A short story about me

Around the World in 80 Projects (Well, Almost!)

or just scroll down, to see it in reverse-chronological order

Experience

Engineering Bid Project Manager

SIEMENS d.o.o. Belgrade, Serbia

June 2023 — Present

Leading Projects with Precision & Passion: My Siemens Journey

As a project management specialist at Siemens, I don’t just oversee projects—I bring them to life, from the first spark of an idea to the final handshake. Here’s how I make it happen:

From Bid to Blueprint

• Crafting winning proposals tailored to each client’s unique needs

• Mastering the art of competitive bidding—where strategy meets Siemens’ excellence

• Balancing resources, timelines, and risks to set every project up for succes

Execution with Excellence

Once the green light flashes, I shift into full project leadership mode:
✅ Guiding cross-functional teams with clear vision and adaptable strategies
✅ Keeping projects on time, on budget, and aligned with client expectations
✅ Leveraging Siemens’ cutting-edge solutions to deliver real value

What drives me? Transforming complex challenges into seamless successes—whether it’s a local innovation or a global rollout. Because at the end of the day, the best projects aren’t just delivered; they’re experienced.

At Siemens, I turn bids into breakthroughs. Whether it’s designing a winning proposal or steering projects to the finish line, my goal is simple: Make complexity look easy—and deliver results that wow.

Experience

EIA Manager (Electrical, Instrumentation, Automation)

northvolt AB, Stockholm, Sweden

June 2022 — June 2023

Powering the Battery Revolution: Inside Revolt’s Smart Factory

At Revolt’s cutting-edge Battery Recycling Giga Factory, I don’t just manage systems—I orchestrate a technological symphony where every wire, sensor, and line of code plays its part in sustainability. Here’s how we’re rewriting the rules of recycling:

The Nervous System of a Green Giant

• Electrical networks that think – distributing power with surgical precision to our battery-re birthing machines

• Instrumentation ballet – where sensors and PLCs waltz through 10,000 data points per second (voltage, temp, flow – you name it)

• BMS brainpower – our building’s AI concierge optimizing everything from HVAC to security with a green thumb

Where Bits Meet Batteries

Our secret sauce? A self-learning industrial nervous system where:
🔹 HMIs translate machine whispers into human insight
🔹 Predictive analytics play fortune-teller for maintenance
🔹 Every kilowatt and cubic foot of air earns its keep

Leading this engineer dream team has been my career’s most electrifying challenge. We don’t just fix problems—we future-proof systems, turning today’s bottlenecks into tomorrow’s breakthroughs. Because in a factory that resurrects batteries, even our solutions need to be 100% recyclable.

Imagine a factory where the walls learn, the machines predict their own maintenance, and every scrap of energy gets recycled—just like the batteries we revive. Welcome to my world at Revolt.

Technical Project Manager for Wastewater Treatment & Utilities

northvolt AB, Stockholm, Sweden

August 2021 — June 2022

Water, Power, Precision: Engineering the Heartbeat of Battery Recycling

As the leader of Water/Wastewater and Process Utilities at our groundbreaking Battery Recycling Factory, I didn’t just connect pipes and wires—I built the circulatory system that keeps this green giant alive. Here’s how we turned blueprints into reality:

From First Sketch to Flowing Systems

• Water wizardry: Designed treatment plants that think three steps ahead—purifying, recycling, and conserving every drop

• Utility orchestra: Conducted compressed air, steam, and power systems to perform in perfect harmony with recycling processes

• The rulebook rewrite: Marrying cutting-edge tech with uncompromising compliance (because sustainability shouldn’t mean shortcuts)

Commissioning: Where Theory Meets the Real World

The true test came when the systems woke up:
✅ Became a troubleshooting detective—solving puzzles no textbook anticipated
✅ Fine-tuned operations like a master watchmaker—where 1°C or 1psi makes all the difference
✅ Handed over not just functioning systems, but resilient ones that learn and adapt

This factory isn’t just my project—it’s proof that when you obsess over every valve, sensor, and line of code, you don’t just build infrastructure... you build the future.

