Rafael Olarte

Rafael Olarte has a diverse work experience spanning several industries. Rafael currently works at Volante Technologies as a Software Developer, where they started in August 2022. Prior to that, they worked as a Quality Assurance Automation Engineer at the same company from July 2022 to August 2022.

Before joining Volante Technologies, Rafael worked at Amazon from 2020 to 2022. Rafael initially served as a Shipping & Delivery Support Associate, providing technological and logistical support to "Flex" and full-time drivers in the U.S. Later, they transitioned to the role of a Customer Service Associate in the Account Changes Department, assisting customers to regain access to their accounts, including victims of cybercrime.

Rafael's work experience also includes a role as a Senior Professional at Cambridge Systematics, Inc. from 2017 to 2019. In this role, they conducted microscopic simulation and data analysis for the modification of transportation systems in the U.S.

Rafael also worked at Montgomery County Government as a Transportation Planner/Engineer I (on-site contractor) from 2016 to 2017, where they developed metrics for the implementation of bus-rapid-transit projects. Prior to that, Rafael served as an intern at the same organization's Department of Transportation from 2014 to 2016, where they reviewed travel demand and traffic analysis studies.

In addition, Rafael gained research experience as a Research Assistant at the University of Maryland from 2012 to 2014. Rafael co-authored several research papers in the field of transportation, focusing on high occupancy/toll lanes and travel demand modeling. Rafael also served as a Course Instructor for a semester.

Before pursuing their academic career, Rafael worked at the Federal Highway Administration as a Research Assistant (on-site contractor) from 2006 to 2012. There, they collected and evaluated data from the National Motor Crash Causation Survey, investigating the influence of road barriers and pavement conditions on accident crash severity.

Furthermore, they have had experience in sales and telemarketing at eBusiness Solutions S.A. from 2005 to 2006, where they generated sales visits through cold calling. Earlier in their career, they worked as a Quality Management System Coordinator at Consorcio Andino in 2004 and as a Quality Assistant at Quality Initiative S.A. from 2004 to 2004.

Overall, Rafael Olarte has a diverse background with experience in software development, quality assurance, transportation planning, research, and sales.

Rafael Olarte has a strong education background in civil engineering, specifically in the field of transportation. Rafael started their journey in 1999 at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, where they obtained their Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 2003. Building upon this foundation, Rafael pursued further academic success at the University of Maryland. From 2006 to 2009, they completed their Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering, specialization in Transportation. Continuing their educational pursuit, Rafael obtained their Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, also specializing in Transportation, from the University of Maryland in 2016.

Rafael has also engaged in additional certifications to enhance their knowledge and skills. Rafael completed courses such as "Implementing a Data Warehouse SQL Server 2019," "Microsoft SQL Server 2019 Essential Training," "SQL Tips and Tricks for Data Science," and "Python vs. R for Data Science" from LinkedIn, with the most recent completion in January 2022. In addition, they also obtained certifications in "GIT: Branching and Merging" from Udemy in February 2020 and "Data Mining with Weka" from The University of Waikato in November 2019. These certifications demonstrate their commitment to continuous learning and staying updated in their field.