Cover Letter for Michael Robertson

People often tell me that I am a “natural” engineer. My exposure to many electrical and mechanical challenges at a young age have given me an edge in solving difficult technical problems later in life. I was building “Heathkit” transceivers prior to my teens and have always enjoyed working on electro mechanical projects and making the devices involved functional.

I can best be described as a “hands-on” engineer. I enjoy taking things from a concept to a physical reality. I have a huge curiosity about how things work. I’m comfortable with AC, DC, Low voltage, High voltage, Radio Frequency, wave propagation and antenna design, gases, liquids, and solids. I enjoy working on difficult problems and troubleshooting when others cannot. I am in a mode of constant learning, as that is what makes life interesting to me.

I enjoy being exposed to new technologies that I know nothing about, and soon after, with a lot of studying, I become the expert.

Past Experience prior to those positions on my resume:

Childhood:

Modified a 1929 Model “A” Ford with a Chevy V8 engine and driveline. World’s fastest minibike with motorcycle engine, motorcycle mechanic, auto mechanic. Interested in building and flying radio-controlled airplanes; A total “motorhead”

Electronics Technology (2yr AS degree):

Intersil, (now GE) Electronics R&D technician, Semiconductor device prototype testing

Materials Science, (BS Degree):

Schlumberger Semiconductor: Epitaxial Process engineer, Chemical Vapor Deposition, Physical Vapor Dep (Aluminum)

Applied Materials: R&D Epitaxial Silicon Process development, Low pressure Reactor design

Lam Research: CVD reactor designer, engineering manager, large batch robotic CVD system

Hewlett-Packard: Fiber Optics Lightwave Division; Business Development Manager, Pacific Rim

I believe that collaboration with others brings a synergy to a project that cannot be achieved through strictly individual effort. I enjoy sharing ideas that will bring us all to the finish line sooner, with a better product.

Sincerely,

Michael Robertson

Experience:

Nexus Automation, Electronics Engineer/Technician, August 2020 to Present

Build and service robotic systems for manufacturing systems for Silicon Valley customers, Apple, Tesla, Abbot Labs, Lam Research.

Design, manufacture, and troubleshoot automation systems and control panels with Programmable Logic Controllers.

Provide electronic mechanical and fluidic assembly and troubleshooting on all systems that Nexus Automation builds.

Mott MacDonald: Engineering Specialist V: Technical Lead October 2017 to May 2019

Technical lead for Public Address, Access Control, CCTV, Supplemental Radio, and Railroad Intrusion Detection System (RIDS).

- Worked as a Consultant to Contractors and Subcontractors to provide the above services to BART Silicon Valley BART Extension.

- Consulted with engineers and techs in troubleshooting problems as need was required

- Created test plans, test procedures, submittals, discrepancy lists, used to qualify above equipment to ensure quality of services

HSQ Technology: Project Engineer (Electrical) June 2008 -October 2017

Project: Silicon Valley BART Extension, Milpitas and Berryessa Stations: June 2014 -October 2017

- Built, tested, and commissioned IP based Public Address system for both stations interfacing to telephones

- Co-designed, built, tested CCTV system for both stations and the train control houses from Fremont to San Jose

- Co-designed, built, tested Supplemental off-air two way radio system for tunnels, stations, and trenches

- Designed, built, tested, and installed Access Control system for Stations, Train Control Houses and substations; (Honeywell, Software House)

- Designed, built, tested the first Railroad Intrusion Detection System along right of way to protect BART tracks from Union Pacific Railroad intrusion/derailment using video analytics and 1000 fence tilt sensors, now in service at the Silicon Valley BART Extension (SVBX)

- Programmed/configured Bluebridge BB1616 DSP to route PA audio to various stations. Provided bandpass filtering to improve intelligibility (STI)

- For BART parking garages, configured London Architect BLU-160 to provide announcements from emergency systems, Fire, Police, and local announcements. BLU-LINK was used for the DSP to communicate with several power amplifiers.

Project: Miami International Airport, Automated People Mover atop North Terminal and to car rental facility (June 2010-2014)

- Fiber Optic Installation: Fusion-spliced, terminated, measured optical fiber for IP based transit systems communication

- Designed, built, tested, installed, commissioned wireless video surveillance system onboard trains and along guideway

- Designed, built, tested, CCTV surveillance and recording system for Homeland Security and MIA

- Installed, tested, commissioned SCADA system to control substations and egress gates

-Installed telephone, PA, digital signage utilizing a channel bank system to transport these signals over fiber to stations

Project Valley Transit Authority: (2009-2010)

- Implemented PA paging system to make announcements using existing platform telephones.

- Programmed London Architect DSP; Blu-16 such that remote announcements to the platform override local announcements using “ducker” module in SW.

- Provided electrical noise cancellation at stations where electrical noise was excessive, and bleeding into the PA.

Project: Golden Gate Bridge active tunnel system (2008-2009)

- Programmed SCADA system, tested, and commissioned for the continuously adjustable automated lighting of tunnel using Rockwell programmable logic controller and ambient light sensors.

- Installed underground vaults for fiber optic cables, fusion-spliced, terminated, measured quality of fiber with OTDR

- Installed emergency call boxes into the tunnel and interfaced with SCADA system

- Installed, tested, commissioned CCTV surveillance system for the interior and exterior of the tunnel.

Certifications: Certified with IED and BIAMP public Address systems

Education

A.S. degree Electronic Technology, College of San Mateo

B.S. degree in Materials Science, San Jose State University (emphasis on Semiconductor Engineering)

Cisco Certified Network Associate (in progress)

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