Professional Career

I started gaining relevant experience during my bachelor's studies, working as an automation engineer for an international corporation. My career accelerated after I've finished the master degrees and created my own company. Shortly after, I received an offer from a research centre of a major global company, and I decided to rise up to the challenge. There, I worked on several research projects with world-class researchers and professors in power electronics. My versatility allowed me to deeply understand the science and engineering behind most projects. This, combined with my software and engineering skills, allowed me to take leading roles in the development of complex control systems and state of the art test benches used for scientific research.

After few years, it was time for a change. Riding on the wave of previous success, I joined the ion quantum technology group at the University of Sussex in an attempt to build the first scalable quantum computer with trapped ions and global radiation fields. During my time there, I worked on challenges related to ultra-high vacuum systems, cryogenics, thermodynamics, optics, vibrations, quantum physics, sensors, control and software. Due to the international success of the group, a spin-off company was started in parallel. I didn't like some of the new policies in the group, so I decided to quit and to focus on my own projects. Soon after, the ProgPeak company was born.

Passion For Engineering

My passion for engineering and science started at the age of 15, when I participated in a contest for creative physics toys. I made a model of a child on a metal swing, with its motion controlled by an electromagnet. At roughly the same time, I programmed my first computer game. It was a fully functional adaption of the famous "War" card game. Over the years, my programming abilities developed in parallel to my other skills. So far, I developped code for the FPGAs, microcontrollers, real-time CPU controllers, network interfaces, sensors, desktop and mobile applications, as well as websites and web/cloud applications.

In my free time, I often worked on technical hobby projects in parallel to my jobs. Usually, I selected projects, that were far away from my comfort zone in terms of skills. These hobbies broadened my horizons, kept my mind open and made me relaxed. Among other things, I worked on: DIY CNC machine, DIY delta 3D printer, several desktop applications and web services, 3D modelling of real mountains, magnetic keyboard switch, automatic trading bot, Hi-Fi USB headphone amplifier. The only downside to all these hobbies was that my apartment usually looked like a lab. You can find the highlights of few selected personal projects in the summary below.

Summary

• expand_moreEducation

  • National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse

    M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering Electrodynamics & Mechatronics Sep 23, 2016

    For me those studies were very challenging - great university, new country, new language and new specialization. I graduated with honors "mention bien". Apparently, my work was quite an accomplishment, because when I came back to Poland I attracted positive attention from my home university and local media. During these studies I participated in two particularly interesting projects:

    • - "Concept of an electromechanical actuation unit for next generation launcher solid rocket motor", in cooperation with: Airbus Defence & Space, Actia Corporation
    • - "Android application for wireless control of a piezoelectric microchip cooling system", in cooperation with Laboratory of Plasma and Conversion of Energy

  • Gdańsk University of Technology

    M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering Conv. & Utilization of Electric Energy Nov 4, 2016

    I graduated with the final grade of 5.5. It was the highest overall grade awarded at a time and corresponded to 5.7% of top students. I also got the Bachelor's of Engineering degree from this University. During my studies i worked on two particularly interesting projects:

    • - “Analytical design of a PMSM Motor for a direct drive mechanism of an electric city car”
    • - "Design of power and lighting systems for a specialized industrial facility with high power electric motors"
• expand_moreWork Experience

  • ProgPeak

    Co-Founder / Managing Director

    Ustka, PL Aug 2020 - Present

    ProgPeak is a company established as a response to the growing demand for specialized engineering services from the borderline of computer science, automation, electronics and physics.

  • University of Sussex

    Department of Physics & Astronomy
    Ion Quantum Technology Group

    Doctoral Researcher

    Brighton, UK Sep 2019 - Mar 2020

    The ultimate goal of this group is to create an universal, scalable trapped-ion quantum computer with global radiation fields. During my time there I've helped solve some problems related to ultra-high vaccum, cryogenics, thermodynamics, electronics and software. I was also rapidly absorbing knowledge about quantum physics from the world-class professors and other researchers. Due to the international success of the group, a spin-off company was started in parallel. I didn't like some of the new policies in the group, so I decided to quit.

  • Mitsubishi Electric R&D Centre Europe

    Power Electronic Systems Division

    Research Engineer / Lead Software Engineer

    Rennes, FR May 2017 - Sep 2019

    I led complex software/process/algorithm design projects for the state-of-the-art power electronic R&D systems and I helped with the design and development of the test benches. I also supported research projects in the fields of reliability, lifetime estimation and physics of failure of the power modules. I left to pursue my career in a completely different field.

  • Modmation

    Owner

    Ustka, PL Jan 2017 - Apr 2017

    I launched a company specializing in the design of custom automated systems and control software, process design and test bench design. Soon after, I received an interesting job offer and I decided to rise up to the challenge. As a result, this project was suspended.

  • Mitsubishi Electric R&D Centre Europe

    Power Electronic Systems Division

    Intern / M.Sc. Project

    Rennes, FR Mar 2016 - Sep 2016

    Design and Development of an Automated Calibration Facility for Power Cycling IGBT and SiC MOSFET devices.

  • Eaton Electric

    Machinery OEM Division

    Contractor / Automation Engineer

    Gdańsk, PL Sep 2014 - Feb 2015

    My main tasks consisted of solving problems in complex industrial automated systems and networks, programming PLC and GUI units, assembling and testing various electric switchboards. I quit to pursue my Master’s degree.

  • Energa Operator

    Intern

    Słupsk, PL Jul 2014 - Aug 2014

    Six-week summer internship. Walk-through several divisions of one of the largest companies in Poland responsible for transmission and distribution of electrical power. During this short internship, I worked in the HV/LV Substations and Maintenance Divisions, HV/LV Substations Design Office, as well as the Regional Power Distribution Control Center.

• expand_moreTechnical Hobbies

  This is my little corner of the internet!

  • 3D Models of Real Mountains

    2017

    I wanted to have a real figurine of tbe K2 mountain. To start, I needed good elevation maps. Publically available maps weren't high quality, so I reached out to Prof. Dai Yamazaki and his team from The University of Tokyo. At that time, they were developing extremely accurate "Multi-Error-Removed Improved-Terrain DEM". I received access to their maps and permission to use them for my hobby (thank you). I was able to find the Karakorum range and the K2 mountain.

    I used QGIS software with some Python scripts to clip, scale and transform the grayscale elevation map to the array of altitude points. Next, I applied some postprocessing and used MeshLab software to optimize the data and to convert the acquired mesh into a 3D solid object. Finally, I used CURA software and my custom delta 3D printer to create the figurine. Now, I can print or mill 3D models of any terrain on earth.

    

  • Magnetic Keyboard Switch

    2017

    I decided to a make my own, unique keyboard switch. I designed a fully-magnetic keyboard switch, where the central spring is replaced by two magnets repelling each other. The keycap with its magnet is "levitating" on top of the base magnet. I wanted to test if such a switch could operate smoothly in a real build with high manufacturing precision, despite the tilting magnetic forces. In order to refine several parameters such as travel distance, actuation force and due to curiosity about behavior of magnetic fields in some scenarios - I prepared computer models and 2D/3D FEM simulations.

    In the first version of the switch, the actuation was based on magnetic fields. In the next versions, the actuation was based on the optical shutter on the keycap, that was interrupting the IR beam path when the key was pressed. It worked quite well, taking into account the limited precision I could get at home (the PCB was done on a DIY CNC mill and the necessary parts were done with a DIY 3D printer). I verified the basic operation of the switch mechanically and with an oscilloscope. It was far from perfect, but it was operational and the movement was smoother than i expected. So, I got my weird switch, mission accomplished. The project wasn't developed further.

    

  • Automatic Trading Bot

    2017/2018

    When I started trading cryptocurrencies, I just wanted to learn. After some time, I thought about using my engineering skills to give myself some advantage.

    The bot I created gathered live and historical data about all cryptocurrency pairs in the world. After a period of learning, I selected and implemented the following mathematical algorithms to independently process all this data: Aroon Indicator (AROON), Acceleration Bands (ABANDS), Average Directional Index (ADX), Chaikin Money Flow (CMF), Force Index (FORCE), Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), Moving Averages Crossing (MACROSS), Mass Index (MASS), Rate of Change (ROC), Volume Rate of Change (ROCV), Relative Strength Index (RSI), Stochastic Oscillator (STOCH), Triple Exponential Average (TRIX) and Vortex Indicator (VORTEX).

    These algorightms were applied to every dataset (live, hourly, daily) and were fully tunable, so you could set different parameters for each data. Next, I implemented synergies and cross-analysis between these indicators together with custom output parameters, such as buy/sell impulse, weight and decay. Next, I added some final processing, to filter and detect the signals more accurately. After few weeks of tuning in simulation mode, my system was capable of generating profits.

    So, I gave my new software authorization to perform real trades. The system was tuned for short term trading. It was configured to use live and short-term data to detect relevant signals, and was backed by mid-term and long-term data to prevent the system from doing reckless decisions. It was operating for few weeeks, doing between 0-10 transactions per day. Not every trade was positive, but with average weekly profit of ~5-8%, it wasn't too bad.

    Then the famous cryptocurrency crash happenned and I've lost a ton of money. Overall, it was a great experience and I believe the software could be adapted to trade other things. The current version has a major limitation though, as it only analyses "the past". It is possible that the bot was profitable due to market conditions at the time of operation. I was trying to implement some machine learning control to govern the signals coming from the trading algorithms, but the market was not recovering, so I started working on something else.

    

  • Hi-Fi USB Headphone Amplifier

    2018

    I wanted to get a new USB Hi-Fi headphone amplifier and to learn more about electronic circuits and signal processing. I made a list of skills i needed to get or imrove. Next, I invested in several online technical courses. After few months of intensive learning in my free time, I was ready.

    First, I designed the architecture and the electronic cirucitry. I used SMath for the calculations and LTSpice for circuit simulations. After selecting real parts, I upgraded my analytical models and did another series of simulations in LTSpice and TinaTI. The design consisted of the following stages: power supplies, interfaces and control, digital to analog converters, I/V transimpedance op-amps, differential op-amps, two level gain switch, active volume control, audio output.

    The next step was to design the printed circuit board, which was a project on its own. I had to be extremely careful with the board design. The ground and power circuitry had to be well thought. Component placing was very important. Some elements would not work well if the paths were too long or not properly designed. There were also high-speed differential signals that required very special routing. After a long time, the 4-layer PCB was ready.

    Obviously, I couldn't make such a complicated PCB on my DIY CNC mill, so I ordered it from a professional manufacturer. I used my infrared oven and soldering paste to prepare the board, as it would be too complicated for me to do by hand. This is where I saw the mistakes I've done. The packages of some components were meant to be used with automated placing machines at the production stage. I didn't think about this issue during the design process. I tried to solder them anyways, but I failed.

    I wasn't satisfied, but this project was already very expensive and to fix this mistake, I would have to buy new PCB and another set of components. At this point, I just wanted to test if the device could work. So, I ordered some cheap replacement parts with more friendly packages. I used the solderable breadboard to make the necessary circuits and connections to the original PCB. To my surprise, the board worked. The sound was far from good, but the device was functional. I achieved the goal set and consider the project finished.