Jack Knowles
Software Engineer
Phoenix,AZ
Summary
Experienced software/system/technical lead with strong embedded development, integration, and problem-solving skills in the telecommunication, wireless, and avionics fields. Proven experience and a track record in all phases of the software life cycle, from proposal to requirements to software development, integration, verification/validation, manufacturing, and customer support. Broad and in-depth experience designing, developing, and debugging platforms, hardware interfaces, device drivers, BSPs, tools, apps, and services for embedded systems. Proficiency in developing apps, drivers, kernel, and TCP/IP stack under multiple real-time operating systems such as Green Hills Integrity, Wind River VxWorks, and various Linux/embedded Linux distros. Creative problem solver with extensive experience in the industry, possessing the ability to understand where to look for solutions to complex real-time issues and tackle the most challenging hardware/software/systems issues. Over 20 years of experience as a system engineer, software developer, and technical lead in the embedded real-time software industry. Successfully led/mentored/scrum mastered/product owned multiple small to medium-sized software/systems teams.
Overview
41
41
years of professional experience
Work History
IRAD Business Development/ Design Lead
RCS/Moog
10.2019 - Current
- Developed Requirements/Design/Code and Integration/Testing on internal product for High Speed/High-Capacity solid state recorder (SSR) for satellite/radiation hardened environments
- Developed Requirements/Design/Code and Integration/Testing on Orion AR3 Layer 2 network switch for Utility network
- My role was scrum master, design lead as well as developer and integration
- Skills, Platforms: Perforce/C/Python/Ubuntu Linux VM (vbox)/ Python - TI Keystone DSP /bash; KCU040/060 FPGA interfaces, vivado, microblaze ultrascale architecture, petalinux linux kernel development, u-boot development boot loader development
Communications Gateway Developer
NantEnergy
05.2019 - 10.2019
- Developed/Debugged/Integrated Python/SQL DB Multiprocessing Communications Gateway code running on Raspberry PI 3+ on the BMS
- Accomplishments: Delivered Python code to support new hardware board for critical issue upgrade
- Fixed/Optimized SQLite3/Python DB interface writing to micro SD card
- Developed/Tested solutions to Raspberry Pi 3+ micro SD card flash file system failures
- Fixed real-time clock /NTP sync issues
- Skills, Platforms: Atlassian Jira/Bitbucket/Confluence, Agile, Python (Jessie Raspian on RPI 3+); RPI/Debian Kernel level development/debug (bash,sh,system services, etc)
Developer and critical issue analysis
UTAS/Collins
03.2018 - 05.2019
- Developed/Debugged/Integrated C/C++ Software for the Airbus A350 Concentrator Multiplexer for Video (CMV)
- Accomplishments: Key contributor /developer for critical CMV PPC DEOS BSP and DSP issues
- Instituted instrumentation for production level ENV and power cycle testing for debug and mitigation of critical failures
- Key contributor to cost reduction upgrade project for evaluation of new codec/technology platform integration
- Linux kernel level module debug/development/fixes
- Skills, Platforms: DEOS APP/BSP AMCC 440EP PPC; TI Davinci TMCDM320; TI Code composer studio; monta vista linux/Ubuntu;C/C++;Python test control scripting;PVCS; Arinc 664; h.264 video codec
Disney Robotics Software Developer
Red Canyon Software
10.2017 - 01.2018
- Analysis, debug and software development for platform software
- Accomplishments: Fixed Linux shared memory issue, kinematics library build issue, audio sound file parsing
- Added enhanced feature for Ethercat device failure response and platform startup/shutdown
- Skills, Platforms: C/C++, Agile, Python/pyQt, Xenomai Linux, Orocos, Ethercat, intel 7, Jira, confluence
- Oracle VirtualBox
Systems / Software Engineer
Geco
07.2017 - 10.2017
- System/Software development for FACE Demonstration for SANR radio development
