For the first installment of Voices of Volatus, we’re pleased to introduce Jade Codinera, Senior UAV R&D Engineer, based in our Vaughan office.
Since joining Volatus Aerospace in January 2022, Jade has been a key member of our innovation and engineering teams, contributing to the development and advancement of autonomous aviation technologies. Jade has helped support projects that push the boundaries of what is possible with remotely piloted and autonomous systems.
Driven by a passion for problem-solving and innovation, Jade enjoys tackling complex challenges and transforming ideas into real-world solutions. Her work plays an important role in advancing the technologies and operations that support Volatus Aerospace’s mission.
Get to know Jade as she shares his career journey, what inspires her work and the experiences that have shaped her path in autonomous aviation.
What do you enjoy most about working with your team?
I most enjoy that our team is always challenged with projects that have never been done before. It is always exciting to see us come up with different ideas and then merge them together to get whatever it is done. I like the fact that the company can lean on our team and trust us to solve problems.
What is one project or accomplishment at Volatus you are especially proud of?
I am especially proud of the project operating at Edmonton International Airport (YEG) using the Canary RPAS to support deliveries to a clinic with the Montana First Nations. I was heavily involved in the avionics upgrade of the Canary leading up to the operation and performed all the initial test flights from our Operations Control Centre (OCC). It was a challenging task to ensure the highest level of safety and took a lot of coordination amongst the team.
What excites you most about the work you do?
The most exciting aspect about working in the Vaughan office is being able to see firsthand the operations from the OCC and at our nearby test site. A lot of engineers in other industries will work on something in a simulated or lab environment and never get to see it (or in my case fly it) firsthand. Also, getting to work with technicians and operators helps make my designs / documentation more practical rather than just theoretical.
What first sparked your interest in aerospace, aviation, drones, autonomy or technology?
Growing up, I’ve always had a knack for math and sciences. I first enrolled in general engineering because I had an aptitude for it, but it wasn’t until my second year of university that I really knew I wanted to work in autonomy. At the end of first year, all engineering students had to choose and rank their specializations. I applied to mechatronics simply because I was told it was the hardest program to get into and I love a challenge. I remember seeing my first design project move exactly the way I intended it to and knowing from that moment that I would be building autonomous systems for the rest of my life.
What skills or experiences have shaped your career the most?
Throughout university I completed multitudes of design projects in courses, in competitions and during coops. What shaped my career most was joining the drone and diving department of a nuclear company. It really set the bar for safety for the rest of my career studying and working within such strict regulations.
What’s something people may be surprised to learn about you?
People may be surprised to know that I was a prospect to play D1 basketball in the NCAA when I was in high school. In my final year, I decided to stay closer to home and continue to have an equal focus on engineering. Eventually I became more passionate about autonomous systems than playing basketball, but I do enjoy the occasional pickup game mostly because it always surprises new people.
What is the best career advice you’ve received?
Don’t think of any job as temporary, always work on something that you enjoy doing. The only thing you can never get back is time so don’t waste it doing things you don’t like.
