Arlington, Massachusetts, United States
Experienced lab nerd with a passion for people! With my strong communication and organizational skills and my solid foundation in various technical competencies, I have excelled as a systems engineer, getting to also step into project management, user research, process improvements, and manufacturing. We all know it can be difficult to find that perfect mix of people and tech savvy, and I’ve spent my entire career chasing that balance with proven success. While at Common Sensing, I secured a new client through restructuring a data collection project after interfacing with internal and external stakeholders to understand the scope and technical needs of the project. By formulating an aggressive schedule for my team of 7 contractors, including training on the prototype device, we were able to collect 3 months worth of data in 2 months during the height of the COVID lockdowns. “Irena was absolutely key in restructuring data collection during the most critically COVID cautious period. She has an exceptional competency for time and resource management, demonstrated especially by her ability to not just keep the project on schedule, but in fact accelerate it. She was able to maneuver through challenging scheduling needs to collect three months' worth of data in two months' time. This accelerated timeline allowed our data analysis team the time they needed to finalize the client presentation and enabled us to cement a client relationship.” -Joey Shelley One of my main passions is investing in my colleagues and creating an engaging and positive work environment for everyone. I have a proven record of retaining talent through individualized attention and considered efforts towards diversity and inclusion. While at NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts (now called Reproductive Equity Now) I managed a team of four canvassers, including scheduling one on ones to provide training and motivation for those struggling with fundraising goals in a mentally and emotionally challenging occupation. “As our manager, Irena spent a lot of time building camaraderie amongst our team through prioritizing time for us to practice and enhance our skills, always cheering us on and boosting morale, and thinking creatively about our work as a team. This team culture she built is what made me sincerely enjoy my work and the team I was a part of.” -Lauren Sava For more testimonials of how I’ve made a positive impact, please take a look at my recommendations section!
• Developed user needs and system requirements for a new software project, enhancing project alignment with user expectations. • Managed external software development partners, incorporating into their sprint meetings and cadence, and collaborating on technical discussions for requirements, cybersecurity measures, and verification protocols. • Owned pFMEA activities for product line improvements, implementing new quality control measures and coordinating process validation. • Coordinated requirements creation, risk analysis, technical needs, and in-room support for Formative and Summative user assessments and Discovery HF research across multiple projects and product lines.
• Created professional illustrations for books, blogs, and promotional materials, enhancing visual storytelling. • Published various projects, including short comics, zines, and coloring books. • Sold original artwork and prints at local craft and art fairs, connecting with the community and expanding my audience.
• Performed daily on-site baking of a diverse range of products and pastries at 3 Little Figs. • Maintained inventory throughout the day to ensure freshness and availability of baked goods. • Assessed and prepared for future baking needs to meet customer demand effectively.
• Learned a variety of different baking shifts to cover baking and mixing a wide selection of freshly-made products. • Coordinated logistics for product distribution across multiple stores, enhancing overall efficiency. • Provided actionable feedback to management aimed at improving processes and scheduling.
• Led Material Review Board meetings, creating NCMRs, conducting investigations and root cause analysis, and managing disposition to ensure quality control. • Oversaw creation of in-house software data collection tool, including identifying technical and user requirements, collaborating on UI design, creating software validation protocols, and supervising validation execution. • Developed processes and operator training to improve efficiency and accuracy, supervised laboratory data collection and verified data integrity, successfully collecting 3 months' worth of data in less than 2 months per client needs during facility restrictions due to COVID-19.
• Assembled, tested, and shipped medical devices for research purposes, ensuring high-quality standards. • Improved work instructions for technicians by implementing new methods from Operations and R&D. • Transferred and updated documentation to Qualio, maintaining compliance with quality systems. • Led document retrieval activities for company audits, ensuring thorough preparation and organization.