Electrical Engineering Qualifications

I have been working professionally in electrical and computer engineering since I graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2015, both as an electrical engineer and as a systems software developer. My strengths are:

  • Programming experience in C, C++, Python, Linux, HTML, JavaScript, Rust, Java.

    • My bread and butter on most projects are C, Python, and Linux shell scripting.

  • Strong knowledge of embedded systems concepts (serial protocols, gpio port driving, etc.) and experience interfacing varius sensors and ICs with microcontrollers.

    • 99.99% of the systems I've worked on use I2C and UART for at least some communication so those are the protocols I have the most familiarity with.

  • Familiarity with a variety of popular microcontrollers, including Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Intel Edison, BeagleBone Black, ARM based microcontrollers, and others.

    • I'm not particularly invested in a particular chip-set or architecture. I just download the toolchain, libraries, and docs for whatever system I happen to be using for a particular project and dive right in.

  • Comfortable programming systems running bare-metal, an RTOS, embedded linux, or a full-blown desktop or server linux distribution.

    • A caveat for the full-blown desktop is that I do not program for Windows. I have ethical qualms about supporting a computer virus.

  • I'm on a first-name basis with Git, Vim, Pytest, Markdown and other helpful software tools.

    • I've had a good deal of freedom in selecting my tools on the projects I've worked on and so I've gotten used to scouring the interwebs early in a project to identify and install any tools that can help save me time and improve my quality of work.

  • Experience using Altium to capture circuit schematics and design printed circuit boards.

    • I typically put together a schematic with detailed part numbers and have a PCB layout pro do the actual layout. My PCB layout skills are limited to relatively straightforward two-layer boards that don't have too many high-speed signals or crazy EMI concerns.

  • Proficient at reading and understanding circuit schematics and data sheets for electrical components as well as API's and man pages for large software projects.

    • The bigger sell might be that I'm willing to read the documentation. At the end of the day you just have to RTFM to do any serious engineering.

  • Capable of debugging both hardware and software using common lab equipment like oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, programmable power supplies, function generators, and digital multimeters.

    • I'm a software guy that actually owns an oscilloscope and can usually get her to do what I ask without too much complaining.