MJ FullerMathew (MJ) Fuller

Mathew (MJ) Fuller

Engineering lead · husband · new father · orbital systems builder

/about

Hey, I'm MJ. I build spacecraft power systems at Terran Orbital. Before that, I worked across SpaceX, Rivian, JPL, and other corners of engineering that taught me how systems come together when the stakes are real.

Outside of work, I am raising a son, trying to stay intentional about family life, and making room for reading, lifting, running, music production, writing, and useful software.

/eras

The short version: aerospace, high-stakes hardware, family, and now a more deliberate focus on fewer systems done better. Waypoint is where that goal-tracking layer is moving next.

Early years: San Diego / Folsom era

Grew up around San Diego, moved to Folsom, and learned that I am happiest when something gets my brain thinking or my body moving.

College: Aerospace era

Studied aerospace engineering at Cal Poly SLO and got hooked on systems too complex for one person to fully hold in their head.

Early career: High-stakes hardware era

Worked around JPL, SpaceX, Rivian, and Terran Orbital, collecting lessons in propulsion, batteries, spacecraft power, and execution.

Now: Dad / builder era

Raising a son, building useful software, writing more seriously, and trying to design a life that rewards attention instead of noise.

Next: Focus systems era

Fewer priorities, clearer goals, better feedback loops, and a visible map of what I am choosing to improve.
/goals
/projects

Current work is split between daily operating systems, resource libraries, and data projects.

Personal OS · iOS/WebWaypointGoals, habits, reminders, journaling, and lock-screen progress in one operating layer.Music · ProductionFLLRMusic, production notes, and the creative systems around the FLLR project.
/writing

Questions worth modeling. Assumptions worth showing.

Essays and visual analysis about systems, markets, engineering, data, and the assumptions doing the work.

Open the publication

/wisdom
Tags

All

48 matching

  • Framework
    A-B-Z

    A-B-Z is a framework I use to make shit happen. Define the end goal (Z) Define the starting point (A) Take the first step (B) Ignore everything other step until you approach it. (C, D, E, etc)

    Author Sam ParrSource Sam ParrTags decision making
  • Framework
    Regret Minimalization Framework

    What would your 80 year old self look back and tell you about an action you’re contemplating taking or not taking?

    Author Jeff BezosSource Jeff BezosTags decision making
  • Note

    Every time you do something, even just one thing each day, week, whatever…: Every time you do something, even just one thing each day, week, whatever; do something that’ll make you enjoy it just 10% more

    Author Joe HudsonSource My First Million PodcastTags parenting
  • Note

    Your life isn’t something to “figure out”: Your life is something to build experience upon experience. Treat yourself as an uncarved block and let your curiosity and experiences carve into the block as you live. Don’t prematurely carve your block into a fixed shape based on what you think your life should be or who you think you should be at a given time because you will change and who you are when you’re 3035 4045 is not who you were prior and is shaped by your experiences along the way. Be present and realize that you are an ever evolving being in person that can change and grow based on your curiosities and experiences along the way.

    Source On Purpose Podcast with Jay Shetty: 10 hear truths I wish I knew when I was in my 20sTags parenting, mindset
  • Quote

    “What is said isn’t always what is heard”

    Author Jefferson FisherSource On Purpose Podcast with Jay ShettyTags communication, parenting
  • Note

    Build Your “Yacht”: Warm relationships yield social proof and credibility which feeds compounding results and the law of reciprocity. Build your yacht, whether that’s a dinner party, newsletter, podcast, etc

    Author Shaan PuriSource My First Million episodeTags relationships
  • Note

    Parenting - “Eyes”: Say “eyes” to your kids when talking to them. Emphasize that they make eye contact when talking to, and especially when listening. Show someone you are truly paying attention to and interested in them.

    Author Meredith Kopit LevienSource Prof G PodcastTags communication, parenting, focus
  • Note

    3 ways to create drama for great storytelling: Emotion: be vulnerable and authentic Surprise: unexpected information releases dopamine and enhances memory formation Wow factor data: put data into context and visualize in useful and unique ways

    Source open.spotify.com
/favorites

Books

Completed, in-progress, and on-deck reading.8 saved

Completed

3
  • Expecting BetterEmily Oster · Completed Jan 26, 2026 · Rating 5/5 · Recommended
  • CribsheetEmily Oster · Completed Feb 26, 2026 · Rating 4/5 · Recommended
  • Purpose & ProfitDan Koe · Completed Mar 26, 2026 · Rating 3/5 · Not recommendedThe full book, for free

In Progress

2

On Deck

3

Podcasts

Current lineup and favorite episodes.11 saved

Show Lineup

8
  • Raging Moderates with Scott Galloway and Jessica TarlovRaging against the extremes. Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov are in the middle — and they’re mad, because being a moderate in America these days does NOT mean staying...
  • Prof G Pod with Scott GallowayScott Galloway — bestselling author, professor, entrepreneur — doesn't pull punches on business, tech, culture, or life. New episodes every day of the week...
  • My First MillionSam Parr and Shaan Puri brainstorm new business ideas based on trends & opportunities they see in the market. Sometimes they bring on famous guests to brainstorm with them.
  • Plain English with Derek ThompsonLongtime Atlantic tech, culture and political writer Derek Thompson cuts through all the noise surrounding the big questions and headlines that matter to you in his new...
Show moreShow less
  • Huberman LabThe Huberman Lab podcast is hosted by Andrew Huberman, Ph. D., a neuroscientist and tenured professor in the department of neurobiology, and by courtesy, psychiatry and...
  • Ableton Music Producer PodcastAbleton Certified Trainer- Dan Giffin talks with today's industry experts and Ableton Live artists. We'll explore all things music from studio to stage.
  • Real Time with Bill MaherHe's not in it for the likes. Listen to full episodes of Real Time with Bill Maher and join the post-show conversation with Bill and his guests on Overtime...
  • A Bit of OptimismMy career is an accident. It started when I set out to rediscover my passion and reignite a spark I’d lost — and that journey led me to the work I do now...

