Robert Adams

Electrical Engineer | Systems Reliability | Distributed Infrastructure & Operations

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

About

Electrical Engineer with 9+ years of experience improving the reliability, performance and scalability of large-scale engineering and infrastructure systems. My career spans industrial automation, large-scale infrastructure and technical operations, combining engineering fundamentals with systems thinking, data-driven analysis and a strong focus on real-world outcomes. Within Shell Recharge Solutions, I helped maintain and optimise Europe-wide EV charging infrastructure comprising more than 100,000 assets. My work spanned systems reliability, firmware deployment, operational monitoring, performance analysis, large-scale migration programmes and support for enterprise-critical charging environments. I have worked at the intersection of engineering, operations and analytics, helping reduce operational risk while improving operational visibility, decision-making and system performance. I am particularly effective in complex environments where technical, operational and commercial considerations must be balanced simultaneously. Whether analysing performance trends, optimising operational processes, managing technical change or resolving infrastructure issues, I enjoy understanding how systems behave end-to-end and identifying opportunities to improve reliability, efficiency and scalability. My background spans industrial automation, large-scale infrastructure and systems engineering, providing a strong foundation in sensing, control systems, systems integration and solving complex operational problems under real-world constraints. My experience in EV charging has strengthened my interest in the energy transition while reinforcing the importance of reliable, scalable and well-integrated engineering systems. I am particularly motivated by opportunities to solve complex engineering problems where engineering, systems thinking and technology can deliver meaningful operational, industrial and societal impact.

Experience

  • Shell Recharge Solutions (6 yrs 4 mos)
    • Energy Infrastructure Transition Specialist
      May 2025 - Aug 2025 · 4 mos

      (Transition Project Specialist) Supported Shell Recharge Solutions' withdrawal from its AC charging portfolio, helping deliver the migration of approximately 80,000 charge points during a period of significant organisational change and knowledge loss. Served as a key technical reference throughout the transition, maintaining continuity for enterprise customers and reducing migration risk across a highly heterogeneous hardware estate. • Supported large-scale migration activities across approximately 80,000 charge points spanning multiple charger manufacturers and hardware generations • Maintained continuity of enterprise-critical charging operations for customers including DHL and FedEx during a complex infrastructure transition • Identified and resolved technical dependencies affecting migration execution, reducing operational and customer risk • Coordinated migration-specific firmware activities across diverse hardware platforms and deployment scenarios • Provided technical leadership and guidance for charger reconfiguration and repointing activities across multiple European markets • Supported customers, field technicians and operational teams through high-complexity migration scenarios with minimal remaining internal support resources • Developed migration processes, documentation and knowledge-transfer materials to support successful execution during organisational restructuring

    • Infrastructure Reliability & Performance Specialist
      Apr 2023 - May 2025 · 2 yrs 2 mos

      (Partner Networks Operator – Europe) Worked within Shell Recharge Solutions' Partner Networks team to maintain reliability, performance and operational visibility across a Europe-wide EV charging network comprising more than 100,000 assets. Operated at the intersection of engineering, operations and analytics, supporting both AC and DC charging infrastructure through monitoring, optimisation and risk reduction initiatives. • Maintained reliability and reduced operational risk across a 100,000+ asset EV charging network through data-driven monitoring, analysis and targeted intervention • Sustained charging network performance through continuous monitoring, anomaly detection and root-cause analysis across both AC and DC infrastructure • Planned and executed large-scale firmware deployment programmes, balancing technical risk, customer impact and operational continuity • Improved scalability and reliability of firmware rollout processes by redesigning workflows, reducing manual effort and increasing deployment efficiency • Developed operational intelligence capabilities through dashboards, KPI frameworks and self-service reporting tools using DOMO, SQL and Power BI • Enabled faster issue detection and more effective decision-making by integrating monitoring, performance and operational datasets into actionable insights • Supported enterprise-critical charging environments, including DHL fleet operations, combining technical analysis with clear stakeholder communication • Collaborated across engineering, product, account management and operations teams to align technical decisions with business priorities and customer outcomes

    • Infrastructure Operations Specialist (UK/Nordics)
      May 2019 - Jul 2023 · 4 yrs 3 mos

      (Operations Specialist / Operations Coordinator) Joined NewMotion (later Shell Recharge Solutions) during a period of rapid growth in the UK EV charging market, taking ownership across installation, maintenance and operational performance. Played a key role in scaling delivery capability while maintaining service quality, supplier accountability and operational continuity through periods of significant change and market disruption. • Supported the scale-up of UK EV charging deployments from approximately 25 to 250 installations per month while maintaining operational continuity and customer experience • Assumed expanded operational ownership during a prolonged leadership gap, coordinating installation and maintenance activities across B2B and B2C operations • Managed installation and maintenance partners through KPI tracking, performance reviews and targeted corrective actions to improve service delivery and accountability • Designed and delivered a remediation programme addressing contractor non-compliance with electrical safety regulations, reducing operational and reputational risk • Acted as a trusted technical point of contact for contractors, field technicians and internal stakeholders, supporting issue resolution and operational decision-making • Maintained operational continuity during periods of severe supply-chain disruption by balancing technical, logistical and commercial constraints • Developed dashboards and performance reporting tools using Salesforce, DOMO and Excel to improve visibility, decision-making and process efficiency • Led resolution of high-priority customer escalations, combining technical understanding with practical problem-solving and stakeholder management

  • Technical Services Engineer (Industrial Automation & Control Systems) at ifm electronic UK
    Jan 2017 - Sep 2018 · 1 yr 9 mos

    Provided engineering support and solution design across a broad portfolio of industrial automation, sensing and control technologies, helping customers implement reliable systems under real-world operational constraints. • Designed and supported industrial automation solutions using a wide range of sensing technologies, including inductive, capacitive, optical, ultrasonic, flow, pressure and temperature sensors • Worked across sensing, control and integration challenges, aligning technical solutions with customer requirements and operational constraints • Supported industrial vision and imaging applications, including 2D and 3D sensing technologies used in automation environments • Developed and modified PLC and embedded control logic using CODESYS to support automation and process-control applications • Restored functionality of a stalled automation project by reverse-engineering undocumented control logic and reconstructing system behaviour • Diagnosed and resolved technical issues across electrical, software and automation domains, maintaining an approximately 91% first-contact resolution rate across a diverse technical support portfolio • Acted as a trusted technical advisor for customers, translating complex technical concepts into practical and commercially viable solutions • Developed broad expertise in industrial systems, control technologies and automation architectures across a diverse range of customer applications

  • Technical Solutions Support at IBM
    Feb 2014 - Jan 2015 · 1 yr

    (Technical Sales Support Intern) Supported enterprise IT infrastructure activities as part of IBM's technical sales organisation, gaining hands-on experience with enterprise systems, customer requirements and technical solution delivery. • Installed, configured and tested enterprise IT hardware systems • Supported technical demonstrations and proof-of-concept activities for enterprise customers • Assisted requirements gathering and technical discussions to align solutions with customer needs • Gained practical exposure to enterprise infrastructure, networking and large-scale IT environments • Contributed to the planning and delivery of international customer and supplier events