Engineer Control

Chris Estes

*** ************ ****** ***. ****

Raleigh, NC 27603

Cell: 336-***-**** acs0hb@r.postjobfree.com

ABOUT ME

I am an electronics and software engineering enthusiast with 10+ years of experience making things. I enjoy almost all aspects of the process of designing and building electronic devices from the design and assembly of PCBs, electromechanical assemblies, sensors and user interface designs and design of software to troubleshooting and final documentation. I enjoy learning how things work. I often design my own versions of off the shelf parts or write my own libraries to gain a better understanding of the internal workings of a device or piece of software. I feel that, in the realm of embedded systems, an engineer should be comfortable with a soldering iron in one hand while compiling code with the other.

SUMMARY

Embedded Systems Engineer with experience in software, electronic, and electromechanical systems design and fabrication.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Programs: Windows XP / 7, Linux, Mac OS, Microsoft Office, KiCAD PCB design suite, Microchip MPLabX IDE, FreeRTOS, ClearQuest, Agile, Solidworks 2007, LABView

Languages: C, embedded C, C++, MIPS and PIC16 assembly, Shell scripting, VB .net, LabVIEW, Java, .NET integration in LabVIEW

Hardware: Microcontrollers: PIC16, PIC32, ARM, Analog and digital electronics, RF system design, Electromechanical systems, Pneumatics, Fluidics

Tools: Extensive experience with most hand operated and machine shop fabrication tools. Oscilloscope use for analog, digital, and RF signal analysis, data bus analysis and debugging, and power analysis. Use of multi meter, signal generator, and spectrum analyzer tools to design and debug devices in a laboratory setting. Soldering iron for prototype assembly of surface mount and through hole designs. 3D printing experience.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

AMT GROUP, Creedmoor, NC 2010 – Present

Embedded Systems Engineer

Designed micro-controller based hardware and software systems for various medical and laboratory devices.

Designed a PIC32 based control platform for leading edge trans esophageal echo probe re-processor responsible for LCD touchscreen based user interface control, fluid circulation and temperature control, data collection and networking, and overall device control.

Designed a 13.56MHz RFID reader / writer for user interface and consumable product verification and control.

Designed a digital thermal mass flow based self calibrating airflow sensor for user and process safety applications.

Responsible for troubleshooting software and electronics issues in new and existing designs and existing design upgrades and maintaining products in the field.

Implemented company wide version control system for hardware designs and software / code packages.

Worked within an FDA regulated environment for medical device design.

PARATA, Durham, NC 2006 – 2008

A national leader in pharmacy automation,

Test Systems Engineer

Designed and implemented durability, performance and manufacturing quality test systems for various aspects of the company's flagship products: the 'Mini' and 'Max' robotic dispensing systems.

Designed and implemented durability and performance testing platforms and fixtures for the pneumatic subsystem of the 'Mini' and 'Max' robotic dispensing systems including sensors, signal conditioning circuitry and National Instruments data acquisition hardware.

Worked with design engineers throughout the fixture development cycle from initial design to fabrication and implementation to data collection and analysis to significantly improve performance and cost effectiveness of the pneumatic subsystems.

Designed and implemented several manufacturing quality test systems for the pneumatic subsystem and it's components to be used by manufacturing staff to ensure quality of parts and proper assembly.

Worked in a regulated environment developing test system software and integrating .NET controls in LabVIEW.

Debugged automation control and data acquisition systems for long term testing of parts.

Assembled and installed electromechanical sub-assemblies for a 'pill recycler' robot.

APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY, Boone, NC 2004 – 2006

Research Assistant

Designed and implemented hardware level interface for laboratory instrumentation, custom control signal circuitry and LabVIEW based control software for instrumentation and data collection and processing.

Designed and implemented a LabVIEW based control and data acquisition system for the laboratory's RF ion trap using GPIB and RS232 based plug in data acquisition and control cards.

Designed and implemented custom signal control circuitry to generate data acquisition gate signals and RF ion trap control pulses.

Fully automated and integrated the laboratory instrumentation and control circuitry with control and data acquisition system.

OTHER, Raleigh, NC 2008 – Present

Freelance and Personal Projects

Designed and soldered a PCB to drive and control a MOSFET powered high voltage transformer to generate plasma displays. Tuned drive frequency and waveform shape using a Tectronix 465 oscilloscope and a Leader 1300-s function generator.

Designed and built a desktop tesla coil capable of producing up to three inch plasma discharge with less than ninety watts of input power.

Designed and built a therapeutic oil massage machine with significantly improved reliability, functionality, and cost effectiveness over current commercially available models.

Designed and built a transverse atmospheric nitrogen laser capable of repeated discharges up to 10 Hz using commonly available materials.

EDUCATION

MS, Applied Physics, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC2006

BS, Computer Science, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC2004

Company Sponsored Training: Lean manufacturing training

PUBLICATIONS

"Control and Data Acquisition System for a Radio Frequency Ion Trap" Estes, C., (MS Thesis, Appalachian State University, 2006)

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