EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT - CHAD BURNOSKY, ENGINEERING MANAGER
- Jun 5
- 4 min read
Title/Role: Engineering Manager
Years with Keystone: 8 years
ABOUT
What do you do at Keystone?
As Engineering Manager, I lead a team of engineers responsible for designing new equipment that aligns with customer needs while ensuring Keystone maintains high-quality standards for both incoming and outgoing products. I also prioritize engineering initiatives and projects that best support the company’s overall goals and long-term growth. My day-to-day responsibilities vary widely and can include assisting sales and service teams with technical issues, supporting product development efforts, and managing engineering project priorities to ensure deadlines are met and projects remain within scope.
What is your favorite part of working at Keystone?
My favorite part of working at Keystone is the unique challenges that each day brings. No two days are ever the same, and every challenge requires a different approach and solution. Whether it’s resolving a customer field issue or designing new equipment for demanding environments, I enjoy the process of developing solutions that directly support our customers’ needs. The opportunity to solve complex problems and continuously adapt is what makes the job rewarding for me. The greater the challenge, the greater the motivation to find the right answer.
What was your background before joining Keystone?
Before entering the engineering field, I served in the Army National Guard from 2001 to 2011 as a unit armorer, heavy equipment operator, and designated marksman, including a deployment to Ar Ramadi, Iraq in 2005. My military experience played a major role in shaping my leadership style and taught me how to adapt and perform effectively under pressure and changing conditions.
In 2008, I began my professional career as an engineering technician with Wheeler Brothers Incorporated. While learning the foundations of new product development, I transitioned into a product design engineer role where I co-invented a patented shelving system used in USPS delivery vehicles. I was also responsible for reliability testing and design evaluations aimed at improving product performance and overall customer satisfaction. Participation in the company’s corporate leadership program further expanded my interests by exposing me to multiple areas of the business. This experience challenged me to broaden my responsibilities and eventually led to a production planning role overseeing shipping, receiving, and packaging operations for the government division.
In 2018, I joined the Keystone Drill team as a manufacturing engineer, bringing experience that ranged from project development and engineering design to production and final product shipment. In 2021, I was promoted to Engineering Manager, where I have continued growing and developing the engineering team to support Keystone’s current operations and future goals.
EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE
What is one thing customers and coworkers can always count on you for?
One thing coworkers and customers can always count on from me is a positive and level-headed approach to challenges. Attitudes are contagious, and I’ve always believed that maintaining a positive mindset, regardless of the situation or severity of the issue, helps create better outcomes for everyone involved. Whether facing a technical challenge or an unexpected problem in the field, I strive to approach situations calmly and with a focus on finding solutions. I believe a positive attitude not only helps navigate challenges more effectively in the workplace but also prepares you to handle obstacles in everyday life.
What project, accomplishment, or experience at Keystone are you most proud of?
One of the experiences I’m most proud of at Keystone was working on a diesel-to-electric conversion project several years ago. It was a unique opportunity because the project fell outside the scope of the typical work we handled on a daily basis and required the team to think creatively and adapt quickly. What stood out most was the level of teamwork across the entire organization. From shop technicians to engineers, everyone came together to develop a high-quality solution that ultimately saved the customer a substantial amount of money compared to other options available on the market. I was especially proud of the collaboration and willingness of the team to go the extra mile in designing a complex system with a strong emphasis on safety and reliability.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Outside of Keystone, my life revolves around my wife, April, and our three boys, Seth, Jonah, and Heath. As a family, we enjoy traveling to new places, attending sporting events, and spending as much time outdoors as possible. Some of my greatest memories in life have come from time spent with family and friends, and I hope to create those same meaningful experiences and traditions for my children.
I am also actively involved in the veteran community and serve as a board member for the Johnstown Generals, a veteran hockey team. I play goaltender for the Generals as we compete against regional and national veteran teams across the country. Our mission is to provide an outlet to veterans through hockey and fellowship for mental and physical health while being committed to community outreach and awareness of military veteran issues.
LOOKING AHEAD
What are your goals for the future?
One of my long-term goals is to help create a product that meaningfully changes the drilling industry and establishes a better, more efficient method of drilling. I’m driven by the idea of developing innovative solutions that not only improve performance but also provide lasting value to our customers and the industry as a whole. A major part of reaching that goal is maintaining a strong focus on continual improvement within Keystone engineering. Continuously evaluating and enhancing our products to better meet customer needs is an important step toward driving innovation and shaping the future of drilling technology.
What excites you most about Keystone’s future?
What excites me most about Keystone’s future is the strong foundation being built following the acquisition by Preferred Pump & Equipment in December 2024. The additional support and resources provided through this partnership position Keystone Drill for continued growth and long-term success. I’m especially encouraged by PPE’s strong emphasis on company culture, employee ownership, and creating an environment that supports both the organization and its people. Their commitment to investing in Keystone’s future and building a sustainable path for success makes this an exciting transition to be part of and gives me confidence in the direction the company is heading.