ANDREW IONASHKU
Purcellville,VA
Summary
Diligent Controls Engineer with over 10 years of expertise in controls engineering, specializing in the design and testing of both existing and new control systems. Recognized as an analytical problem-solver with strong communication and organizational skills that enhance project outcomes. Proficient in project management, programming languages, and consultancy support, ensuring seamless collaboration across teams. Committed to maintaining safety and health regulations while thriving in independent work environments, consistently delivering high-quality results with minimal supervision.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Control Systems Engineer
KAPSCH TRAFFICCOM AG
08.2016 - Current
- Led full system engineering lifecycle for numerous ITS projects in traffic management, from initial concept and requirements through detailed design, testing, deployment, integration, and verification.
- Deployed Linux Virtual Machines in vSphere from bare-metal or templates, including export/import and virtualization of physical servers.
- Programmed Rockwell SLC 500/MicroLogix 1400 and Schneider M340 PLCs using Studio 5000, EcoStruxure, RSLogix 500, RSLogix 5000 and Unity Pro XL.
- Developed Python and Batch scripts for Cron automation; managed PostgreSQL and Microsoft SQL Server databases.
- Oversee multiple maintenance agreements while providing support for active project deployments.
- Independently led field and remote recovery of the northern I-77 fiber network, coordinating and routing multiple field technician teams while simultaneously performing remote diagnostics via field switches and secure shell tools (PuTTY).
- Restored system stability and full network functionality across a large expressway segment in under one week, without supervisory direction. Recognized informally as the technical point of contact for fiber/network troubleshooting during this effort.
- Identified and resolved provider-side network bottlenecks during 10 Gbps circuit integration, performing analysis well beyond assigned scope.
- Upgraded customer systems from bare-metal servers to VMware virtualized environments (vSphere), completing migrations on aggressive schedules (as short as one week).
- Diagnosed post-migration system instability originally attributed to Kapsch software. Discovered a previously unknown operating system kernel bug causing page faults under specific conditions.
- Uncovered root cause of widespread VM crashes at a Delaware customer site, tracing failures to aggressive live VM migration (vMotion) and load-balancing features enabled on blade servers. Implemented corrective actions that stabilized not only Kapsch-hosted systems but all third-party contractor VMs on the customer network.
- Resulted in a significant improvement in customer trust and long-term relationship strength.
- Recovered approximately six months of projected engineering backlog by generating updated configurations within days.
Control Systems Engineer
I-3 MARITIME SYSTEMS
01.2016 - 08.2016
- Supported General Dynamics maintenance contract for Austal Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program through multiple build cycles.
- Collaborated closely with database specialists to leverage Microsoft SQL Server for configuration management, ensuring all changes were systematically documented, tracked, and incorporated into builds for enhanced traceability and reliability.
- Analyzed and refined system requirements in collaboration with software engineers and stakeholders to meet customer needs in a cost-effective and schedule-compliant manner.
- Developed and executed test cases for formal qualification assurance (QA) testing, focusing on identifying and resolving potential issues before customer acceptance.
- Performed build confidence checks and system-level testing to verify software robustness and functionality prior to shipboard deployment.
- Coordinated integration efforts across software, test engineering, and subcontractor teams to maintain product quality and cybersecurity integrity.
Electrical Engineer II
PRO2SERVE
04.2015 - 01.2016
- Provided electrical engineering support for deactivation and decommissioning activities at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant.
- Conducted load study of primary switchyard to optimize electrical infrastructure during site transition.
- Performed regular facility walkdowns with Facility Manager and provided administrative oversight to identify infrastructure issues, ensure regulatory compliance, and coordinate resolution actions.
- Supported DOE objectives through oversight of decontamination, demolition, and environmental remediation efforts, including review of subcontractor activities, preparation of field assessment reports, and recommendations for path forward.
Electrical Engineer I
PRO2SERVE
05.2014 - 04.2015
- Delivered electrical design and field support for nuclear communication infrastructure upgrades across multiple TVA and DOE projects.
- Acted as lead designer for Wi-Fi system implementations at Watts Bar and Sequoyah Nuclear Plants, producing full design packages (block/wiring/conduit/one-line diagrams, BOMs, heat load/combustible calculations, cable routing in ICRDS database).
- Provided onsite field engineering at Sequoyah Nuclear Plant for Wi-Fi and Harris Radio projects, including walkdowns, design markups, Post Issuance Changes, exceptions, and tracking.