There’s a moment when a treatment plant draws its first breath—when water flows, sensors blink to life, and months of calculations become rushing reality. As the ‘utility whisperer’ for Europe’s most advanced battery recycling hub, I’ve lived that moment 137 times. And each one still feels like magic.

Experience

Executive Director

LUDWIG PFEIFFER HOCH- UND TIEFBAU GMBH & CO. KG Kassel, Germany

August 2020 — August 2021

Steering Success in the Caucasus: My Leadership Journey at Ludwig Pfeiffer

As Executive Director of Ludwig Pfeiffer’s Tbilisi branch, I didn’t just occupy an office—I built bridges between boardrooms and construction sites across Georgia. This wasn’t simply management; it was multidimensional leadership where every decision carried weight:

The Three Pillars of My Mandate

1. Financial Command Center

• Orchestrated global money flows like a conductor—ensuring every dollar, lari, and euro landed exactly where and when needed

• Turned cross-border transactions into a competitive advantage through razor-sharp currency timing

2. Human Capital Architect

• Crafted dream teams through strategic hires and thoughtful restructures

• Balanced corporate vision with individual growth—because exceptional talent stays where it’s nurtured

3. Project Symphony Conductor

• Synchronized specialists across disciplines to hit impossible deadlines

• Transformed Georgia’s infrastructure landscape one strategic project at a time

Diplomacy in Hard Hats

My true test? Becoming Ludwig Pfeiffer’s ambassador at the intersection of:
✅ Government chambers (where permits lived)
✅ Boardrooms (where margins mattered)
✅ Construction sites (where rubber met road)

The magic happened in translating corporate strategy into Georgian context—over endless cups of coffee with ministers and site managers alike.

Picture this: One morning you’re renegotiating a million-euro contract in German, by lunch you’re troubleshooting a concrete pour in broken Georgian, and by dusk you’re explaining cash flow projections to headquarters. As Ludwig Pfeiffer’s man in Tbilisi, I didn’t just bridge cultures—I built entire highways between them.

Contractor's Representative Project Manager

LUDWIG PFEIFFER HOCH- UND TIEFBAU GMBH & CO. KG Kassel, Germany

February 2018 — August 2020

Transforming Zugdidi’s Waters: A Project Manager’s Hands-On Journey

As the Contractor’s Representative for Zugdidi’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, I didn’t just manage a project—I orchestrated a symphony of steel, concrete, and technology that now gives this Georgian town the gift of clean water. Here’s how we turned blueprints into lasting impact:

Mastermind of the Triple Constraint

• Design Wizardry: Bridged international engineering standards with local realities—where European tech met Georgian terrain

• The Procurement Tightrope: Sourced everything from German membrane filters to Georgian rebar without missing a beat (or a deadline)

• Installation Choreography: Made cranes dance and concrete pour in perfect sequence across 14 concurrent work fronts

The Human Side of Hydraulics

Our secret weapon? A communication playbook that:
✅ Translated technical snags into client-friendly updates over endless chai (tea) sessions
✅ Turned subcontractor handoffs into seamless baton passes
✅ Made Georgian inspectors feel like co-authors of our success

When the final clarifier tank came online, it wasn’t just pipes and pumps we’d connected—we’d woven trust between communities, clients, and concrete.

Zugdidi had two enemies—aging Soviet pipes and a tight deadline. Our weapons? German filtration tech, Georgian work ethic, and a war room where Gantt charts hung next to shots of chacha (local brandy). This is how we built Georgia’s most resilient WWTP—on time, under budget, and with zero lost-time incidents.

EIA Project Manager (Electrical, Instrumentation, Automation)

LUDWIG PFEIFFER HOCH- UND TIEFBAU GMBH & CO. KG Kassel, Germany

January 2017 — February 2018

Raising the Bar for Georgia’s Water Future: My EIA Leadership Journey

As EIA Project Manager for Anaklia, Ureki, and Mestia’s water infrastructure, I championed projects where technical precision met environmental stewardship. This wasn’t just about pipes and control panels—it was about redefining Georgia’s relationship with its most precious resource.

