Q&A with Roshan Duggineni, Mission Manager

Meet Roshan Duggineni, Mission Manager at Apex!

Roshan is entering his third year at Apex and brings experience across several engineering disciplines, including systems and mechanical engineering from his time at Raytheon and Virgin Galactic. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Engineering in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Cincinnati.

As a Mission Manager, Roshan manages critical customer missions end to end, from initial concept through on-orbit execution. He works with customers to translate their mission requirements into a detailed mission plan, including everything from Apex platform configuration to payload integration, launch vehicle integration, and on-orbit operations. In addition to Roshan’s integral role as a member of Apex’s Missions & Product organization, he keeps team morale high with regular visits from our four-legged friend, Bannu.

Learn more about Roshan below:

Q: What excites you the most about working at a company like Apex?

What excites me most about Apex is the chance to work on something that's genuinely pushing the space industry forward. I enjoy solving challenging engineering problems, and Apex's focus on building reliable, scalable spacecraft means I get to contribute to systems and processes that have a lasting impact.  

I'm also really drawn to the fast-paced, hands-on, ‘put your money where your mouth is’ culture. I like environments where people take ownership, collaborate across teams, and move quickly from an idea to real hardware.  

Also, the fact that dogs are allowed in the office is a big plus!

Q: Why are you excited about space?  

I've always been drawn to space because it represents what's possible when people take on really difficult problems. Every mission is the result of countless engineering challenges, creative thinking, and collaboration, and I find that incredibly inspiring. There's something exciting about knowing that the work you do could help enable a satellite, support a scientific mission, or make space more accessible.

What makes this time especially exciting is how quickly the industry is evolving. Space is no longer just about a handful of government missions—there are so many companies developing new technologies and opening the door to entirely new applications. I love the idea of being part of that momentum, learning from talented people, and contributing to technology that has a real impact both in orbit and here on Earth.

Q: What’s something you learned in your most recent role that you’re bringing to Apex?

Before Apex, I was a Mechanical – Propulsion Engineer at Virgin Galactic in Mojave, where our main focus was scaling our rocket motor production capabilities to support a higher production rate. Working on a small team of about five engineers and twenty technicians taught me how to wear many different hats, take ownership, and collaborate closely with others to accomplish a shared goal. I gained a lot of hands-on experience solving technical challenges and working across engineering and production, and I think that experience translates well to Apex’s fast-paced, mission-focused environment.  

Q: How do you see the role of Mission Manager at Apex, and how does it support the mass manufacturing of Apex’s spacecraft platforms?  

I see the Mission Manager role as the bridge between customers, engineering, production, and operations, ensuring everyone is aligned to deliver successful missions. As Apex scales spacecraft manufacturing, the Mission Manager translates mission needs into actionable requirements, identifies risks early, and keeps teams moving efficiently.

What excites me about this role is the opportunity to combine technical knowledge with cross-functional collaboration. My experience has taught me the importance of communication, ownership, and teamwork when scaling complex hardware, and I see the Mission Manager as a key role in enabling Apex to build reliable spacecraft at scale.

Q: What has surprised or impressed you the most so far during your time at Apex?  

The thing that has impressed me most about Apex is the speed at which we move and the fact that we consistently do what we say we’re going to do. Compared with what I’ve seen at other aerospace companies, that level of execution and accountability has been both refreshing and exciting to experience.

Just as impressive has been the culture. Everyone is incredibly collaborative and approachable, and takes real ownership and pride in what we're building. Seeing how invested people are in the product and the success of the company has been one of my favorite parts of being at Apex.

Q: Tell us a bit about what you do in your free time.

I could go on for days about all the hobbies and adventures Los Angeles has to offer. I’m always looking for something new to try, whether that’s hiking in the mountains, working on my project car, skiing in Mammoth, playing disc golf in Pasadena, exploring a new food spot, or, most recently, getting into cycling.

I really enjoy being outdoors, staying active, and finding new ways to challenge myself outside of work. Living in LA makes that pretty easy, and I’m always excited to see what new hobby or adventure comes next.