a range of experience in marketing, project management, accounting, and event management and enjoys using these skills at Asteria.
When asked what she loves about her job, Sarah said “the people. The engineers here at Asteria are so talented and our clients are awesome to work with, they really make it a joy to come to work each day.”
Sarah has a Masters Degree in Marketing from the University of Canterbury. When she isn’t working on the website or talking with customers, Sarah can usually be found seeking out coffee or writing a quick short story.
Anthony Watson - Electrical Engineer
Anthony joined us in early 2022, bringing with him a strong background in electrical engineering and power electronics.
Working in the admin team at a local power distribution company during school sparked Anthony’s interest in electrical engineering. He went on to achieve both a Bachelors degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering with Honours and a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Canterbury.
Now, Anthony develops and tests electrical hardware, firmware and software at Asteria. Known for his analytical and detail-orientated approach, Anthony consistently delivers high quality and innovative solutions. Anthony enjoys the opportunity to use his engineering expertise and problem-solving skills to help our clients achieve their goals. His ability to work well under pressure, adaptability and keen persistence are key assets to our team.
Outside of work, Anthony can be found following football and tinkering with electronics. He’s also learning to play the bass guitar.
