Andrew Van Gerpen

linkedin | github

Curious and driven software and controls engineer with three years of experience in embedded systems and vehicle controls. Demonstrated expertise in reviewing, developing, refactoring, and validating embedded control software, while enhancing team workflows through automation.

Projects

Submitted a top solution for a controls challenge
Created a template to easily deploy static webpages like this

Career

Software Engineer - Polaris

Led production software application development on 5 embedded controllers for Indian Motorcycle and Slingshot
Refactored production software build toolchains, improving error handling and reducing build times by up to 80%
Developed the team's first continuous integration workflows from the ground up and deployed them
Created a text-based test script format and toolchain for Simulink models to enable test traceability
Created and maintained Matlab and Simulink tools for test automation, report generation, etc.
Troubleshot and fixed longstanding navigation algorithm issues

Engineer Development Program - Polaris

Vehicle Electrical Control Systems - Created and maintained RANGER and RZR feature models for prototyping and simulation

Embedded Software - Developed and delivered 2 features for RANGER vehicles from concept to working prototype

Hardware in the Loop (HIL) - Created a battery + battery management system (BMS) emulator for RANGER XP Kinetic system HIL

Electric Powertrain (ePT) Validation - Automated component validation for the RANGER XP Kinetic powertrain

Ballooning Team Lead - NASA MN Space Grant Consortium

Determined flight-readiness and troubleshot electrical, mechanical, and software issues for all payloads
Developed several payloads and devices such as this low-cost data collection and telemetry device

Teaching Assistant - Dept of Mech. Eng. @ University of Minnnesota Twin Cities

Taught students to design and fabricate rockets and balloon payloads

Programming languages, Tools, Skills

Matlab
Simulink
Stateflow
Python
C++
Control System Design
Version Control [Git, GitHub, Bitbucket]
CAN [CANopen, J1939]
Vehicle Network Debugging & Simulation [Vector CANalyzer, CAPL]
Hardware in the Loop (HIL) [dSPACE ControlDesk & ConfigurationDesk]
Circuit Design [easyEDA, EAGLE]
Continuous Integration [GitHub Actions]

Education

B.S. Aerospace Engineering & Mechanics - University of Minnesota Twin Cities