Michael Koubaroulis
El Paso,TX
Summary
Accomplished and award-winning Autonomous Vehicle Operations Manager with a proven history in operations management, training, and development. Professional in customer service within top transportation and technology sectors. Demonstrates exceptional leadership in guiding high-performing teams to enhance productivity and achieve optimal business results. A proactive self-starter with advanced analytical, organizational, and time management skills, adept at multitasking and consistently exceeding corporate goals for further development and growth.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Vehicle Operations Lead
Aurora Innovation
07.2023 - Current
- Clear communication, efficient, and regularly with operations leadership and relevant stakeholders.
- Lead a team of 17 vehicle operators, providing mentorship and operational guidance.
- Facilitate effective collaboration across dispatch, instructors, test management, and operations compliance teams.
- Conduct check-ins with operations leadership.
- Develop clear growth paths for team members, staying familiar with their roles and tools.
- Identify training opportunities in collaboration with the Training team and reinforce learning initiatives.
- Oversee terminal operations across all sites, to ensure seamless team operations for the team and customers.
- Prioritize and execute daily operations with a focus on testing capacity and efficiency.
- Identify and implement process improvements, leading related initiatives as required.
- Communicate daily operational updates effectively to keep stakeholders informed.
- Champion adherence to vehicle operator standard operating procedures, escalating any gaps in training.
- Review metrics to better understand trends and identify areas for improvement in Fleet Health, Start-up Efficiency, Operator Performance, Testing Priorities and tracking of key performance indicators (KPIs).
- Communicating performance insights to stakeholders.
Senior Vehicle Operations Specialist
Aurora Innovation
06.2022 - 07.2023
- Managed operational standards and productivity targets.
- Safely pilot and copilot autonomous vehicles for on-road operations
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and fast-paced environment
- Communicated project requirements and areas for improvement
- Calibrated autonomous vehicle systems
- Troubleshoot and resolved software, hardware and electrical issues in vehicles
- Log real-time feedback regarding autonomy and platform performance during testing, to be delivered to engineers
- Demonstrated positive impact at Aurora by working on cross-functional projects
- Maintained ever changing knowledge of how self-driving technology works.
- Work toward quantitative and qualitative goals that impact the daily Operations of Aurora.
Close Protection Driver/ Communications Officer
GardaWorld
03.2019 - 07.2021
- Kabul, Afghanistan Two years of diplomat driving in armored B6 vehicles in Kabul, Afghanistan, as part of Mobile Security
- Protection team Performed daily maintenance checks on vehicles Driving lead, secondary vehicle, and principal vehicle during tactical movements in and around Kabul city and surrounding locations.
- Maintained defensive formation position during diplomatic walking activities. Provided continuous monitoring of both Static and Mobile Protection Team security operations throughout
- Kabul and provinces
- Tracking Mobile Security vehicles during the conduct of operations, Monitoring city-wide surveillance systems, Monitoring live security intelligence feeds,
- Extensive experience in managing security incidents,
- Coordinated Quick Reaction Force assets, developed incident documentation and procedures, and Participation in security management committee meetings.
- Maintaining secure communications equipment, Security system maintenance and IT security
- Maintained professional and friendly behavior during deliveries to uphold the company's reputation.
Special Operations Communications Supervisor
Australian Defence Force
12.2016 - 01.2019
- Conducted Communications Information Systems planning in support of special operations missions both domestically and internationally
- Provided intimate tactical and strategic communications support to special operations planning teams, often with limited resources in complex environments
- Worked abroad on special operations missions within the Middle East region, providing communications support in complex and high-risk environments whilst performing the function of Communication supervisor
- Engaged with key stakeholders, internal and external to the organization, to negotiate communications solutions for a variety of missions
- Managed a results-driven team with a consistently high level of service
- Frequently reported directly to senior Australian Defence Force leadership on proposed communications solutions.
- Advised executive management team on communication operations, which included reporting on operational readiness, serviceability, network availability and fault tolerance.
- Analyzed communication needs, engineered networks to meet end-user requirements managed all hardware and developed network management policies.
- Worked domestically on special operations counter-terrorism missions within Australia, providing communications support in complex environments.
- Delivered deliberate and ‘just-in-time’ training to special operations personnel on a wide variety of communications equipment
- Analyzed communication needs, engineered networks to meet end-user requirements managed all hardware and developed network management policies.
Communications Systems Operator
Australian Defence Force
08.2013 - 12.2016
- Responsible for providing all internal and external communication systems to the headquarters brigade of North East Australia.
- I was authorized to work in various communication roles in national and international locations, including programming and maintaining Electronic Counter Measure equipment in the Middle East.
- Responsible for communications security, maintenance and efficient operation of all communication and cryptographic equipment.
- Responsible for satellite operation and communication planning
- Contributed to communications planning for international engagements, equipment capabilities, and risk management.
- Gained exposure to routers, Ultra High-Frequency microwave systems, cabling, and network administration.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice & Emergency Services
Griffith University Australia
Brisbane, Australia01-2027
Skills
- 10 years of people management focusing on development
- Ensured compliance with regulations and industry standards (ISO 26262)
- Leader on countless high-priority, highly sensitive, critical autonomous projects
- Experienced product and project manager with the ability to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset
- Several years of SW and HW development have directly impacted the future of autonomous operations
- Consistently achieve the highest management scores in operations, which includes over 30 tenured managers
- Expert in hub 2 hub autonomous heavy vehicle operations
- A highly motivated leader capable of hiring, training, and developing a team to become a top-tier asset within the organization
Timeline
Vehicle Operations Lead
Aurora Innovation
07.2023 - Current
Senior Vehicle Operations Specialist
Aurora Innovation
06.2022 - 07.2023
Close Protection Driver/ Communications Officer
GardaWorld
03.2019 - 07.2021
Special Operations Communications Supervisor
Australian Defence Force
12.2016 - 01.2019
Communications Systems Operator
Australian Defence Force
08.2013 - 12.2016
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice & Emergency Services
Griffith University Australia
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