The Triple Mandate of Excellence

1. Technical Symphony

• Orchestrated electrical, instrumentation, and control systems into a seamless operational ballet

• Bridged cutting-edge European tech with Georgian field realities (where PLCs meet local power grids)

2. The Compliance Compass

• Navigated the intricate dance of FIDIC contracts, Georgian regulations, and international best practices

• Transformed legal jargon into actionable checklists for every team member

3. The Human Factor

• Elevated "safety first" from a slogan to a culture—because healthy teams build healthier communities

• Fostered a "teaching hospital" environment where Georgian engineers grew into system experts

A Legacy in Concrete and Code

These plants now stand as living proof that:
✅ Environmental infrastructure can be both cutting-edge and community-centric
✅ Strict compliance and innovation aren’t opposites—they’re partners
✅ Georgia’s water future deserves world-class standards

Picture this: German control systems humming alongside Georgian substations, while local engineers debate valve specs over khachapuri. As the bridge between Brussels’ standards and Black Sea realities, I didn’t just manage these plants—I helped write Georgia’s next chapter in water stewardship.

Experience

Contractor's Representative Project Manager

LUDWIG PFEIFFER HOCH- UND TIEFBAU GMBH & CO. KG Kassel, Germany

June 2016 — January 2017

Quenching Thirst, Transforming Lives: My Bulancak Water Revolution

As the Project Manager behind Bulancak’s Water Supply System, I didn’t just oversee construction—I orchestrated a hydraulic symphony that now delivers life’s most essential resource to 45,000 residents. Here’s how we turned Black Sea challenges into liquid triumphs:

Conquering the Mountain

• Geography be damned: Engineered solutions for terrain that would make mountain goats hesitate, including:

  • Helicopter lifts for critical pump components

  • All-weather access roads carved into stubborn slopes

  • Earthquake-resistant reservoir designs

• The Triple Crown of Infrastructure:

  1. Civil Mastery: Built treatment plants that blend into the landscape like natural rock formations

  2. Mechanical Wizardry: Installed German-engineered pumps that hum at 94% efficiency

  3. Electrical Intelligence: Automated controls that "talk" to the municipal grid

More Than Pipes and Concrete

The real magic happened at human scale:
✅ Chai Diplomacy: Weekly tea sessions with village elders transformed skeptics into project champions
✅ Workforce Alchemy: Blended Turkish construction grit with international engineering rigor
✅ Legacy in Every Tap: Now, when a child drinks safely in Bulancak, our team’s DNA flows with that water

When we first surveyed Bulancak’s slopes, even our donkeys balked. Two years later, those same hills channel spring water through a network smarter than some cities. This is the story of how we outwitted terrain, bureaucracy, and physics to give a community its liquid lifeline.

Experience

EIA Site Manager (Electrical, Instrumentation, Automation)

LUDWIG PFEIFFER HOCH- UND TIEFBAU GMBH & CO. KG Kassel, Germany

June 2015 — June 2016

Powering Progress Across Kyrgyzstan: My EIA Odyssey

As an EIA Manager in Kyrgyzstan, I didn’t just execute projects—I navigated a high-stakes adventure where engineering met the untamed spirit of Central Asia. From tender documents to mountain-top commissioning, here’s how we lit up the region:

From Blueprint to Reality

• The Paper Trail That Built Bridges: Crafted winning tenders that balanced:

  • German precision (our equipment standards)

  • Kyrgyz pragmatism (local material adaptations)

  • FIDIC perfection (every clause triple-checked)

• Designs That Defied Altitude: Created electrical systems for:
  ⚡ Balakchy’s -20°C winters
  ⚡ Osh’s dust-choked summers
  ⚡ Karakol’s earthquake zones

• The Airborne Manager: Became Bishkek Air’s most frequent flyer, juggling six sites across:

  • 3 mountain ranges

  • 2 climatic extremes

  • 1 very overworked Land Cruiser

More Than Megawatts

Our legacy lives in:
✅ Kyrgyz Team Pride – trained local engineers who now lead their own projects
✅ Cultural Alchemy – where to this day, my beshbarmak (national dish) recipe rivals my cable sizing skills
✅ A New Benchmark – projects completed with zero lost-time incidents despite the terrain

Dear Future Self, Remember Kyrgyzstan? Where your ‘office’ alternated between yak-hair yurts and Soviet-era control rooms? Where your team became family over shared kumys (fermented mare’s milk) after fixing yet another avalanche-damaged substation? That’s where you learned engineering is 10% calculations and 90% cultural calculus.

Experience

Lead Electrical Engineer

DVP Tamiš Dunav Pančevo, Serbia

September 2008 — June 2015

Electrifying Efficiency: Modernizing Water Systems Through Innovation

As Lead Electrical Engineer, I spearheaded the high-stakes modernization of critical water infrastructure - transforming outdated systems into smart, responsive networks. This wasn't just an upgrade; it was a technological revolution, where every volt and sensor told a story of progress.

The Smart Water Transformation

• Pumping Stations Reborn:

  • Swapped wheezing 1970s relays for self-diagnosing PLCs

  • Implemented predictive maintenance algorithms that cut downtime by 40%

  • Installed flow sensors that "whisper" real-time data to operators' tablets

• Water Gates Got Genius:

  • Automated floodgates now respond to weather APIs before storms hit

  • Flow optimization algorithms that save 2.8 million liters daily

• Well Fields Went Wireless:

  • Groundwater monitoring via IoT sensors that text alerts when levels dip

  • Variable frequency drives that adjust pump speeds like a maestro's baton

The Human Behind the Hardware

The magic happened through:
✅ Coffee-fueled training sessions turning skeptical operators into tech advocates
✅ Graveyard shift rollouts ensuring zero service disruption
✅ Data dashboards so intuitive they made veteran engineers smile

Now, when the system automatically adjusts to a thunderstorm or texts maintenance about a failing bearing, that's not just automation - that's peace of mind flowing through every pipe.

The control panel was smoking. The pumps sounded like dying tractors. And the 'flood prevention system' required three people guessing when to pull levers. Two years later, the same system anticipates droughts, texts maintenance needs, and has reduced energy bills by €250k annually. This is how we taught old water infrastructure new tricks.

Education

Forging an Electrical Engineering Foundation: My Belgrade Chapter

My journey into the world of electronics began at the prestigious University of Belgrade, where I didn't just earn a degree - I cultivated a lifelong passion for electrical systems that would later power my career.

The Belgrade Crucible

• Honors Admission: Joined the elite ranks of Serbia's top electrical engineering program

• Triple Specialization: Immersed in the holy trinity of:
  ⚡ Electronics (where I first fell in love with circuit design)
  ⚡ Telecommunications (decoding the language of signals)
  ⚡ Automation (the art of making machines "think")

• Theory Meets Sparks: Spent as many hours in Smokvica Lab as the library:
  ✅ Built my first PLC-controlled system at 19
  ✅ Debugged more circuits than I can count
  ✅ Learned that every textbook equation has a real-world temperament

Beyond the Curriculum

What truly shaped me:
🔹 Discovering how control theory could make factories sing
🔹 Realizing telecommunications was really about connecting people
🔹 The moment I knew automation wasn't just programming - it was teaching machines to see patterns

Now, as an alumnus, I carry forward Belgrade's legacy - not just with equations, but with the intuition to know when a system needs recalibrating... and when it needs reinventing.

If you'd told 18-year-old me walking into the ETN department that those circuit diagrams would become my love language, I'd have laughed. Yet there I was two years later, skipping meals to perfect a fiber optic sensor array that would later inspire my thesis. Belgrade didn't just teach me electrical engineering - it rewired how I see the world.