Profession
I am a Software Engineer with over 20 years experience working for companies whose products use embedded micro controllers or personal computers. I've written software for medical devices, consumer products, and I.T. systems. My programming experience has been mostly in "C" and Assembler, but I've worked with "C++", C#, PL/M, VB, Perl, and a few other scripting languages. My embedded experience includes Atmel, ARM and Intel micro controllers, and Windows CE / Pocket PC platforms. I've worked on projects using Ethernet, Zigbee, and IR networking protocols. I've also developed software under Microsoft's visual studio for applications running on PC platforms.
I'm a great problem solver, I know hardware design and can read and draw schematics. Writing diagnostic routines and bringing up prototypes is one of my strong areas. I've sometimes uncovered design mistakes that the hardware engineers missed. I'm a quick learner and I'm not afraid to try new tools and technologies.
I'm a great problem solver, I know hardware design and can read and draw schematics. Writing diagnostic routines and bringing up prototypes is one of my strong areas. I've sometimes uncovered design mistakes that the hardware engineers missed. I'm a quick learner and I'm not afraid to try new tools and technologies.
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Resume
Software Engineer
Expert in software engineering and development with over 20 years of experience designing and implementing embedded systems for a wide range of products and hardware. Adept at developing firmware according to hardware requirements and design specifications, with a focus on minimizing cost while enhancing performance. Proven history of identifying the root cause of problems and deploying swift solutions. Strong track record of using the latest technologies to deliver products that meet and exceed expectations.
Systems Programming * Software Engineering * Application Development Embedded Software * Product Development * Hardware & Software Design * Troubleshooting & Debugging * Problem Solving * Software Analysis Systems Implementation * Emerging Technologies * Process Improvements Team Building * Cost Control * Interface Development * Reverse Engineering
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Programming/Languages/Development: C, C++, C#, Perl, PL/M, Assembler (Intel, Atmel), Microsoft Visual Studio (MSC, .NET) Tools: Embedded Microcontroller Hardware/Debugging Equipment (JTAG, ICE), Intel/Atmel/ARM Microcontrollers, PC hardware, PVCS, CVS, ClearCase Software Configuration Management, Rational Rose OMT, 3D Printers
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
BlackBerry f/k/a Research in Motion, Sunrise, Florida October 2012 to May 2015
Developers of enterprise ready mobile computing solutions
Embedded Systems Software Developer
Part of the development team for the BlackBerry 10 “A series” Z30, Z3, Classic, and Leap smart phone products.
ISAAC DANIEL GROUP, INC. Miramar, Florida February 2010 to date
Developers of cutting edge technology product designs for commercial and government applications
Senior Firmware Engineer
Developed firmware for AVR XMEGA based design using GPS and IEEE 802.15.4 ISM band radio equipment.
NILES AUDIO CORPORATION, Miami, Florida 2004-2009
Developers and retailers of high-end audio-video equipment
Senior Software Engineer
Programmed and deployed firmware for company products, including user interfaces for hardware prototypes. Contributed to hardware design for a special project involving building the optimal user interface for minimal cost. Supported offshore product testing through cooperation with product engineers. Integral in launch of the first company product to use the Zigbee wireless network system. Created a user interface to radio modules and integrated a self-testing feature. Communicated with internal customers to find solutions to any product problems. Took part in support software development for several products.
* Resolved an issue with a malfunctioning LCD display by researching the controller and uncovering a hardware
issue with connections for the LCD power supply.
* Cut $1 from the cost of manufacturing each unit of a particular device by determining a way to replace an external
hardware latch with existing microcontroller IO lines.
* Reduced the high return rate of a product by participating in a quality improvement initiative to increase its battery
life and implement new battery testing features.
* Supported the company in achieving gross sales of $10 million over three years through development of features
for the ICS product line, including a method for simple Ethernet communication via Zigbee wireless network
technology.
* Fixed a power-restoration problem with the IC2 remote unit by uncovering a hardware problem caused by use of
incorrect interrupt lines on the key-press microcontroller and redesigning the keyboard interface.
BECKMAN-COULTER CORPORATION, Miami, Florida 2002-2004
International leader in biomedical testing
Software Engineer
Contracted with Coulter to lead an instrumentation upgrade project for LH500 equipment. Managed integration of new algorithms into the instrument. Developed solutions for speed problems with the algorithm, with a focus on achieving the target number of samples processed per hour. KENNETH SCHARF Page 2 [email protected]
* Successfully increased speed for the LH500 algorithm by eliminating programmed hardware constraints and
pipelining instrument operations around software analysis.
* Eliminated bugs that had carried over from the previous instrument to the new design.
