Who we are
At SkyTerra we turn ambitious ideas into reliable hardware, software and infrastructure. Every teammate blends engineering, data science and project leadership, so you get full-stack expertise in one conversation.
We map technical pathways, keep stakeholders aligned and manage risk in clear language. Custom agents, in-house tools and workflows with Zapier, n8n and Make move data in real time. We write and test our own prompts, deploy models securely and turn insight into action.
Our work ranges from grid-scale solar-plus-storage with advanced controls to edge-AI IoT stacks and predictive analytics pipelines that turn raw data into decisions. We guide products through UL, NFPA and UN certification to global compliance.
No bureaucracy, lean costs. You work directly with the engineers who design, code and sign off, so delivery is faster and communication is clear.
Scroll down to meet the people who make limitless ideas work on the ground.
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Dr. Jonathan Scharf
FOUNDER & CEO
Dr. Scharf leads SkyTerra at the leading edge of AI, automation, solar and battery innovation and integrated energy solutions, from microgrids to utility-scale infrastructure. His peer-reviewed work in Science and Nature on silicon-rich anodes and AI-guided X-ray tomography underpins two patented platforms now moving from pilot lines to grid deployments. previously, he scaled lithium-ion cell production at Tesla’s battery manufacturing and, at Accenture, advised global utilities on battery adoption and grid modernization. By optimizing energy-storage supply chains and advanced materials, he has delivered more than $650 million in cost savings and steered multi-megawatt storage and solar projects from concept through commissioning. Jonathan regularly briefs utility boards and investors on technical risk and market viability, blending deep engineering fluency with sharp commercial insight. He also serves as Chair of the State Membership Committee at CleanTX, forging alliances with EPCs, OEMs and energy operators to accelerate technology adoption statewide.
Education:
PhD NanoEngineering, UC San Diego
MS NanoEngineering, UC San Diego
BS Electrical Engineering, UMass Amherst -
Dr. Mahmood Tabaddor
STRATEGY & AI DIRECTOR
Dr. Tabaddor turns complex technology landscapes into clear growth plans. During thirteen years at UL Solutions he led the global team that investigated Boeing 787 battery incidents, built the firm’s first machine-learning reproducibility service and co-authored the safety benchmark UL 4600 while contributing to ISO and NTSB standards for AI and energy systems. Earlier, at Accenture, he ran multimillion-dollar digital-twin and predictive-analytics programs that cut product-development cycles by up to 30 percent for Fortune 500 manufacturers. Today he pairs modelling, governance and board-level facilitation to help executives align advanced analytics with measurable business value and regulatory confidence.
Education:
Postdoctoral Business Management, Yale School of Management
PhD Nonlinear System Dynamics, Virginia Tech
Executive Leadership, Yale University
Technical Leadership in AI, MIT -
Dr. Thomas Fabian
SYSTEM & COMPLIANCE DIRECTOR
Dr. Fabian is a global certification authority who spent eighteen years at UL Solutions creating and streamlining safety pathways for advanced batteries, additive manufacturing and polymer components. He directed worldwide R&D that standardised fire-testing protocols for plastics and 3D-printed parts, then launched new UL routes that cut time-to-market for novel materials by months. His multimillion-dollar studies on polymer fire barriers and predictive risk tools have shaped NFPA and ASTM codes, while his guidance has opened six- and seven-figure revenue lines for clients’ first-year product launches. Honoured with ASTM’s Award of Recognition and the NFPA’s Ronald K. Mengel Award, he blends lab-level insight with pragmatic regulatory strategy to drive safe, compliant growth across energy and manufacturing sectors.
Education:
Technical & Operations Leaders Program, MIT Sloan
PhD Polymer Science, University of Connecticut
BS Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University -
Dr. Austin Paul-Orecchio
SENIOR TECHNICAL ADVISOR
Dr. Paul-Orecchio is an electrochemist who turns fundamental chemistry into commercial energy solutions. His work spans lithium-metal anodes, high-voltage cathodes, solid-state electrolytes and catalysts for emerging fuel-cell systems. After evaluating more than two hundred battery and materials technologies, he has licensed fifty to industry partners and authored six peer-reviewed papers. Using SEM, XPS, ToF-SIMS and impedance spectroscopy, he links atomic-scale data to system-level models that boost reliability and unlock new revenue for clients.
Education:
PhD Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin
MA Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin
BS Chemistry, Bethany College -
Paawan Desai
DATA & AI ANALYST
Paawan turns raw datasets into actionable intelligence. He builds multi-fuel demand forecasts with XGBoost and CatBoost, designs Verilog accelerators for post-quantum cryptography, and engineers Python-SQL pipelines that surface real-time business insights. His revenue-tracking platform for small businesses and first-place finish at the Energy AI Hackathon showcase a knack for marrying robust models with practical outcomes.
Education:
BE Electrical & Computer Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
Minor in Entrepreneurship, The University of Texas at Austin -
Mae Lackey
MARKETING & ADMINISTRATIVE DEVELOPER
Mae orchestrates SkyTerra’s communications, operations and brand voice. A journalism graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, she draws on audience-engagement roles at The Texas Tribune, The Charlotte Observer and Passionfruit to craft social media strategy, newsletters and multimedia storytelling. Her keen eye for clarity and consistency keeps stakeholders informed and projects running smoothly.
Education:
BA Journalism, The University of Texas at Austin
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