During my industry tenure, I have been fortunate enough to have been apart and led multiple teams, authored a variety of different proposals and contracts, as well as designed / fabricated / tested hardware and software for both DoD and industry products.
MicrowaveTools Inc
Sr. RF Consultant 2012 – Current
At MicrowaveTools Inc. I have consulted on 23 separate products ranging from satellite set top equipment, RFID charging and receiving systems, to personal transponders. Consulting for a variety of different companies has allowed for a diversification in my knowledge, skill set, and approach to problem solving. While most of the designs I have worked on at MicrowaveTools focus on RF modulation and front end systems, some jobs have required: detailed power solutions, Linux / Windows / Android implemented software solutions, full system analysis, and channel models.
Daily Tasks and Required Skills
- Writing and responding to RFPs and RFIs.
- Project management (coordination of multiple people and companies in an effort to meed a defined project timeline)
- RF Measurements: Error vector magnitude (EVM), phase noise, noise figure (NF), and bit error rate (BER).
- Antenna performance: S-parameters, 2D and 3D patterns, power testing, axial ratio analysis, and active beam steer measurements.
- Most general and system RF measurements: generation of detailed link budgets, channel models, and fully RF system analysis.
- Digital system analysis including eye pattern measurements, and cross talk analysis.
FIRST RF Corporation
Sr. Microwave Systems Engineer Jan. 2007 – Sep. 2012
While working at FIRST RF Corporation I worked with, and led (2010 – 2012), a team of skilled engineers in the development of high linearity Transmit/Receive modules, array time delay units, small phased and true time delay arrays for communication and RADAR applications, custom filters/diplexers, up/down converters, as well as a variety of specialized antennas for applications ranging from signal intelligence to communications. Throughout my time at FIRST RF, I was part of a team that completed over 18 small business innovative research (SBIR) grants, 6 broad agency announcement (BAA) programs, and multiple commercial products. During my time at FIRST RF I helped to transition multiple SBIR’s from an initial idea into Phase II or III programs selling either directly to the U.S. DoD, or to a prime contractor.
Daily Tasks and Required Skills
- Project management: Responsible for program timeline, team meetings, and customer deliverables.
- Lead systems engineer: Coordination of all engineering teams (RF, Digital, Firmware)
- RF Measurements: Error vector magnitude (EVM), phase noise, noise figure (NF), and bit error rate (BER).
- Antenna performance: S-parameters, 2D and 3D patterns, power testing, axial ratio analysis, and active beam steer measurements.
- Most general and system RF measurements: generation of detailed link budgets, channel models, and fully RF system analysis.
- Antenna to bits simulation and analysis (DAC/ADC to antenna)
Picosecond Pulse Labs
Electrical Engineer May 2005 – Jan. 2007
At Picosecond Pulse Labs I worked in R&D on analog high speed circuitry. In this position, I designed several test boards to quickly and efficiently test different high speed circuits that Picosecond was developing. While at Picosecond Pulse Labs, I helped in either the development or automated test of six catalog products. These products included: DC to 20GHz surface mount passives, 200MHz to 15GHz clock jitter insertion circuits, and a pulse compression amplifiers.
Daily Tasks and Required Skills
- Design of automated test systems using Matlab and C based firmware and GUIs
- Simulation of RF passives in HFSS
- Electromagnetic interference and compliance testing