* Supported the Flow Cytometry group in designing new instruments, including deploying a USB interface for a
microcontroller and building a Windows USB driver from a commercial package.
VERSAMED, INC., Fort Lauderdale, Florida 2001-2002
United States division of an international manufacturer of medical equipment, including a portable respirator
Senior Software Engineer
Spearheaded development and implementation of multi-language support for the human interface portion of the company's primary respirator product. Utilized third-party translations to program foreign-language displays into the PSOS real time operating system. Addressed and resolved bugs reported in the field. Participated in a project to produce a more inexpensive version of the portable respirator, evaluating the current software structure for possible migration to new hardware.
* Ensured compatibility and readability by adapting custom font faces using existing PC fonts.
* Manually created specialized font characters via drawings and hex codes where needed.
* Introduced the ability to select different languages in the interface by reverse-engineering the code.
* Established the foundation for future efforts to reduce costs for the portable respirator.
BECKMAN-COULTER CORPORATION, Miami, Florida 1989-2000
Senior Software Engineer II
Programmed embedded software/firmware for the new MAXM hematology analyzer instrument and its Data Management System computer interface. Developed and implemented bootstrap and self-diagnostic code in read-only memory. Created internal measurement subsystems, digital voltmeter drivers, and hemoglobin measurement calibration subsystems. Oversaw firmware development for the DMS computer serial communications interface, which controlled the instrument via a PC-based system. Participated in foundational work for a new instrument system, including conducting research on emerging technologies.
* Eliminated download-time issues by creating a binary loader in lieu of the original HEX file format loader.
* Shortened the time needed for the hemoglobin measurement system to determine correct values by replacing a
clunky test code with a variation of Newton's iteration method. Reduced calibration time by up to 90%.
* Delivered the DMS serial communications interface firmware within required parameters by developing custom
software using an optimal codebase, sourcing a compatible debugger, and coding protocols for serial ports with
diverse proprietary asynchronous protocols.
* Programmed new functionalities for a variety of tools, including an HP light pen, a Coulter multiform printer, and a
Coulter host computer interface.
* Engineered such stability and reliability for Digiboard firmware that it still remained in use with no modifications by
2002.
* Promoted from Software Engineer to Senior Software Engineer, then to Senior Software Engineer II.
FORMAL EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science (Electrical Engineering/Computer Engineering)
Polytechnic Institute of New York
Brooklyn, New York
OTHER
Extra Class Amateur Radio License (WA2MZE)
Private Pilot License
Expert in software engineering and development with over 20 years of experience designing and implementing embedded systems for a wide range of products and hardware. Adept at developing firmware according to hardware requirements and design specifications, with a focus on minimizing cost while enhancing performance. Proven history of identifying the root cause of problems and deploying swift solutions. Strong track record of using the latest technologies to deliver products that meet and exceed expectations.
Systems Programming * Software Engineering * Application Development Embedded Software * Product Development * Hardware & Software Design * Troubleshooting & Debugging * Problem Solving * Software Analysis Systems Implementation * Emerging Technologies * Process Improvements Team Building * Cost Control * Interface Development * Reverse Engineering
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Programming/Languages/Development: C, C++, C#, Perl, PL/M, Assembler (Intel, Atmel), Microsoft Visual Studio (MSC, .NET) Tools: Embedded Microcontroller Hardware/Debugging Equipment (JTAG, ICE), Intel/Atmel/ARM Microcontrollers, PC hardware, PVCS, CVS, ClearCase Software Configuration Management, Rational Rose OMT, 3D Printers
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
BlackBerry f/k/a Research in Motion, Sunrise, Florida October 2012 to May 2015
Developers of enterprise ready mobile computing solutions
Embedded Systems Software Developer
Part of the development team for the BlackBerry 10 “A series” Z30, Z3, Classic, and Leap smart phone products.
- Developing and testing of factory interactive test software. Added support for altimeter sensor to the test framework.
- Modified tuning parameters for USB interface to maximize performance. Worked with hardware engineers to verify correct settings and integrated the changes into the code base.
- Performed system analysis on power consumption profiles to fine tune system management of both clock speeds and thread scheduling to maximize battery life.
- Performed sanity checking on new software builds to verify the stability of each new code merge. Used software configuration management tools to backtrack breakages and identify the point at which each occurred.
- Worked on developing a Web based diagnostic interface for an IOT device, using CGI scripts, Slinger and Apache2 web servers.
- Software configuration management projects using Perforce, SVN, GIT, Gerrit, and Repo.
ISAAC DANIEL GROUP, INC. Miramar, Florida February 2010 to date
Developers of cutting edge technology product designs for commercial and government applications
Senior Firmware Engineer
Developed firmware for AVR XMEGA based design using GPS and IEEE 802.15.4 ISM band radio equipment.
