Ross Doherty
FounderCo-Founder & COO at Orbital Operations
Los Angeles, California, United States
FoundedOrbital Operations · YC
About
Ross Doherty is co-founder and COO of Orbital Operations. He previously worked in aerospace manufacturing and propulsion at Aerojet Rocketdyne, Blue Origin, and Relativity Space, where he led turbomachinery manufacturing for the Aeon-R engine and managed Flight Termination System qualification for the TM-1 rocket.
Co-Founder & COO at Orbital OperationsYC W25
Intro paths
YC
Ross went through Y Combinator (Winter 2025) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
GP
Their group partner at YC was Tyler Bosmeny, General Partner at Y Combinator — the partner who ran Orbital Operations's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗
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In turn, Ross can intro founders to Orbital Operations's investors below.
Orbital Operations's investors · 9
Black FlagSan Diego · $100K – $1M checks · since 2025GoAhead VenturesMenlo Park · $500K – $1M checks · since 2025Harpoon VenturesSan Diego · $100K – $5M checks · since 2025Initialized CapitalSan Francisco · $1M – $5M checks · since 2025Karman VenturesAustin · $100K – $500K checks · since 2025Olive Tree CapitalBoston · since 2025Rebel FundSan Francisco · $100K – $5M checks · since 2025TRAC (Third Round Analytics Capital)San Francisco · $250K – $2M checks · since 2025Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2025
Co-founders at Orbital Operations
BS
Ben SchleunigerFounder
H
Hunter
Experience
- Orbital OperationsCo-Founder | COOcurrent2024 — presentLong Beach, California, United States
- Relativity SpaceLead Turbomachinery Manufacturing Engineer2022 — 2025Long Beach, California, United States
- Relativity SpaceSr. Turbomachinery Manufacturing Engineer2021 — 2024Long Beach, California, United States
- BLUE ORIGINTurbomachinery Manufacturing Engineer2019 — 2021Kent, Washington, United States
- Aerojet RocketdyneManufacturing Engineer2015 — 2019Los Angeles, California
- SIFCO Industries, IncForge Process Engineer2014 — 2015Cleveland, Ohio
- Newcastle Dive CenterSalesman / Air Tank Operator2011 — 2012
- Summit Racing EquipmentPut Away / Retail Picker2008Tallmadge, OH
- SwagelokAssembler2008Solon, OH
Skills & more
Microsoft Word3Microsoft Excel4Solidworks3DynamicsPropulsion1Flight Mechanics1Orbital Dynamics1ThermodynamicsStaticsSix SigmaLean ManufacturingCommunication
+1 more
TeamworkFrom Ross's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Ross Doherty?
- Ross Doherty is co-founder and COO of Orbital Operations. He previously worked in aerospace manufacturing and propulsion at Aerojet Rocketdyne, Blue Origin, and Relativity Space, where he led turbomachinery manufacturing for the Aeon-R engine and managed Flight Termination System qualification for the TM-1 rocket.
- Where does Ross Doherty work?
- Ross Doherty is Co-Founder & COO of Orbital Operations.
- What companies did Ross Doherty found?
- Ross Doherty founded Orbital Operations.
- Where did Ross Doherty go to school?
- Ross Doherty studied at Case Western Reserve University (Bachelors of Science and Engineering, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering); United States Naval Academy.
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia8,773
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Case Western Reserve University mafia10
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Relativity Space mafia8
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Kingsley AdvaniInvestorFounded AllocationsScott HartleyInvestorFounded StreamNativeAlexander KwanDirector Of Finance And StrategyFounded TAIBen SchleunigerLead Propulsion Components EngineerFounded Orbital OperationsIlya KelnerStaff Flight Software EngineerFounded Red Barn RoboticsPaul ShinMechanical EngineeringFounded F4 Industries
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Same school
Also attended Case Western Reserve University54
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Shared employers
Also worked at Orbital Operations1
Also worked at Relativity Space22
Jordan NooneGeneral Partner at Embedded VenturesNancy XiaoInvestor at HeadlineJory BellGeneral Partner at Playground GlobalJerry OrzechPRINCIPAL, INVESTMENT TEAM at Crosscut VenturesRyan McCalleyManaging Partner and Founder at SQN Venture Partners, LLCWilliam AbecassisManaging Partner and CIO at Braven
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