Hardware, Firmware, Software Development and Test Engineering
Resume:
JOHN M. KAPAUN
Eagan, MN, *5121
**********@*******.***
http://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkapaun
https://github.com/johnkapaun/
SUMMARY
Results-oriented developer of hardware and firmware test tools and processes. Proven team leader with strengths in automated test development and micro controller instrumentation design. Technically proficient in hardware and firmware engineering principles for problem-solving, process design and optimization. Well-organized, innovative and an effective communicator.
Computer skills include:
C & C++ (15+ yrs)
Pbasic & PIC Assembly (10 yrs)
.NET (5 yrs)
C Sharp/C# (5 yrs)
Visual Basic (15+ yrs)
Lab View ( 17+ yrs)
NI Test Stand (10 yrs)
Others: Standard tools in the test environment such as Python and others.
MS Products including: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint
Operating Systems (OS): DOS, Windows, WindowsCE, Linux
Typical Test System Interfaces I developed with or used include:
GPIB, CAN, I2C, RS232, USB, RF (Medtronic telemetry schemes)
Some of the Modeling/Virtualization tools and processes I used in development and Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA) and to get to root cause are:
Hardware Accelerator systems, In Circuit Emulators (ICE) for a number of processors including but not limited to Microchip, BridgePoint, P-SPICE, Verilog-AMS, MATLAB, Fishbone or Cause and Effect processes with the 5 Whys used during Six Sigma
Automated Test processes I used evolved to include the process of Method Validation (ISO 17025) to confirm the methodology being used was suitable. The term 'Method Validation' was adopted by the groups I worked with at Medtronic about 6 years ago but had very little impact as the proof a method being used was always required. Gage R&R (repeatability and reproducibility) was a term inherited by Medtronic at the same time. This process was always part of our accuracy analysis. Terminology evolved along with the processes used to show this repeatability but has always been a deliverable when doing test automation. Repeatability and reproducibility has always been a design rule. The way it is shown and represented is now captured with a more formal term and direct process of a Gage R&R. I authored the Software Development Protocol which provides the guidelines for the development and validation of software used to characterize and verify cardiac devices. This protocol contained these items and everything else required to maintain, store, and transfer software and test methodologies between projects. I worked for Medtronic for ~15 years and owned this protocol the entire time I was there.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Medtronic Inc., Mounds View, MN Nov 2015 - Sept 2016
Software Verification Engineer (Contract - EXB Solutions)
Software verification engineer (SWVT) on the CRT-P Quad physician’s application software. This is a clinical device used by the physician to interface with a patient’s implanted pacemaker. This software is developed on open source hardware (OSH) in a Medtronic custom device. My role was primarily automated test development used in the formal verification of the application software. C++ compilers are used but the architecture is structure based and not object oriented. Python is used in the test engine which I had written a number of years ago. I also used Python executed by way of twisted trial to execute some of the software application testing that the batch system test could not reach. A code review and Pychecker was all that we used to verify these scripts. TFS is the version and work instruction control environment. I also was responsible for test fixtures and firmware used in the fixtures. The test fixtures are CRT-P Quad hybrids running an ARM processor. I had a large number of years of experience in this area and had assisted/developed some of the tools this group uses.
Minnetronix Inc., St. Paul, MN Nov 2014- Sept 2015
QA Engineer/Design Engineer (Contract - Aerotek)
Quality assurance (QA) engineer on the Pioneer SMR project. This project was a verification of software changes made to an existing ventricular assist device VAD). I designed (hardware: PIC16F1828, firmware: C, and software UI: LabView, PCB Layout: PCB123) a test instrument to simulate a smart battery and verify the system management bus (SMBus). I successfully completed this and other verification tasks including the uncovering and resolving issues found, and remained with Minnetronix to do electrical engineering and software design work on the next generation device. I primarily focused on communication interfaces and noise coupling issues of the previous design including EMI/EMC of the system (made PCB layout and filtering improvements using Altium). Firmware updates I made included changes to the UI and current peak detector. The peak detector was managed with a xilinx IC.