- Accomplishments: Defined software requirements for Intelligent Comm Planner for demonstration
- Developed interface/system data models (FACE) for demonstration of Intelligent Comm Planner using MTF (Vanderbilt) data modeling tool; Generated code from Models for interface framework
- Member of FACE consortium, attended FACE 2 Face Conference
- Skills and Platforms utilized: MTF/FAME modeling tools, C/C++, SVN, Linux / windows 10, Microsoft Project
Principal Software Engineer
General Dynamics Mission Systems
01.2016 - 07.2017
- Development, Integration and Test of Blue Force Tracking 2.5, Satellite Transceiver for Contracted Demonstration at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) to U.S
- Army
- Accomplishments: Successfully developed and demonstrated Blue Force Tracking (BFT) waveform on new radio transceiver to U.S
- Army at Aberdeen Proving Ground
- Successfully developed and demonstrated transceiver capability to use backup Iridium (uplink) for short data messages during degraded BFT RF link conditions as part of internal research program (IRAD)
- Skills and Platforms utilized: Rhapsody Models, C/C++, Agile, IBM Rational Team Concert (RTC), Tektronix RF/Vector Analyzer, Freescale i.MX 6 (A9 ARM), Iridium 9523 modem/dev kit, linux, Windriver embedded Linux (yocto), bitbake, uBoot, VMWare
Sr Principal Software Engineer
Raytheon Missile Systems
06.2013 - 01.2016
- Team lead for development of the Virtual Operational Missile(VOM), a critical element for Missile System Integration and Test
- Accomplishments: Lead successful delivery of VOM Requirements, Design and software to meet SM3 critical integration/launch milestones
- Cost Account Manager: Successfully scheduled milestones, manage resources and budget to deliver VOM for system integration
- Technical Lead and Customer onsite liaison: Worked first hand with MDA and other partner leads to ensure integration was successful and critical issues addressed or resolved
- Skills and Platforms utilized: C/C++, Agile (VOM scrum master/product owner), IBM Rational Team Concert (RTC), Wind river VxWorks OS/Tools, MATLAB (scripts/analysis), python (testing), earned value tracking/IMS/IMP, PPC
System/Software Engineer
Honeywell Aerospace
08.2012 - 02.2013
- System Engineering/Software development F15 ADCP II Flight Displays Upgrade for USAF/International Aircraft
- Accomplishments: Derived software requirements from system specs(SRS), developed detailed system design(SDD) and Software Test Plan(STP) for International F15 configurations in parallel with USAF team in order to meet contractual milestones
- Developed, debugged BSP/Device driver (VxWorks) for Marvell enet switch, isolated a critical hardware design/build issue that was causing packet/data corruption
- Skills and Platforms utilized: ClearCase, ClearQuest, DOORS, Doxygen, JTAG debugger, C/C++, PPC Assembly, Wind River VxWorks RTOS/Tools, PPC 8548, P4080, , Marvell Prestera 9XDX163 GigE Switch
Senior Software Contract Engineer
General Dynamics
04.2007 - 08.2012
- Developer/Team lead for Operating Environment (OE) on the US Army Networking 2 channel Manpack radio project
- Accomplishments: Successfully managed design oversight, development, engineer assignments, integration and debug of key components of the platform infrastructure
- Solved a critical problem with the radio's default network USB stack's interface reliability
- Designed, developed and tested a packet based DMA streaming SPI to SPI interface to provide a more reliable, higher throughput communication mechanism between the 2 channel processors for voice and network data interoperability (crossband) on the radio
- Skills and Platforms utilized: C/C++, PPC Assembly, Tcl/Tk, ClearCase/ClearQuest, Greenhill's Integrity RTOS /Tools/ghnet2 tcp/ip stack, perl, bash, Blackfin ARM DSP, Marvell Xscale ARM PXA320
Consultant/Product Specialist
GD/Jack's Engineering
03.2006 - 04.2007
- Consultant Product Specialist for Communications Analyzer Product Upgrade General Dynamics
- Accomplishments: Successfully redesigned and ported the Host, DSP, GPP, control/display software to a new upgraded product platform with a new processor and architecture
- We combined 3 separate waveform hw/sw components onto a single component and implemented a loadable waveform infrastructure
- Successfully ported the IMBE Vocoder (APCO 25) to the new architecture
- Successfully met the customers key product marketing delivery show/milestone
- Skills and Platforms utilized: C, Assembly(coldfire/DSP), Subversion, Freescale Coldfire (68K) CPU, Motorola 56321 DSP (56000) , DSP563xx Tasking Toolchain, crossview debugger, HC11 host
Lead Software Engineer
NCS/Computer Sciences Corp(CSC)
03.2005 - 03.2006
- Software Deputy/Lead for CSC Land Warrior Application
- Accomplishments: As deputy lead for the application team of 40 software engineers, acted as technical liaison to General Dynamics (Integrator), ran CCB, met with US Army customer to address key issues
- Initiated Formal Software Requirements and customer review for the Land Warrior Application
- Authored Software Version Description Documents for monthly deliveries
- Supported onsite delivery to Fort Lewis for Land Warrior evaluation into Stryker group
- Skills and Platforms utilized: C/C++ C, Xscale ARM Assembly, Red Hat Linux, linux cross compiler tools, QT
Project/Software Engineer
Geco
03.2001 - 03.2005
- Lead/Staff/Project Engineer for various projects at Geco
- Accomplishments: Lead a team of 15 Geco engineers onsite at Honeywell in a critical 'burndown' of change requests (CRs) and Problem Reports (PRs) for Honeywell BCAS
- Our efforts were key to meeting successful certifications for their DO178B milestones for Embraer, Dassault, Bombardier and Gulfstream Business jets for the EPIC Flight Displays product
- Solved critical customer issues for Boeing Apache including inflight display resets and data corruption issues
- Our work led to a formal letter of commendation to Geco
- Skills and Platforms utilized: DEOS, C/C++ C, PPC Assembly, Ada, Tcl/Tk, Subversion, CVS, Perforce, Qt,, Micro Cos (ucos), Linux, LynxOS, GHS Integrity RTOS, Wind river VxWorks RTOS, Labview, LabWindows CVI
Software Engineer
Object Computing
11.2000 - 03.2001
- Developer for Motorola Aspira Distributed Processing Environment
- Accomplishments: Participated in design reviews, developed test code and problem fixes for the Realtime Event Channel on the Aspira project
- Ported Asynchronous Communication Environment(ACE) framework and TAO CORBA Object Request Broker(ORB) to High Availability (HA) platform (MCG 8216/Linux) for the Motorola Computer Group
- Skills and Platforms utilized: C/C++ C, Perl, CORBA, Red Hat Linux, MCG 8216, PPC, ClearCase/ClearQuest, SVN
Software Engineer
Motorola
06.1999 - 11.2000
- Developer for Motorola R2600 Mobile Radio Communications Analyzer
- Accomplishments: Designed and developed the Board Support Package (BSP) for the new display processor board (PPC 823) under VxWorks
- Developed the LCD flat panel display driver in C++ for the EPSON SED1355 LCD graphics chip and the flash software driver and application code for flash for the display processor board
- Skills and Platforms utilized: C, MC68020, Windriver VxWorks, 68k assembly, various Trunking and telecom protocols (APCO P25, Astro, MPT 1327, MIRS), HP UX Unix, SCCS
Software Engineer
Motorola/Iridium
06.1996 - 06.1999
- Developer for Iridium Satellite Payload Digital Special Test Equipment (STE)
- Accomplishments: Designed and developed first kband uplink simulation kband uplink testing
- Designed and developed the software scripting test language for the IRIDIUM Digital Test Equipment and trained the Payload software team on its use
- Received an 'Outstanding Achievement Award from the project for work on Integration Training
- Developed and implemented 'Max Call' test scenario for satellite software integration/testing
- Skills and Platforms utilized: C, MC68020, Wind river VxWorks, 68k assembly, various Trunking and telecom protocols (APCO P25, Astro, MPT 1327, MIRS), HP UX Unix, SCCS
Software Engineer
Motorola
09.1994 - 05.1996
