Jay Bustamante is a Lead Systems Engineer at Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor for National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Orion Spacecraft for the Artemis Program. He is deeply honored to have contributed to Artemis II—NASA’s first crewed Artemis mission—which successfully carried four astronauts around the Moon and back. This milestone mission marks a crucial step toward humanity’s sustained return to the Moon and future exploration of Mars.
In his role, Jay is responsible for certifying the Orion spacecraft’s service module for flight. This module provides propulsion, electrical power, thermal control, and essential life-support capabilities required for deep-space travel. Orion serves as NASA’s next-generation spacecraft, designed to carry astronauts beyond low Earth orbit and safely return them to Earth.
Jay’s journey began in Cebu, where watching NASA missions sparked his passion for space exploration. His strong work ethics and character were shaped during his formative years at Don Bosco Technical High School and CITE Technical Institute, Inc., where he earned a Diploma in Electronics Technology in 1995 as part of Batch 2 of CITE graduates.
He later completed his degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering at Cebu Institute of Technology–University. Determined to pursue his dreams, Jay moved to the United States, where he faced the challenges of building a new life far from home. Through perseverance and continuous self-improvement, he went on to earn an advanced degree in Electrical Engineering—an achievement that ultimately paved the way for his career as a Systems Engineer in the space industry.
When asked for advice, Jay often says, “Dream big and aim for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” It’s a mindset that reflects both his personal outlook and the extraordinary work he has been part of throughout his career.