Electrical & Computer Engineer
Alexander Impastato
Professional Profile
Signal Design and Field Engineer with hands-on experience in vital and nonvital railway signal circuits, PLC and SSI systems, axle counters, interlocking switches, transit communications, robotics, embedded systems, and technical instruction. Experienced with design, simulation, field verification, prototyping, programming, and translating complex engineering systems into practical, teachable workflows.
Work Experience
NYCT Signal Design + Field Engineer
8th Avenue Project + Wheel Detector Project, L.K. Comstock · Bronx, New York
- Design and revise vital and nonvital speed-enforcement signal relay, SSI, and PLC circuit drawings and programs for New York City Transit systems. Simulate and operate subway signals, indication lighting, stop machines, interlocking switches, axle counters, wheel detectors, and track circuits.
- Design and revise super wiring detail drawings, relay, PLC/SSI and zone-controller rack drawings, AC and DC power-loop drawings, control-line drawings, wheel-sensor wiring drawings, junction boxes, track cases, and maintenance drawings.
- Use Siemens TIA Portal, Movicon, and EcoStruxure in preoperational and in-service testing to simulate maintainer control panels, axle counter systems, communications, human-machine interfaces, and automatic train systems.
- Use field simulators and virtual toggle-switch-box designs to simulate train movements in real interlockings.
Adjunct Instructor
Local 3 Union Transit School for Electricians · Long Island City, New York
- Teach programmable signal block-control concepts and safe braking-distance concepts.
- Teach stop machines, switch machines, traffic, track circuits, and axle-counter functionality.
- Use circuit diagrams to show real-world applications of classroom concepts.
- Teach Communications-Based Train Control and CBTC-centric theory with practical applications.
- Host transit lab tours showcasing real and functioning transit equipment.
Design & Field Engineer
Penn Access Metro-North Project, L.K. Comstock · Bronx, New York
- Designed and revised compound catenary wiring diagrams for Amtrak’s Overhead Catenary System.
- Designed and revised shop drawings and work plans for supporting structures and foundations.
- Revised single-line circuit drawings for motor and hand-operated interlocking switches.
- Inspected and verified OCS foundations, supporting steel, underground conduit, cable connections, interlocking signals, switches, and electrical housings.
ERRSELA E2 Prototype Engineer
ETIC, New York Institute of Technology · Old Westbury, New York
- Constructed, soldered, wired, and programmed the drivetrain of a surgical assistance robot developed through a Voya Foundation project.
- Applied Python, MySQL, Java, electrical integration, and prototype development skills.
Independent Projects
Siemens TIA Signal Engineering PLC Projects
- Use Siemens TIA to design PLC projects that simulate train-control towers, New York City Transit stop machines, signals, and switches.
- Designed operating Kings Highway and Willets Point Maintainer Control Panel simulations.
- Designed an operating Typical Diamond Crossover Interlocking panel for teaching.
- Work with PLC contacts, coils, S7-1200 and S7-1500 modules, HMIs, and WinCC.
Schneider EcoStruxure Axle Counter PLC Projects
- Use Schneider M221 TM221ME16R and ABLS1Q24021 modules to simulate four train tracks with six to eight axle counters each.
- Each axle counter supports count-up, count-down, remote reset, and error-state functions.
- Transfer software to physical modules for real-world demonstration.
AquaBot Senior Design Project
- Tested image-recognition software with more than 20 successful plant identifications.
- Developed and maintained the chassis, attached hardware, circuit design, sensor allocation, motor wiring, and water-pump mounting.
- Wrote Python for V5 and Raspberry Pi microcontrollers.
- Built a water-feeding mechanism with adjustable height and output flow.
CircuitPython Micromouse Robot
- Used EasyEDA schematic and PCB files to create a custom PCB microcontroller.
- Programmed the robot in CircuitPython to navigate a maze autonomously.
- Integrated a two-encoder motor drive, 2:1 gearbox, distance sensor, and 360-degree sensing.
- Designed the PCB with stepper and servo motor drivers, USB sensor reader, and safe 3.7 V and 5 V logic.