- Developer for Motorola R2600 Mobile Radio Communications Analyzer
- Accomplishments: Designed and developed the control, displays for the base analyzer and protocol software for the Cellular, Astro, MPT1327, MIRS slices
- Skills and Platforms utilized: C, MC68020, 68k assembly, various Trunking and telecom protocols (APCO P25, Astro, MPT 1327, MIRS), HP UX Unix, SCCS , HP emulator
Software Engineer
Honeywell Commercial Flight Systems
06.1987 - 09.1994
- Developer for Flight Management, Multifunction Control and Display (MCDU)
- Accomplishments: Designed and developed Perf/Aero FMS Performance database from Engine/Aero models for A320
- Development and test for Performance(Perf), Vertical Guidance(VG), MCDU on A320/A340/MD11 aircraft
- Supported flight test for MD11 Performance FMS
- Skills and Platforms utilized: DEOS, PVCS, Pascal, Assembly, bash shell, SDP 185
Software Engineer
McDonnell Aircraft (now Boeing)
08.1984 - 06.1987
- Developer for AV-8B Harrier
- Accomplishments: Received McDonnell Aircraft Presidents Award for fixing critical flight control issues in Software on the AV-8B
- Fixed critical weapons system software issue with bomb stick spacing due to composite wind flexure in Weapons Systems Software
- Skills and Platforms utilized: MCD Mission Computer/Flight Control/Weapons Systems Computers, Pascal, IBM Language/ Assembly, 8051 Assembly, C
Education
Bachelor of Science - Computer Science
Missouri State University
Springfield, MoSkills
- C
- Python
- Ubuntu Linux VM
- Bash
- Xilinx FPGA
- FPGA interfaces
- Vivado
- Microblaze ultrascale architecture
- Petalinux linux kernel development
- U-boot development
- Boot loader development
- Atlassian Jira
- Agile
- Bitbucket
- Confluence
- Microchip RTG4
- Rad hardened embedded RISC-V core
- Layer 2 network protocols
- Debian Kernel level development
- System services
- DEOS
- BSP
- AMCC 440EP PPC
- TI Davinci TMCDM320
- TI Code composer studio
- C/C
- Python test control scripting
- PVCS
- Arinc 664
- H264 video codec
- Xenomai Linux
- Orocos
- Ethercat
- Intel 7
- Oracle VirtualBox
- MTF
- FAME modeling tools
- SVN
- Linux
- Windows 10
- Microsoft Project
- Rhapsody Models
- IBM Rational Team Concert
- Tektronix RF
- Vector Analyzer
- Freescale iMX 6
- A9 ARM
- Iridium 9523 modem/dev kit
- Windriver embedded Linux
- Yocto
- Bitbake
- VMWare
- ClearQuest
- ClearCase
- Perl
- JTRS HMS 2 channel manpack type1 radio
- Greenhill's Integrity RTOS
- Pxa320
- ARM
- ARM assembly
- Agile scrum master
- Agile Product owner
- Wind river VxWorks OS/Tools
- MATLAB
- Earned value tracking
- IMS
- IMP
- PPC
- Doxygen
- JTAG debugger
- PPC Assembly
- PPC 8548
- P4080
- Marvell Prestera 9XDX163 GigE Switch
- Tcl/Tk
- Ghnet2 tcp/ip stack
- Blackfin ARM DSP
- Marvell Xscale ARM PXA
Personal Information
Citizenship: US Citizen
Timeline
IRAD Business Development/ Design Lead
RCS/Moog
10.2019 - Current
Communications Gateway Developer
NantEnergy
05.2019 - 10.2019
Developer and critical issue analysis
UTAS/Collins
03.2018 - 05.2019
Disney Robotics Software Developer
Red Canyon Software
10.2017 - 01.2018
Systems / Software Engineer
Geco
07.2017 - 10.2017
Principal Software Engineer
General Dynamics Mission Systems
01.2016 - 07.2017
Sr Principal Software Engineer
Raytheon Missile Systems
06.2013 - 01.2016
System/Software Engineer
Honeywell Aerospace
08.2012 - 02.2013
Senior Software Contract Engineer
General Dynamics
04.2007 - 08.2012
Consultant/Product Specialist
GD/Jack's Engineering
03.2006 - 04.2007
Lead Software Engineer
NCS/Computer Sciences Corp(CSC)
03.2005 - 03.2006
Project/Software Engineer
Geco
03.2001 - 03.2005
Software Engineer
Object Computing
11.2000 - 03.2001
Software Engineer
Motorola
06.1999 - 11.2000
Software Engineer
Motorola/Iridium
06.1996 - 06.1999
Software Engineer
Motorola
09.1994 - 05.1996
Software Engineer
Honeywell Commercial Flight Systems
06.1987 - 09.1994
Software Engineer
McDonnell Aircraft (now Boeing)
08.1984 - 06.1987
Bachelor of Science - Computer Science
Missouri State University
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