Justin Zabilansky
Danville,VA
Summary
Results-driven Leader with extensive experience in field engineering and facility commissioning. Skilled in problem-solving and equipment maintenance, leading teams to optimize operations and exceed performance targets in high-stakes environments.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Sr. Director of Field Engineering and Maintenance
AeroFarms
Danville, VA
06.2023 - 12.2025
- Led team of 18 engineers and maintenance technicians for continuous production in 24/7 operation.
- Managed build-out and commissioning of fully automated vertical farm within budget and schedule.
- Directed commissioning and continuous improvement initiatives to achieve business KPIs in yield, throughput, and packaging performance.
- Collaborated with operations, FSQA, and safety teams to enhance automated systems for increased production.
- Spearheaded environmental control and water purification projects to boost yield and meet targets.
- Partnered with people safety to implement CAPA programs and enhance equipment safety through automation.
Director of Engineering
AeroFarms
Newark, NJ
05.2021 - 06.2023
- Led team of 12 Engineers and Technicians
- Designed, prototyped and built out automated systems to produce commercial and R&D crops
- Designed and built automated production facility in Danville,VA and Research and Development Facility in Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Managed build out and commissioing of over $100M+ of Commercial and Research Crop Production Equipment and Facilities
- Managed Continuous Improvement of Engineering Project implemented in Newark, NJ Facility
Sr. Biological Systems Manager
AeroFarms
Newark, New Jersey
06.2019 - 06.2021
- Led design of HVAC systems to meet environmental targets in R&D and production facilities.
- Developed machine vision systems for plant quality assessment and growth analysis.
- Enhanced crop health and performance through advanced analytics and machine learning.
- Established grow system specifications based on data-driven insights and analysis.
Biological Systems Engineer
AeroFarms
Newark, NJ
06.2017 - 06.2019
- Commissioned AeroFarms first production facilities and led development of operational and growing procedures
- Managed growing environments within specification
- Performed data analysis to develop growing algorithms for research and commercial crops
Research Associate
AeroFarms
Newark, NJ
06.2015 - 06.2017
- Developed machine learning models for statistical analysis of parameters affecting plant health and quality.
- Implemented machine vision systems for analyzing plant health and growth rates.
- Maintained operations of research and development growing facility.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Biological Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, Massachusetts, MA06-2015
Skills
- Automated systems
- Continuous improvement
- Facility commissioning
- Equipment maintenance
- Team leadership
- Problem solving
Languages
Spanish
Professional
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Sr. Director of Field Engineering and Maintenance
AeroFarms
06.2023 - 12.2025
Director of Engineering
AeroFarms
05.2021 - 06.2023
Sr. Biological Systems Manager
AeroFarms
06.2019 - 06.2021
Biological Systems Engineer
AeroFarms
06.2017 - 06.2019
Research Associate
AeroFarms
06.2015 - 06.2017
Bachelor of Science - Biological Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology