Ben Harstad is a natural leader with a passion for software-hardware networks and system development. He completed his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Southern California and earned a Certificate in Business Management and Operations from the University of Colorado Boulder - Leeds School of Business. Throughout his career, he has worked in various roles in high-tech companies, including SpaceX and Tesla, where he has managed teams to achieve improved reliability and efficiency. He currently serves as Staff Technical Program Manager for Battery Engineering at Tesla.

At SpaceX, Ben held roles as Sr. Systems/Process Development Engineer and Quality Engineer, Composites Manufacturing but rose through the ranks to become the Lead Systems/Process Development Engineer. His experience in managing teams to improve efficiency through the development of software and business process has been invaluable.

In his current role at Tesla, Ben has been responsible for various projects focused on battery engineering. His work is critical to the company's success in electric vehicle technology and sustainable energy solutions.

Overall, Ben Harstad's expertise and experience in system development, software-hardware networks, and project management position him as a natural leader and collaborator in the high-tech industry.