- Contributed cross-functionally to DOE-Los Alamos renovation project with electrical/mechanical design changes and performance tracking metrics exceeding management expectations.
Research Lab Technician
OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY
09.2013 - 05.2014
- Supported additive manufacturing research at Manufacturing Demonstration Facility and high magnetic field material processing at Van De Graaf high magnetic field processing lab through ORNL Post Bachelor’s Research Participation Program.
- Developed and tested novel induction-heated extruder technology for fused deposition modeling (FDM), including design/rigging of 3D-printed test apparatus with precisely tuned PID controllers and strategically positioned thermocouples to characterize temperature profiles, achieve steady-state isothermal holds, and enable continuous fiber flows.
- Assisted in induction heating experiments on polymer/ferrite composites, quantifying magnetic-thermal conversion efficiency by measuring electromagnetic energy coupling to doped polymers (metals, carbon fibers, nanoparticles) for self-regulating, energy-efficient site-specific heating in large-scale fused deposition modeling (FDM) applications.
- Designed/constructed pressure testers, induction coils, PID control systems, and LabVIEW modifications for material science research under high (9 Tesla) magnetic fields.
Assistant Manager
OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY
05.2013 - 09.2013
- Technical Assistant responsible for managing Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Nanoscale Science and Technology Laboratory under the Laboratory Technology Program, maintaining cleanroom operations and supporting users with deposition, lithography, etching, and high vacuum systems.
- Maintained and Operated Hitachi Scanning Electron Microscope; managed cryogenics; gained proficiency in operation of cryogenic systems.
Engineering Intern
VOLKSWAGEN AT CHATTANOOGA
01.2013 - 05.2013
- Worked inside Volkswagen Pilot Hall with an elite team of pre-production assemblers and engineers specialized in prototype vehicle assembly, testing, and production launch preparation.
- Authored internal publication establishing safety protocols for integrating high-voltage electric vehicles into assembly lines, ensuring compliance with OSHA, NFPA, and ANSI standards.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop administrative, engineering, and PPE controls; defined training qualifications; and proposed an implementation plan that exceeded project expectations.
- Completed training in 5S Lean Manufacturing, Muda waste elimination, and Kaizen continuous improvement principles.
Education
BS Electrical Engineering -
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN01-2013
AS General Engineering - undefined
Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, TN01-2008
Skills
- Systems & Software
- Linux (RHEL, CentOS, Ubuntu), system diagnostics, kernel-level troubleshooting
- Python & Bash scripting for automation, monitoring, and orchestration
- SQL (PostgreSQL, MSSQL), database monitoring and health validation
- Virtualization: VMware vSphere/ESXi, Hyper-V, VirtualBox
- Networking & Security
- Network architecture, subnetting, VLANs, routing, fiber networks
- Secure remote access, SSH, firewall-aware system integration
- OT/IT boundary design and troubleshooting
- Experience diagnosing carrier-side and enterprise network bottlenecks
- Automation & Infrastructure
- Template-driven configuration generation
- Cron-based automation, system health monitoring
- Configuration validation and deployment workflows
- Version-controlled engineering artifacts
- OT / Control Systems
- PLC/SCADA: Rockwell, Schneider Modicon, EcoStruxure, Studio 5000
- Industrial communications and field device integration
Accomplishments
- Collaborated with team of 12 multidisciplinary team in the development of I-77 Express Lanes project to accelerate progress and achieving key milestones ahead of schedule.
- Recovered 6 months by introducing template processing tools for accelerating configuration tasks.
- Documented and resolved widespread VM crashes at customer site which led to significant improvement in customer trust and long-term relationship.
- Identified and resolved provider-side network bottleneck beyond assigned scope.
Certification
- Engineer in Training (EIT)
- Studying for PE License
Timeline
Senior Control Systems Engineer
KAPSCH TRAFFICCOM AG
08.2016 - Current
Control Systems Engineer
I-3 MARITIME SYSTEMS
01.2016 - 08.2016
Electrical Engineer II
PRO2SERVE
04.2015 - 01.2016
Electrical Engineer I
PRO2SERVE
05.2014 - 04.2015
Research Lab Technician
OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY
09.2013 - 05.2014
Assistant Manager
OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY
05.2013 - 09.2013
Engineering Intern
VOLKSWAGEN AT CHATTANOOGA
01.2013 - 05.2013
AS General Engineering - undefined
Southern Adventist University
BS Electrical Engineering -
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga