Test Engineer
Resume:
Paul J. Beer
Test Engineer
Philadelphia, PA 19111
ac5ei0@r.postjobfree.com
SKILLS:
• Production Test and Quality Assurance
• Robust, Relevant Statistical Analysis and Reporting of instrumented, acquired experimental data
• Data Acquisition (DAQ) systems integrator, DAQ software developer (primarily using National Instruments LabVIEW software, along with C++ and Visual Basic)
• Extensive Automated Control and DAQ of measurement instrumentation via IEEE-488, RS-232/422/485 Serial, USB, Ethernet
• Experience with and understanding of Mil-Std-1553/1773, the internal military aircraft communication bus.
• Image Acquisition and Image Processing
• Optical Sensors (primarily Infrared, but also Visible and Ultraviolet) integration, both single element sensors and Focal Plane Arrays
• Optical materials evaluation
• Experimental Testing and Evaluation of Battery/Chemical Formulations
• Environmental Test Design/Fixturing, Instrumentation and Analysis (vibration, stress/strain/fatigue, temperature/humidity) including Airborne Environmental Testing
• Transition of tests for use by technicians in production as well as detailed tests for R&D investigators
(scientists, engineers, executive)
• Digital Data Recording and Data Link Bit Error Rate Measurement and Cause Analysis
• Motion Control Systems integrator
• Systems Integration and Automation
• Extensive Laboratory design, standup and outfitting
RELEVENT EXPERIENCE:
August 2017 through Present
FlyAdvanced – Wings Field, Blue Bell, PA
Line Services Crew
As a member of the Line Services crew, provide services to arriving and departing General Aviation aircraft. This includes marshaling (receiving arriving aircraft and directing them to the desired “parking” positions, servicing them as requested/needed to include providing lubrication materials and fueling them with the correct grade and amount of aviation gasoline or jet fuel as appropriate, and towing the aircraft to the desired long-term location. Towing aircraft to maintenance hangar if required/requested.
Periodically perform checks of fuel, visual inspection and chemical tests, to ensure quality for aircraft safety and performance.
Fueling operations include “hot fueling” medivac helicopters, i.e., fueling the helo while its rotors are still turning, as these aircraft often must fuel and leave immediately.
August 2015 through July 2016
Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Glasgow, DE
Test Engineer
As a contracted employee on the staff of the Manufacturing Test Group, developed Test Fixtures for testing individual components to be used in complete Siemens Medical Diagnostics Instruments. These components are primarily stepper motor applications, but in particular I assisted in developing software and specifying and operating test equipment for Optical power measurements, relating to the “Photometer”, a device used to quantify spectral Absorbance characteristics of light in bodily fluids. I primarily developed the “Cuvette Optical Clarity” (COC) Tester, a tester which evaluates the optical transmission characteristics of cuvettes, those vessels which contain the bodily fluids.
Interacted with the V&V counterparts of the team, and as such became quite familiar with the V&V process and function. Anticipated V&V team’s expectations, and learned the importance and meaning of this important function.
Learned to use and programmatically control an Ophir-Spiricon Beam Profiler. Though this instrument is generally used to study beam profiles of lasers (spatial variation of power for a cross-section of a laser beam), I used it to study the Photometer’s Ultraviolet LED and Wideband (white light) Lamp. Performed investigations on these phenomena and reported results.
Software modules written in LabVIEW 2014 used .NET techniques, for communication over USB, to control and acquire data from, Optical Power Meters (OPM) and the Beam Profiler. Software source control management was done using TortoiseSVN. Siemens instruments use Controller Area Network (CAN) to communicate; I was introduced to this bus. Also learned to use Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) for LabVIEW, and learned XML.
Specified for purchase optics (Neutral Density and Bandpass Filters), LED Fiber Optic Light Sources, Newport Optical Power Meters and Detectors, as well as optical accessories (Fiber Optic cable, collimators for Fiber Optic cables, motion stages, posts and mounts, etc).
Collaborated with Mechanical Engineer and Machinist in designing the COC Tester fixture to align and hold the optics and detector in place. Evaluated rotational and positioning mechanics needed to scan the cuvette “segments”, each holding 17 individual cuvettes. Wrote the motion software used by the NSK stepper motor and motor driver and integrated this motion software with the software written for optical data acquisition. The COC Tester went from requirement to deliverable “Phase I” Tester in six months.
As its title implies, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics manufactures Healthcare diagnostic instruments, and as such, I received considerable general training in FDA regulations, as they apply to design requirements and specifications, and ethics.
August 2008 – August 2015
Various Restaurants/Personal Care (Mother’ illness)
Short Order Cook
Upon my layoff from Teledyne/Judson, I helped my mother through sickness and performed physical chores that were beyond her strength. This required that I be in close proximity to her home, and quickly available. I worked at several local restaurants (locations and references can be provided, but I feel they are irrelevant to this engineering resume) where I was available to my mother, for the most part, at a moment’s notice.
This situation persisted for about a year. Subsequently, I continued working as a cook/food prep/supplies receiver while attempting to obtain an engineering position and endeavoring to maintain an awareness of engineering trends. This effort to find an engineering position persisted until August 2015, when I was hired as a contract test engineer by Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics.
June 2007 – August 2008
Judson Technologies/Teledyne Judson, Montgomeryville, PA
Test Engineer
Test and Evaluation of in-house manufactured Infrared Focal Plane Arrays (IR FPA’s). Designed and integrated test systems for evaluating and characterizing IR FPA’s, for an industry leading manufacturer of high-end infrared sensors. Specified general and specialized laboratory equipment for the company’s new FPA laboratory, as Judson transitioned from manufacture of single element sensors to 320 x 256 pixel FPA’s. Assembled optical benches and components.
Outfitted three networked test stations (one station for each type of FPA under development), each station consisting of an appropriate IR Blackbody Source, appropriate optical path components and commercial laboratory camera (used as test bed for FPA under test), to create an extensive Data Sheet, for each FPA tested, containing measurement results for Noise and Dark Current, Noise Equivalent Irradiance/Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference, Responsivity and Detectivity; all key specifications used to grade performance of IR sensors and FPA’s. Programmed extensive software routines to perform detailed individual pixel analysis (each pixel’s temporal variation and spectral response) as well as statistical analyses for entire pixel array (both Array average performance and Bad Pixel counts and Bad Pixel Cluster statistics). These analyses provided valuable feedback to team manufacturing first article FPA’s. The FPA’s operated in the Near IR region (1.3 um – 2.6 um, Indium Gallium Arsenide [InGaAs]), and the Mid-IR (3.0um – 5.0 um, InSb Indium Antimonide [InSb] and Mercury Cadmium Telluride [HgCdTe or MCT]).
Software test control and analysis routines were written with LabVIEW Software. Position developed additional LabVIEW skills and methods including Software Configuration Management and Project Development tracking, as well as efficiency enhancing methods such as LabVIEW type definitions and control references and properties. As a consequence of working for this long-term industry leader, among top personnel in the IR industry, this position also greatly increased my knowledge and understanding of Infrared radiation and sensor properties, characteristics and testing techniques.
November 2000 – December 2006
MilSys Technologies, LLC, Bridgeport, PA/
Sage Systems Technologies LLC, King of Prussia, PA*
Electrical Engineer and Facility Security Officer
Specified, integrated and automated Motion Control Systems, Optical Sensors, and Bruker Optics Vertex 70 FTIR Spectrum Analyzer, as part of the ARISTMS product, an IR Materials automated test system designed and built by MilSys. Going from concept to completed product included writing custom ActiveX modules to integrate Bruker’s OPUS operating software with the ARISTMS software written in LabVIEW for this project, one of the first times this has been done. Assisted the optical engineer in aligning the HgCdTe (MCT) and Si/Ge photodetector sensors and their associated Integrating Spheres. ARISTMS is currently measuring Transmittance, Reflectance, and Total Integrated Scatter of GaAs wafers, at user selectable Sites and Incident Angles, as well as user selectable spot sizes, for a DoD Phase II SBIR to characterize diffractive structures. Used Matlab software in assisting optical engineer in optical path modeling. Planned and helped assemble the laboratory for this start-up company upon its move to Bridgeport, PA.
Supported a United States Army effort to develop a modern test suite for the AN/ARS-6(V) Radio Set – Personnel Locator. Integrated an RF Signal Analyzer, High Speed Digitizer and RF Signal Generator (National Instruments products) and wrote LabVIEW software to automate and control these data acquisition instruments, and to analyze this data, in an effort to reverse engineer the Radio Set’s PSK signal protocol, which the contracting Army Facility could not provide.
Specified and monitored testing performed at ATK in Horsham, PA in support of a Phase I Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract for the Bimodal Battery effort, in November/December 2003. The SBIR’s goal was to develop a more reliable battery for the SM-2 Missile.
Supported an SBIR program in conjunction with Eagle-Picher Inc. (EP) by developing Wedge Enclosure techniques, experimenting with materials, and monitoring data collection efforts by EP. Designed and integrated the Central Well Development Test Fixture, which used compressed air to simulate pyrotechnics and control and vary pressure, in order to gauge the force needed to break glass ampoules in a wedge enclosure. Recommended and assembled the pneumatic components as well as the instrumentation (strain/pressure sensors, image acquisition) and wrote the automation software to both initiate pneumatic action as well as acquire the resulting pressure and strain data.
Designed, and outfitted the Laboratory for optical and data recording technologies studies. Researched Infrared materials for IR Window material database and modeling effort for Atmospheric Interceptor Technology Program for Strategic Missile Defense Command; used LabVIEW software as user front end to link to database.
Recommended the prototype instrumentation (optical sensors, data bus, and processing system) for a Passive Collision Avoidance System (PCAS) in conjunction with the Naval Research Laboratory. As its name implies, PCAS will use a suite of IR Focal Plane Arrays to passively detect potential collisions with proximate aircraft, both in the commercial and military (particularly Unmanned Vehicle) sectors.
Assisted in development of a proposal to the US Coast Guard for a robust/redundant RF Communications Network. This network was to be based in many ways on the cellular telephone model of communications, to provide secure and reliable radio communications between operational boats/aircraft, shore stations; any foreseeable combination of communication participants. Research for this proposal (though ultimately not accepted) resulted in a high degree of technical understanding of the US Cellular Telephone operation.
Also performed the duties of the United States National Industrial Security Program’s Facility Security Officer. Forwarded Personnel Security Clearance Applications, sent Visit Requests for personnel attending Classified Facilities or meetings, and transmitted, received and stored Classified Documents.
*Note: Sage Systems and MilSys Technologies were both start-up engineering and engineering services companies. When Sage Systems management changed its focus and location (the company re-located to Virginia and focused on procurement services), the technical personnel from Pennsylvania who wished to remain, and continue the engineering work that was already contracted and in progress, had those contracts novated to the new company, MilSys, in November 2003, and moved to Bridgeport, PA.
February 2000 – November 2000
Advanced Energy Inc., Voorhees, NJ
Test Engineer
As a Test and Automation Engineer, automated production testing for new and existing RF Power Supplies and Matching Networks. Advanced Energy is one of the world’s largest suppliers of RF Power Supplies, used by the Semiconductor industry to excite and control their plasma chambers.
Integrated commercial RF test equipment and custom test fixture electronics, and wrote software to Calibrate and Final test AE’s newest Generator, the “Atlas”. This system cut production Calibration and Test time per unit from 75 minutes to 20 minutes. The diagnostics employed in the Atlas test fixture provided design and production personnel valuable feedback in isolating performance defects. Developed a Four-Unit Burn-In System (test equipment / fixture integration and software design), which was used to gauge typical failure times of components, in order to minimize burn-in time for the Atlas.
Provided automated Calibration and Configuration Verification hardware/software solutions to Global Support Group (Service). Developed Life Cycle Test Fixture used to analyze failure trends for a Matching Network product. Designed and built 20 Unit Burn-In Stations for a newly acquired product line of low-cost DC Power Supplies.
Documented formal test procedures as part of AE’s qualification as an ISO 9001 vendor.
October 1996 – February 2000
ProSol Technologies Inc./Planning Systems Inc, Dublin, PA
Electrical Engineer
Designed, integrated, and tested the electronics and the controlling and analytical software for ProSol’s 812 TR Infrared Spectrometer. The 812TR, a diffraction grating based spectrometer, is a versatile instrument used to measure the Infrared Transmissive and Reflective characteristics of optical windows and assemblies. ProSol Technologies Inc. stood up in October 1996; the 812TR went from concept to delivery of two units (to Pilkington Optronics, one unit to Glasgow, Scotland, the other to St. Asaph, Wales, Great Britain) in seven months. For this effort:
Integrated and automated optical sensors/amplifiers, X-Y motion stages, power supply relays and sensing, and the optical chopper wheel/motor, with Personal Computer via Data Acquisition card and LabVIEW software. Wrote all software including Graphical User Interface (GUI), and control of motion stages to scan sample. Created a software Lock-In Amplifier in lieu of prohibitively expensive commercial hardware solution for measuring response of IR pyrotechnic optical sensors.
Developed a hardware/software package to automate data collection from an optical Autocollimator (a device used to measure angular deviations in optical alignment), under contract from Davidson Optronics of W. Covina, CA. This system is to be included as an option for Davidson’s Model 638 and 656 Autocollimators. Integrated Autocollimator, CCD Camera, Frame Grabber PC card and PC, wrote software to capture and display image as well as developed algorithms for pattern recognition of collimator image, calibration and measurement of angular deviations.
Integrated hardware and wrote software for ProSol’s Large Area Motion Control System (LAMCS). This device, a spin-off of the 812TR, allows users to select scan locations and incident angles for testing an optical window or assembly, and proceeds to raster said assembly through the locations and incident angles as specified by the operator.
Was part of a team that satisfied the contract requirement for an upgraded GUI, Data Acquisition, and data processing display for a Naval Air laser-based Vibration Analysis Tracking and Target Classification System. Wrote software using LabWindows, a graphical C programming environment, to acquire data from the UV laser employed, and to control the Instrumentation Tape Recorder employed.
Satisfied a contract requirement to Heraeus Electro-Nite (a manufacturer of probes/instruments used by the steel industry) implementing LabVIEW based SCADA systems integrating optical sensors and manipulated PLC’s to monitor productivity quality.
June 1984 – September 1996
Naval Air Development Center/Naval Air Warfare Center, Warminster, PA
Electrical Engineer
Employed as Staff Engineer in the Data Recording Laboratory (DRL). The DRL was the United States Navy’s premier laboratory responsible for the development and improvement of Naval and other Military/Government entities’ Instrumentation Magnetic Data Recording, particularly Anti Submarine Warfare (telemetered hydrophone/sonar, i.e. sonobuoys) and Airborne Reconnaissance (optical/infrared/radar image) recording. This position developed acumen in Electro-Mechanical control, Materials and Magnetism, Instrumentation, Avionics installation and evaluation, Digital and Analog Signal Processing, and Automated Test/Control. Performed extensive instrumentation design and test in vibration, strain, and temperature/humidity environments on recorders and many other assemblies and materials.
Duties included:
Teamed with Contractors in development of state-of-the-art digital and analog recording hardware and tape media to meet operational requirements of the end-users. The DRL was integral in the development and modernization of the: AN/AQH-4(V)2 (P-3C ASW aircraft), the AN/AQH-7 (S-3B), the AQH-11/12 (SH-60F CV-Helo); all Naval ASW airborne recording platforms. Tested and evaluated recorders and media using both off-the-shelf instruments and (in-house) custom designed equipment. Analyzed results and wrote reports and recommendations.
Designed a test system to measure recorder performance under combined vibration, temperature, humidity extremes. Automation of test parameters, and data collection done with test equipment interfaced via IEEE-488 and RS-232, software written in HP-Basic.
Designed and developed automated test fixtures for evaluating tape media and recorders. Instrumented and (software) controlled DUT’s and other test equipment; wrote GUI and Control/Data Acquisition software systems. One such system controlled and acquired data from a Sony DIR-1000 iD-1 Digital Tape Recorder, using a SyntheSys Research Bitalyzer Bit Error Rate Test (BERT) System to evaluate and certify magnetic tape loaded in a Sony 24-cassette “jukebox”. Acquired both corrected data as measured by the BERT system as well as the raw BER provided by the recorder’s error correction system. By responding to the Chief Investigators’ suggestions and needs, continually modified all elements of the BERT system to improve performance and functionality. In addition to the DUT, test equipment and software integration, also designed and assemblde the custom wiring harnesses for these multiple frequency (28 or 32 bit parallel operating from the low MHz range to approximately 1 GHz). This resulted in close familiarity with suppliers of cable and connectors, both commercial and military/space specification levels.
Designed, installed and (in-flight) operated Test and Evaluation systems on Navy P-3C aircraft. Airborne T&E Systems included Vibration, Sonar and Radar Analysis and Recording equipment. Successfully field deployed many test systems including Environmental Testing of Digital Recorders and evaluation of a Polarimetry Sensor in the coastal “aerosol”(sea water vapor) environment.
During the final several years before Base Closure, oversaw the Laboratory’s facilities and equipment. Specified most Capital Equipment purchases, and coordinated calibration and maintenance of high-end electronic, magnetic, mechanical and environmental test equipment.
Used the DRL’s Vibration Table System to perform Qualification and Research Vibration Testing on recorders, avionics and other electronic devices and materials. Integrated sensors, signal conditioning, and data acquisition hardware, and wrote software to control test, generate and monitor vibration and acquire and integrate all data into the PC. Developed low-cost Vibration Profile generation hardware/software, which could simulate any aircraft, MIL-STD, or user defined vibration profile, in lieu of purchasing expensive, proprietary solutions.
In addition to testing data recording hardware for the DRL, supplemented the laboratory’s funding by becoming NAWC’s Vibration Test Service. Evaluated and screened many equipments including electronic assemblies, and airborne optics. Provided analysis and reports. For one very interesting project, designed and integrated instruments about the vibration table to simulate fatigue, while measuring fracture propagation in IR Window materials, both optically (visual recording) and via strain gauge.
Wrote Statements of Work, Specifications, and Acceptance Test Procedures for procurement of Naval Airborne Data Recording Systems, primarily SH-60F and SH-2G helicopters, and P-3 and S-3 Fixed Wing aircraft.
Consulted to Navy, Air Force, Marines and NATO on various recording standardization issues. Co-authored paragraphs in MIL-STD-1610A (Para. 5.4.5.5 – Digital Annotation – specifying critical data to be recorded from the MIL-STD-1553 Data Bus) and MIL-STD-2179 (Para. 5.6.7 – Helical Record). Participated in ANSI Working Group in selection of a standard for Small Format Recording. Wrote opinions on Tape Recorder Export Licensing issues for U.S. State Department.
PUBLICATIONS:
-MIL-STD-1610A, paragraph 5.4.5.5, Digital Annotation recording of the MIL-STD-1553 Data bus
-MIL-STD-2179 paragraph 5.6.7, Helical Record, Bit Error Correction Coding
-Environmental Test of Sony DIR-1000 iD-1 Tape Recorder (Vibration, Temperature and Humidity), NAWCADWAR Report No. 92019-50
Morgan, John; Beer, Paul; March 1992
-FPA development: from InGaAs, InSb, to HgCdTe
Henry Yuan, Gary Apgar, Jongwoo Kim, Joyce Laquindanum, Varsha Nalavade, Paul Beer, Joe Kimchi, and Ted Wong. Proc. SPIE 6940, 69403C (2008)
-ARISTMS: a new automated data acquisition capability to spectrally characterize samples and materials
Michael Wilson, Phil Coulter, and Paul Beer. Proc. SPIE 6205, 62050I (2006)
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, May 1984
21 Credits in Masters of Engineering Science, Penn State Graduate School, Great Valley, including courses in Semiconductor Physics, Digital Error Correction Coding, Digital Signal Processing, Electromagnetics, and Mechanics of Metals
Professional Education courses in C/C++ Programming, Data Recording Techniques, Physics of Magnetic Recording, Underwater Acoustics, Vibration Control, AutoCAD Drafting, Visual Basic Programming
Completed LabView Intermediate I and Intermediate II Courses in March 2006
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