Medtronic Inc., Mounds View, MN 1998-2013
Sr. Principal Design Technician 2011-2013
Managed automated test development schedules, resources, design and analysis on each project following code compliance protocols required in the highly regulated medical technologies field.
Designed Microchip PIC based hardware, firmware and software for instruments used in development, mechanical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) labs reducing test setup and LabView test development time and complexity. I used an RS232 interface between this device and the test console PC to simplify the addition of this equipment to existing test racks.
Guided teams in the development of automated and manual tests for all functional blocks of Medtronic cardiac devices providing the tools needed for research, manufacturing and FDA submission of Medtronic devices.
Lead pilot team in the use of Lean Design Controls implemented to simultaneously deliver quality while reducing project waist. The team successfully implemented the program and was able to identify and remove 67 documents/reports that had no project value but had been costing the project in time and resources.
Principal Design Technician 2003-2011
Automated test development team lead and test lead developer on a number of device projects working cross functional with research, hardware, firmware, manufacturing and software in the development and FDA submission of a number of implantable pacemakers and defibrillators.
Designed hardware, firmware and software for the PIC16F1933 XYZ Stepper motion controller that successfully showed the benefits of using a 3D physical placement instrument to reduce testing idle times shortening the device verification schedule by ~18% and reducing the number of resources needed for the blocks being covered. I used Microchips verification tools that allow for the firmware to be executed against behavioral models derived in P-Spice. This was done to verify stepper drive patterns during the development and to make sure the voltage references for the chopper circuits I used would not be impacted when certain fet firing sequences took place. I originally designed this system using a Beagle board (OSH) running on a Linux OS. However, this was moved to a PIC because the design needed to fit a smaller cabinet. A company called Panther now uses this design in their plasma cutters and metal etching equipment. This increased the number of circuit boards ordered reducing the unit costs below the original design.
Developed hardware, firmware and software for the PIC16F1933 Fill and Exhaust (pneumatic) mechanical test unit that increased the number of units tested at a time from 1 to 8 reducing schedule and resource costs significantly. I used RS232 to communicate between the test console PC and the master control device. I used P-Spice and an ICE (In Circuit Emulator with the PIC in a test bed) to model hardware and firmware interactions to verify system and interrupt service routine timing before building a physical unit.
Wrote Real-time Data Analysis function that ties device vector and requirements to the automated test being executed preventing user interaction errors and pass/fail results during testing which reduces the amount of time required to post process results and allows issues to be uncovered earlier in the testing cycle.
Sr. Design Technician 1998-2003
Automated and manual test developer and executor for the FDA submission of a
number of Medtronic products working cross functionally. These tests include the use of equipment such as: O-scopes, spectrum analyzers, multi-meters, signal generators, frequency counters.
Authored Software Development Protocol which provides the guidelines for the development and validation of software used to characterize and verify cardiac devices. The protocol creates a consistent and high quality environment and has been adopted by all hardware test labs located in CRDM.
Key contributor who participated in the development of a hardware test system that allowed for the reuse of ~80% of code from project to project. Efforts resulted in significant test development time and cost reductions. The efficiencies of this test engine has resulted in the system being adopted by all hardware test labs in CRDM.
ADDITIONAL RELEVANT EXPERIENCE:
The following gave me experience in embedded micro controls and fluid power. I was responsible for the development and validation of chemical and granular controllers for the ag/farm industry. These systems typically included four embedded control units that communicated by way of controller area network (CAN) interface.
Engineering Technician, Sauer Sundstrand, Plymouth, MN 1997-1998
Engineering Technician, Mid-Tech, Springfield, IL 1996-1997
EDUCATION/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Associate of Applied Science, DeVry Institute of Technology, Kansas City, MO
Engineering, Inver Hills Community College, Inver Grove Heights, MN
LabView Certification and many Lean Design and process courses, Medtronic
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