Chris Jurczak dreamed of working for NASA until an internship showed the agency mostly managed projects, while outside firms did the engineering. True to Lawrence Technological University’s “theory and practice” approach, Jurczak realized he wanted to be more hands-on.
He shifted his goals and spent his senior year on the SAE Aero Design Team, designing and flying planes with a crew of like-minded builders. It was the “technical engineering work” he’d been looking for.
Building a Global Network
After graduating from LTU in 2008 with degrees in mechanical engineering and physics, Jurczak was hired by the Spanish aerospace firm Aernnova, which had just launched a new office in Ann Arbor; he was also working on a master’s degree in space engineering from the University of Michigan.
Traveling “all over Europe,” Canada, and California for assignments, he accumulated a ton of contacts within the industry. “By the time Aernnova closed their Ann Arbor office, so many people wanted my help [and] I was able to become an independent contractor before starting my own company,” he said.
By then, he’d developed a niche for himself as “the guy who does all the math.”
But what exactly does he do?
“Super, super technical stuff to help guide the design of an airplane from start to finish,” such as computer modeling, simulations, structural analysis, and programming. He spent a decade mastering specialties like fluid flow, heat transfer, and invisible forces to determine if a plane would actually fly from point A to point B.
A Business That Fits Family Life
While he started out working on large planes for Aernnova, he prefers to use his skills on smaller aircraft. “They’re a lot more fun,” especially since he’s far more likely to be involved from beginning to end. Quite the contrast from bigger airplanes that require thousands of engineers, in teams focused on a single aspect of the plane.
He’s invested in five computers to help him support about six clients, with more expected to enlist his services throughout 2026, thanks to word-of-mouth referrals. And even though he works from home with a toddler and an infant—his wife is a physician—he is able to work quickly and “get a lot done.”
In fact, he feels “blessed” to run his business from home. “This is a really precious time,” Jurczak said, who has help from a nanny during work hours. “I’m super lucky to be with my children while they’re this young. It’s a rare opportunity.”
Supporting Future Innovators
He’s also grateful for his LTU education and cites his senior project with the aero design team as a favorite memory. “We were all close friends and Dr. [Andy] Gerhardt [the team’s advisor] was a big part of that, too. He’s just a lot of fun and a cool guy.” The kicker was traveling to a competition in Georgia where they flew their airplane “after we put all this time into designing and building it.”
Jurczak recently made a generous donation to LTU’s Emergency Scholarship for Future Innovators fund. “It was such a good opportunity to be able to attend LTU on a scholarship, and I feel since the [University] gave me so much in terms of an education, the least I can do is give back.” He doesn’t want students who might have struggled financially to miss out on LTU’s focus on theory and practice.
“I love LTU. It’s such a good school. I want to help someone who’s currently enrolled and struggling with affordability. The emergency scholarship fund is a great way to help those students continue their education.”
By Pam Houghton
