This way, technology (and BattleBots) enthusiasts can push their limits and showcase "the best version" of themselves—in great style!!!...
Jo Balme is living proof that creativity and technical skill can go hand in hand—and that engineering, when viewed through a designer's lens, can yield surprising results. Whether programming combat robots, validating rockets, or creating sustainable jackets, she shows us that "the best professionals are those who don't limit themselves to a single box."
Jo Balme: The Engineer Connecting Robots, Code, and Sustainable High Fashion
When we think of aerospace engineering and fashion design, we rarely imagine these two worlds intersecting. Yet, Jo Balme’s career path proves otherwise. She is a software engineer specializing in safety-critical systems—with stints at SpaceX, Zoox, and Zipline—and, simultaneously, the fashion designer behind the brand JGB Jackets, which produces handcrafted, sustainable garments with a strong focus on inclusivity.
Who is Jo Balme?
Jo Balme is an embedded software engineer who has built her career at some of the world’s most innovative companies. Her specialty? Safety-critical systems—those where a software failure could cost lives—such as rockets, autonomous vehicles, and medical delivery drones.
She served as the weapons officer for the robot "Chomp" in the famous BattleBots competition, helping to develop autonomous firing systems using LiDAR sensors and movement logic for a 500-pound turret. Chomp competed in four seasons and was honored with the Founder's Award.
At SpaceX and Zoox, Jo specialized in Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) testing—a technique that tricks onboard computers with complex physical simulations to validate rockets and autonomous vehicles before they are even manufactured. At Zipline, she scaled cloud-based simulation systems for fleets of autonomous medical delivery drones in Africa, predicting structural failures under extreme weather conditions.
Where Engineering Meets Sewing
What makes Jo Balme so fascinating is the way she integrates two seemingly opposite worlds. During her time in the aerospace industry, she studied pattern making and design at Apparel Arts. For her, garment construction isn't a hobby—it’s "another branch of engineering."
1. Dimensional Translation (2D to 3D)
In pattern making, a designer takes a flat, two-dimensional fabric and applies mathematical mapping to shape it to a moving, three-dimensional human body. In embedded software engineering, the process is identical: "abstract lines of code are compiled to actuate and move robotic joints in physical space."
2. Optimizing Scarce Resources
A firmware engineer must "optimize every byte of memory" and minimize power consumption on resource-constrained microcontrollers. At her brand, JGB Jackets, Jo applies this same mindset by using "discarded fabric scraps (upcycling)." Pattern pieces are fitted together with millimeter precision to eliminate waste.
3. Safety Margins and Physical Wear
When designing code for heavy robots, engineers calculate the "mechanical stress, vibration, and friction" acting on metal parts. Jo translates this analysis to her utilitarian clothing through "reinforced stitching (bar-tacks)" and heavy-duty topstitching at high-tension points in the fabric. Utilitarian, Sustainable, and Inclusive Fashion
The practical result of this fusion is "JGB Jackets," a San Francisco-based initiative that produces durable, handcrafted jackets. Jo’s creations blend elements of men's workwear with fluid, asymmetrical panels, "subverting traditional gender codes" to create queer and fully inclusive silhouettes.
Production follows the "slow fashion" movement: each piece is unique, handmade, and sold through local collectives, such as "Queer Arts Featured (QueerAF)" in San Francisco’s Castro district. Additionally, Jo exhibits work at venues like the "Harvey Milk Center for the Arts" and at events such as the Quilting: A Verb Art & Fashion Show.
Advocacy and Representation
Beyond their technical and artistic career, Jo Balme is an active voice for "diversity, ethics, and representation" in engineering. They have spoken at events like the "Write/Speak/Code Conference," which empowers women and non-binary individuals in technology. They also participated in the "Ada Lovelace Day Celebration" hosted by "Women in Robotics" at UC Berkeley, highlighting technical careers for women in hardware.
Their topics range from "strategies to overcome imposter syndrome" to "creating mentorship structures among women" for learning complex systems engineering.
Where to Find and Purchase Jo Balme’s Creations
If you are interested in Jo Balme’s work and wish to purchase one of their unique pieces, here are the official channels:
- Online Store: The main digital storefront is the "Queer Arts Featured Collective Storefront," where JGB jackets are available for purchase.
- Instagram Profile: Follow "@jgb_jackets" for behind-the-scenes looks at the creative process, previews of new collections, and event announcements. - "In-Person Exhibitions": Jo regularly participates in independent art fairs and pop-ups in San Francisco, such as "Fog City Flea" and "Bernal Village Marketplace." Keep an eye on Instagram for upcoming dates.
- Physical Boutique: The pieces can also be found at the "Queer Arts Featured (QueerAF)" brick-and-mortar shop, located in San Francisco's historic Castro district.
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| Resilient, Proactive, Versatile, Visionary... Simply Jo |
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