Favorite Episodes

3
Recent
1
  • 93 days until 2027... Do this and you’ll thank yourself on Jan 1stListened Oct 1, 2026
    Amazing perspectives and lessons on mental practices for creativity and productivity: • Transcendental Meditation: constantly asking yourself why you’re having a thought, or feeling a certain way, and whether that aligns with who you are…Show moreShow lessAmazing perspectives and lessons on mental practices for creativity and productivity: • Transcendental Meditation: constantly asking yourself why you’re having a thought, or feeling a certain way, and whether that aligns with who you are • 5 voices in the head: there are different types of voices in your head that can influence how you think or feel - they should be treated as roommates, but only after they are quieted and return to their rooms can you then process what they’ve all said and figure out who you are, or what you believe • 6 Thinking Hats: similar to Shaan’s 5 voices, but is a book by Edward De Bono describing different perspectives when solving problems, and how to take them all into consideration and then move forward with the best objective perspective • 2 Notebooks: compartmentalize types of tasks, so you know when you’re working “on” the business or “in” the business. This is common amongst entrepreneurs and creators. “Write drunk, edit sober”. • Creativity doesn’t come spontaneously - it happens because of systematically putting in reps, practicing consistently, and filtering out all the “dirty water” from the faucet after you just turn it on, but if you leave it running long enough, you start to get clear, fresh water
Past Favorites
2

Essays, Articles, Poems & Posts

Favorites and queued pieces to revisit, reflect on, and share.16 saved

Favorite Essays, Articles, Poems & Posts

7
Recent
1
  • Joel (@joeliscurious) • Instagram reelViewed Sep 29, 2026 · instagram.com29K likes, 951 comments - joeliscurious on September 29, 2026: "Carbon dating can’t measure the age of the earth. Can anything?".
Past Favorites
6
Show moreShow less

Queue

9
Show moreShow less
  • The 26 Most Important Ideas For 2026derekthompson.orgModern trends and history lessons—across culture, politics, AI, economics, science, and the long story of progress. But first: an announcement!
  • The 25 Most Interesting Ideas I've Found in 2025 (So Far)derekthompson.orgCharts and history lessons—across culture, politics, AI, economics, health, science, and the long story of progress
  • Reluctantly Influential: Inside Lenny Rachitsky’s Demandingly Chill Lifereview.firstround.com · First Round
    With millions of subscribers across platforms, Lenny Rachitsky is one of the most prolific people in tech media. But what drives him — and what keeps him up at night — is a story…Show moreShow lessWith millions of subscribers across platforms, Lenny Rachitsky is one of the most prolific people in tech media. But what drives him — and what keeps him up at night — is a story most people don’t know.
  • Would You Put Your Job On Your Tombstone?hunterwalk.com · Hunter WalkAs a kid I'd prowl graveyards with my mother, tightly holding sheets of wax paper and thick, flat Crayolas. Macabre backdrop for sure, but our interest was in art not mischief. Upon discovering a tombstone with especially interesting inscriptions or carved pictures we'd overlay the wax paper and rub the crayon up and down the…
  • Boredom Is the Price We Pay for Meaning - The Atlanticarchive.pharchived 26 Sep 2026 18:19:48 UTC

Resources & Other Useful Finds

Tools, creators, references, links, and other useful saved material.11 saved

Entrepreneurship & Creativity

3
  • Shaan PuriShaan Puri · shaanpuri.compersonal blog on Business, Entrepreneurship, and Life by Shaan Puri
  • 5 Tweet TuesdayShaan Puri · 5 Tweet TuesdayThe best tweets, weekly
  • Data Poems | Luke SteuberLuke Steuber · dr.eamer.devCool data visualizations and insights

Music Production

2

News & Media

3
  • Derek Thompson | SubstackDerek Thompson · derekthompson.orgGood independent journalism
  • By The NumbersHannah Ritchie · hannahritchie.substack.comSeeing the world through data
  • Prof G MediaScott Galloway · profgmedia.comUnique perspective on various topics from news, politics, economics, business, and more

Tech & AI

3
  • Simple AIDharmesh Shah · simple.ai by @dharmeshAI and agents, made simple. Learn how to grow your career or business in the AI age with Dharmesh Shah (co-founder & CTO of HubSpot). Join 2+ million subscribers.
  • ChatGPTChatGPTChat LLM of choice, mostly used for organizing thoughts and projects, and brainstorming
  • CodexChatGPTAI coding platform of choice, mostly for it’s simple integration with ChatGPT
/contact

Elsewhere: X, GitHub, LinkedIn, or email.

Thanks for stopping by.