- Adapted a basic 802.15.4 MAC layer sample design package from Atmel to the needs of the product.
- Supported hardware design of product, wrote test code for both battery monitor subsystem and GPS NMEA parser.
- Supported sales team with software modifications during demonstration trials.
- Currently, researching MAC layer protocol extensions to support simple routing transport layer.
NILES AUDIO CORPORATION, Miami, Florida 2004-2009
Developers and retailers of high-end audio-video equipment
Senior Software Engineer
Programmed and deployed firmware for company products, including user interfaces for hardware prototypes. Contributed to hardware design for a special project involving building the optimal user interface for minimal cost. Supported offshore product testing through cooperation with product engineers. Integral in launch of the first company product to use the Zigbee wireless network system. Created a user interface to radio modules and integrated a self-testing feature. Communicated with internal customers to find solutions to any product problems. Took part in support software development for several products.
* Resolved an issue with a malfunctioning LCD display by researching the controller and uncovering a hardware
issue with connections for the LCD power supply.
* Cut $1 from the cost of manufacturing each unit of a particular device by determining a way to replace an external
hardware latch with existing microcontroller IO lines.
* Reduced the high return rate of a product by participating in a quality improvement initiative to increase its battery
life and implement new battery testing features.
* Supported the company in achieving gross sales of $10 million over three years through development of features
for the ICS product line, including a method for simple Ethernet communication via Zigbee wireless network
technology.
* Fixed a power-restoration problem with the IC2 remote unit by uncovering a hardware problem caused by use of
incorrect interrupt lines on the key-press microcontroller and redesigning the keyboard interface.
BECKMAN-COULTER CORPORATION, Miami, Florida 2002-2004
International leader in biomedical testing
Software Engineer
Contracted with Coulter to lead an instrumentation upgrade project for LH500 equipment. Managed integration of new algorithms into the instrument. Developed solutions for speed problems with the algorithm, with a focus on achieving the target number of samples processed per hour. KENNETH SCHARF Page 2 [email protected]
* Successfully increased speed for the LH500 algorithm by eliminating programmed hardware constraints and
pipelining instrument operations around software analysis.
* Eliminated bugs that had carried over from the previous instrument to the new design.
* Supported the Flow Cytometry group in designing new instruments, including deploying a USB interface for a
microcontroller and building a Windows USB driver from a commercial package.
VERSAMED, INC., Fort Lauderdale, Florida 2001-2002
United States division of an international manufacturer of medical equipment, including a portable respirator
Senior Software Engineer
Spearheaded development and implementation of multi-language support for the human interface portion of the company's primary respirator product. Utilized third-party translations to program foreign-language displays into the PSOS real time operating system. Addressed and resolved bugs reported in the field. Participated in a project to produce a more inexpensive version of the portable respirator, evaluating the current software structure for possible migration to new hardware.
* Ensured compatibility and readability by adapting custom font faces using existing PC fonts.
* Manually created specialized font characters via drawings and hex codes where needed.
* Introduced the ability to select different languages in the interface by reverse-engineering the code.
* Established the foundation for future efforts to reduce costs for the portable respirator.
BECKMAN-COULTER CORPORATION, Miami, Florida 1989-2000
Senior Software Engineer II
Programmed embedded software/firmware for the new MAXM hematology analyzer instrument and its Data Management System computer interface. Developed and implemented bootstrap and self-diagnostic code in read-only memory. Created internal measurement subsystems, digital voltmeter drivers, and hemoglobin measurement calibration subsystems. Oversaw firmware development for the DMS computer serial communications interface, which controlled the instrument via a PC-based system. Participated in foundational work for a new instrument system, including conducting research on emerging technologies.
* Eliminated download-time issues by creating a binary loader in lieu of the original HEX file format loader.
* Shortened the time needed for the hemoglobin measurement system to determine correct values by replacing a
clunky test code with a variation of Newton's iteration method. Reduced calibration time by up to 90%.
* Delivered the DMS serial communications interface firmware within required parameters by developing custom
software using an optimal codebase, sourcing a compatible debugger, and coding protocols for serial ports with
diverse proprietary asynchronous protocols.
* Programmed new functionalities for a variety of tools, including an HP light pen, a Coulter multiform printer, and a
Coulter host computer interface.
* Engineered such stability and reliability for Digiboard firmware that it still remained in use with no modifications by
2002.
* Promoted from Software Engineer to Senior Software Engineer, then to Senior Software Engineer II.
FORMAL EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science (Electrical Engineering/Computer Engineering)
Polytechnic Institute of New York
Brooklyn, New York
OTHER
Extra Class Amateur Radio License (WA2MZE)
Private Pilot License
