Engineer Project

Nicholas Shanta

**** ********** **., **** *********, Florida

Home: 321-***-****, Cell 609-***-****

*******@*****.***

Philosophy

As a systems engineer with over 18 years of experience in digital hardware and systems development with over 10

years of systems engineering concentrated in signals intelligence, I bring with me years of diverse experience and

adaptability to new environments that work well in team leadership. I believe that to achieve success and an

outstanding product, a team needs to have good communications, proper and efficient dissemination of information

along with focus and understanding of the project goals and requirements.

Profile

Career Summary:

Skilled in digital design technology, FPGA based hardware design and telephony/fiber optic technology at rates of OC-

3/STM-1 and above, and most recently in ground based to satellite network intelligence systems. Develop conceptual

systems design and integration, manage unit performance testing and test plans, chair failure review boards (FRB),

failure analysis and tracking (TIP-QA, ClearQuest, FRACAS), effectively develop and derive requirements for

specifications, interface control documents, verification matrices, set scheduling and relay them to sub-system

developers, perform cost recovery analysis, continuous involvement in logistical planning and development, oversee

field demonstrations, develop man power assignments and tracking, actively participate in both Preliminary Design

Reviews (PDR) and Critical Design Reviews (CDR) for internal, prime contractors (customers), sub-contractors in the

development of the targeted system. Successfully evaluate alternative designs to achieve cost reduction goals and

streamline overall complexity when possible.

Skills

• •

Experienced in systems engineering development Solid experience in product design

•

and design through all phases of test evaluation Background in hardware with practical, “hands-on”

and production build and adherence to CMMI design and implementation experience (Analog and

standards digital electronics design)

• Experienced with DOORS, ReqPro, Clear Case, • Project engineering experience

Clear Quest for requirements and software

• Ability to work both independently and on cross-

management along with problem tracking and

functional project team

solving

• Microcomputer and embedded software controlled

• Strong presentation skills

systems

• Creative problem solving utilizing all available

• Visio Design Tool

resources

• SPICE Modeling Tool

• Microsoft Office Tools (MS Word, Excel, Power

• VHSIC hardware description language (VHDL)

Point and scheduling tools such as Microsoft

•

Project) Experience with data encrypted systems (Type-1,

HAIPE)

Professional Experience

February 2009 – May 2011 L-3 Communications Linkabit Division – Imagery Systems

Senior Systems Engineer

• Provided continue technical leadership and systems support for on-going programs.

• Lead proposed projects with Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM)/Basis of Estimates (BOE).

• Managed requirements validation, management, and flow down & creation of requirements documents.

• Contribute to system architecture and development activities.

• Develop validation and verification methodologies.

• Support integration and test activities.

• Ensure that best practices and implementation of engineering processes are followed to achieve the maximum

product possible.

Nicholas Shanta

• Coordinated closely with Prime Contractors with current systems and the development of new programs,

• Track design requirements using ReqPro

• Wrote trade studies and proposals for new IR&Ds

• Lead the design and development team for a new 1.2 meter SATCOM antenna/RF high data rate Beyond-Line-of-

Site (BLOS) communication terminal for the Prophet Sensor, developed and wrote test plans/procedures.

Project Engineer

• Lead the Prophet Enhanced project through the initial phases of the program setting the path for a successful

delivery of the product.

• Collaborate with Prime and Sub-Contractors in the control of various phases of the Prophet Enhanced program

development and production.

• Manage project status and reviews of systems analysis against performance requirements and integration schedule

• Create proposal documentation and cost analysis

• Responsible for planning, scheduling, and coordination of all technical activities between all program levels

Test Engineering Manager

• Took charge and lead the Test Department during initial project start and through the final delivery phases of the

Prophet Enhanced SIGNT Mountable/Dismountable System to the Prime Contractor.

2004 – 2009 L3 Communications Systems East, Camden, NJ

Lead Member Systems Engineer

• Work environment encompassed multi-phases of Signals Processing development, Command, Control and

Communications, Store and Foreword Architecture, and Follow-on Processing; Worked closely with government

agencies and associate contractors on Signals Intelligence architectures.

• Lead Systems Engineer and Test Director on designated programs during all phases of Proposals, Trade studies

for both legacy and new architectural designs.

• Project lead and systems designer of the Porter I/II programs.

• Develop requirements analysis, Systems, Software and Hardware requirements allocations using DOORS.

• Architecture design and development, System and Subsystem Specifications, Interface Control Documents and

maintain schedules and milestones.

• Wrote system requirements, developed derived requirements and produced Integration and Test Plans, Test

Procedures, Verification Matrices.

• Strictly adhere to Best Engineering Practices and Processes according to CMMI Level 4.

• Maintain a close customer relationship ensuring that the on-going systems development satisfies the applicable

requirements through verification and test, on-time equipment delivery schedules, installation, training and

customer demonstrations.

• Was the Lead Systems Engineer on JSF GDR (Ground Data Recovery) for a Tactical Flight mission planning

system; Developed requirements analysis process, to meet the design goals and intentions; Test Plans and

Procedures; Hardware and Software requirements allocations; Hardware to Hardware and Internal Interface

Control Documents.

2002 – 2004 Harris Government Communications Division, Melbourne, FL

Deputy Chief Systems Engineer

• Signals Intelligence architectures

• Voyager/SHARK and Ringmaster/Mako in a close effort with sub-contractor L3 Communications East, Camden,

New Jersey over a period of several years.

• Active participant in all phases of development from PDRs and CDRs as well future systems development.

• Liaised to the prime contractor and L3 Communications for systems development and delivery schedules.

• Ensured the completion of new and improved functional capabilities.

Nicholas Shanta

• Ensured strict adherence to specifications, interface control documents, verification matrices where they applied to

follow on sub-systems.

• Wrote trade studies and proposals for next generation systems.

• Test data tracking and analysis; task scheduling.

• Continuous involvement in logistical planning and development; overseas field demonstrations.

• Plan cost recovery; develop man power assignments and tracking.

• Provide sub-contractor oversight during testing and demonstration phases of the program.

1997 – 2001 Harris Government Communications Division, Melbourne, FL

Systems Engineer – Lead Digital Designer

• Mini-Mutes Tactical Aircraft tracking system; responsible for design and development of the Receiver Data and

Interpretation Element (RDI).

• Planned and executed the systems design integration phase of the Signal Interpretation Module (SIM), the Mini-

Mutes data router/buffer module.

• Utilized both Mil-Spec and COTS material where possible to maintain ruggedness, acceptable costs and attainable

schedules.

• Refined system requirements and interface control documents for integration and testing; created test plans and

verification matrices.

• Implemented mile stone guide lines; implemented cost recovery analysis; actively supervised and participated in

field demonstrations.

• Prepared a quick re-act proposal for the Mobile Tactical Operations Center (MTOC).

• Interfaced with the prime contractor to build upon pre-existing requirements for a mobile tactical operations center

which would take the least number of personnel and time to setup.

• Designed an operation and control center that incorporated an 8 x 5 video surveillance and tracking wall along with

a Management Operations Center terminal where strict oversight to all the 12 stations via separate video screens

could be viewed all on one monitor.

• Performed trade and cost studies, risk mitigation, man power and scheduling.

• Achieved cost savings of nearly $100,000 by utilizing COTS equipment.

1993 – 1997 General Dynamics Land Systems, Tallahassee, FL (Primary product line: U.S. Army

SINCGARS Combat Net Radio)

Project Team Lead and Systems Engineer

• Developed task schedules, performed cost recovery analysis, supervised field demonstrations, evaluated man

power assignments and tracking, provided vendor oversight of PWB fabrication and cost.

• Defined the system requirements and design for a new radio man machine interface menu scheme.

• Performed hardware/board level integration with a real-time embedded system written in Turbo C++ using the PIC

Master and EMUL16/BDM emulators, logic analyzer, protocol analyzer, and oscilloscope to verify digital data

input/output.

• Analyzed voice-data transfer rates and evaluated power level output performance under controlled field test

conditions.

• Completed a proof of concept utilizing an NSA cipher platform for testing increased through put data rate

capabilities over land-based and satellite communications network.

• Designed the hardware architecture concept and implementation of a successfully fielded hand-held remote

control device for the SINCGARS radio; developed the hand-held soldier interface, hardware design and

coordinated the software menu scheme to utilizing the MC68HC11 processor; wrote the test plans, interface

control documents, verification matrices and testing schedules; chaired detailed PDR and CDR with cost analysis

for the Remote Hand-Held Interface that were coordinated with the U.S. Army; supervised and lead a successful

field demonstration that lead to the prototyping and deployment of 12 successful units to the field; maintained

vigilant control with sub-contractors and kept the prime customer abreast of the schedule milestones in monthly

status reviews.

Nicholas Shanta

• Performed a definitive systems analysis of input/output data paths through the SINCGARS radio, resulting in a

detailed system block diagram that greatly aided the further development of a new and more compact radio (SIP

Radio); headed a successful design and customer presentation for the SIP radio enhanced man machine interface

(MMI).

1982 – 1991 Military – United States Air Force

• Flight Dynamics, Officers Training, Integrated Avionics and Communications, Instrumentation and Flight-Controls,

Navigation.

• Aircraft maintenance, troubleshooting and reporting processes.

CLEARANCE

U.S. Citizen, TS/SCI

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science – Professional Aeronautics and Electronics, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona

Beach, Florida

Associate of Science – Computer Science and Electronics, Gulf Coast Community College, Panama City, Florida

OTHER TRAINING

Business Processes and Development – 1994 – General Dynamics

Business Acquisition Process – 1997 – Harris Corporation

DOORS Familiarization Training – 2001, 2007

Engineering Fundamentals Training – 1998, 1999

Fundamentals of Systems Engineering Training – 1998, 2006, 2007

The Systems Engineering Process – 1998, 1999, 2005, 2007

Developing Requirements – 1998, 1999

Development of Verification Plan – 1998, 1999

Verification Logic and Testing – 1998, 1999

Cost Reduction through Good Engineering – 1998, 1999

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