Thomas A. Bifiato
Macungie,USA
Summary
Wireless Application Test Engineer with over 17 years of experience in RF Conformance Test Systems, device testing, and customer support. Experienced in testing devices from 2G to 5G and WLAN, as well as developing remote-control programs for test equipment.
Overview
44
44
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Staff Applications Engineer
ROHDE & SCHWARZ
01.2023 - 01.2025
- Company Overview: One of the world’s leading manufacturers of Test & Measurement Equipment
- Conducted pre-sales and post-sales demonstrations, delivered training sessions, and provided technical support to multiple organizations utilizing the CMX500 for 4G/5G and the CMW500 for WLAN applications.
- Supported Verizon service and repair on the CMX500 by optimizing instrument programming for efficient testing and minimal test time.
- Provided support and training for Verizon service and repair on-site.
- Installed and commissioned OTA Test systems at various company sites using the CMW500 and CMX500.
- Benchmarked the maximum data throughput of various reference devices (Sierra Wireless & Quectel).
- Presented training sessions on optimizing data throughput and SCPI programming at annual corporate sales meeting.
- Delivered training and mentoring to other Application Engineers.
Staff Applications Engineer
ROHDE & SCHWARZ
01.2008 - 01.2023
- Company Overview: One of the world’s leading manufacturers of Test & Measurement Equipment
- Specialized in general-purpose instruments, including Spectrum Analyzers, Vector Network Analyzers, and Vector Signal Generators.
- Developed and delivered customer demonstrations highlighting the features and capabilities of the test equipment.
- Provided comprehensive post-sales support to customers.
- Designed and presented sales demonstrations focused on the CMW 500's functionalities.
- Delivered remote programming solutions for the CMW 500, significantly reducing customer development time.
- Conducted network operator testing for Verizon and provided on-site technical assistance.
- Established initial type-approval and performance test systems (TS8980 FTA, RRM, PQA, Audio).
- Supported hardware and software upgrades for the CMW 500 as well as all type-approval systems.
- Created POLQA audio quality testing software.
- Managed the receipt and commissioning of new type-approval systems.
- Conducted network operator testing for PC Test/Element and provided on-site technical assistance.
- Installed first TS8980 FTA type-approval system and PQA Test System.
- Provided on-site technical assistance, hardware and software upgrades.
Staff Applications Engineer
RF MICRO DEVICES, INC.
01.2007 - 01.2008
- Company Overview: Develops and manufactures radio frequency integrated circuits
- Integrated transceiver chipsets into reference baseband designs for customers.
- Developed and optimized Agilent E6601 cellular test set driver for transmit calibration.
- Documented equipment drivers for RFMD-supported devices (R&S CMU200, Agilent E4406, 8960, and E6601).
- Published analysis of transmit calibration test times by equipment type and system RAM.
- Authored process documentation for factory transmit calibration integration.
- Helped create WIN32 C++ DLLs for calibration controls, drivers, and IQ processing, streamlining customer integration and reducing support needs.
- Implemented transmit calibration using RFMD equipment and algorithms; resolved software issues in Microsoft and Borland environments with RFMD-developed DLLs.
Principal Staff Engineer/Test Engineering Manager
MOTOROLA, INC.
01.1999 - 01.2002
- Company Overview: World leader in wireless technology solutions
- Managed a cross-functional team to standardize cell phone manufacturing processes, reducing cycle times and coordinating system and test requirements across five sites.
- Developed software used in worldwide manufacture and distribution of cellular telephones, which reduced test cycle time 40%.
- Instituted series of processes which increased yield and decreased product development cycle time including:
- Virtual teams across five manufacturing sites to co-develop and test GSM manufacturing applications.
- Automatic system software which calibrated and correlated testing processes to control defects and reuse commonality.
- Assisted in establishment of Worldwide Software and Test Change Control Boards, which promoted software reuse and commonality.
- Developed and conducted software process training for the software engineering community.
Senior Staff Test System Development Engineer
MOTOROLA, INC.
01.1996 - 01.1999
- Company Overview: World leader in wireless technology solutions
- Managed design and implementation of test systems for cellular phone manufacturing.
- Developed test software that cut call processing test time by 45% and reduced defects by 50%.
- Introduced a new test system in the Florida facility, boosting global manufacturing capacity by 20% and lowering capital costs per system by $50K.
Staff Test System Development Engineer
MOTOROLA, INC.
01.1993 - 01.1996
- Company Overview: World leader in wireless technology solutions
- Directed tuning methods, test system design, and manufacturing process characterization standardization.
- Developed first ever Soft Tuning system across multiple paging products, increasing throughput 80%.
- Developed in circuit characterization process which determined tuning range required for CPK>1.5.
- Transferred and implemented Soft Tuning manufacturing process into two Mexican sites.
- Re-designed legacy Laser Tuning application software reducing cycle time 75% and avoided purchase of $1M+ high-speed laser system.
- Leader of Total Customer Satisfaction Team that increased throughput of manufacturing line from 125 UPH to 500 UPH. Received award in sector-wide competition.
Product Engineer/Test System Development Engineer
MOTOROLA, INC.
01.1981 - 01.1993
- Company Overview: World leader in wireless technology solutions
- Created laser tuning hardware and software for paging and two-way communication devices.
- Served as a subject matter resource in laser tuning technology at the corporate level.
- Created test application software using LTX Basic, HP Basic, Pascal, C, and C++ to automate testing and laser tuning of RF devices such as RF amplifiers, stripline filters, voltage controlled oscillators, and dual conversion receivers.
- Established guidelines for laser tuning within development engineering, resulting in product quality with CPK greater than 1.5.
Education
BSEE -
University of South Florida
Tampa, FLSkills
- Microsoft Visual C, C, C# NET
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- Python
- MS Excel, PowerPoint, Word
- MS Project
- MS Windows
- R&S CMWrun
- R&S XlAPI
- Production support
- Technical troubleshooting
- Proficiency in [technology]
- System upgrades
- Coding
- Test automation tools
EQUIPMENT & TEST SYSTEM EXPERIENCE
- Spectrum Analyzers, Network Analyzers, Signal Generators, Power Supplies and Digital Communication Testers
- Rohde & Schwarz: CMU200, CMW500, CMX500, SMBV 100B
- Conformance Test Systems: Rohde & Schwarz - TS8980 FTA, PQA, RRM, LBS and Audio Testing
- OTA Systems: Rohde & Schwarz TS 8991 OTA Performance Test System, and various Rohde & Schwarz OTA chambers
Timeline
Senior Staff Applications Engineer
ROHDE & SCHWARZ
01.2023 - 01.2025
Staff Applications Engineer
ROHDE & SCHWARZ
01.2008 - 01.2023
Staff Applications Engineer
RF MICRO DEVICES, INC.
01.2007 - 01.2008
Principal Staff Engineer/Test Engineering Manager
MOTOROLA, INC.
01.1999 - 01.2002
Senior Staff Test System Development Engineer
MOTOROLA, INC.
01.1996 - 01.1999
Staff Test System Development Engineer
MOTOROLA, INC.
01.1993 - 01.1996
Product Engineer/Test System Development Engineer
MOTOROLA, INC.
01.1981 - 01.1993
BSEE -
University of South Florida