Thomas B. Elter
Kettering,Ohio
Summary
A Sr. Customer Application Engineer, directly developing and managing customer technical support relationships, to win new and maintain existing business opportunities to grow revenue and market share.
Overview
39
39
years of professional experience
Work History
Sr. Field Applications Engineer
Teledyne SP Devices, Sr. Field Applications Engineer
11.2017 - 01.2025
- Work with major customers defining data acquisition and signal processing requirements for their product projects. Work with support and R&D engineering to recommend product solutions including any custom work.
- Supported sales management with customer technical support management plans, product issue resolution, marketing, and operations support to grow NA sales over 20% year over year.
- Managed NA product customer support and issue resolution working with Salesforce and internal engineering and operations teams.
- Co-created and presented product and technology marketing material for Webinars and YouTube videos.
- Managed NA product RMAs and product demo / loan inventory for resolving support issues or winning sales opportunities.
Sr. Customer Applications Engineer
MAXLINEAR, INC., Sr. Customer Applications Engineer
05.2017 - 06.2017
- Exar was acquired by MaxLinear in May 2017.
- Exar was acquired by MaxLinear in May 2017.
Sr. Customer Applications Engineer
EXAR, INC., Sr. Customer Applications Engineer
01.2014 - 05.2017
- Developed Qt cross platform framework-based DVR diagnostics application, using SDK reference code, for use by customer product developers, system integrators, and installers.
- Provide domestic and international on-site and remote customer technical support for DVR card, IP camera, and encoder (streamer) video products.
- Developed and updated custom SDK API code for customers, to obtain detailed video signal status information, from video decoder devices used on DVR card products.
- Updated host side video surveillance SDK reference code, to support new products and features, for use with DVR card, IP camera, and encoder (streamer) products.
- Stretch was acquired by Exar in January 2014 and became the Video Products Group.
Sr. Customer Applications Engineer
STRETCH, INC., Sr. Customer Applications Engineer
06.2008 - 01.2014
- Provided domestic customer technical support for DVR card, IP Camera, and embedded video recorder products. Customer technical issues with products were handled using web-based Customer Portal Issue Tracking system, email, and phone.
- Developed host side video surveillance SDK reference code for use with DVR card, IP camera, and embedded video recorder products. Distributed SDK reference code to customers as needed to expedite their integration efforts with their Video Management SW.
- Created test case applications for hand off to engineering, based on SDK reference code, for debugging customer technical issues. During engineering’s customer issue resolution, tested solutions, documented new usage, and distributed back to the customer for verification in their products.
- Developed technical materials for and presented product SDK training courses. Created product technical content for marketing documentation. Developed and presented product demonstrations at trade shows and on sales calls.
SW Engineering Consultant
SAS DIVERSIFIED ENTERPRISES, SW Engineering Consultant
03.2001 - 06.2008
- Created and presented ARC/ARM/MIPS/PPC SW Development Tools sales & training presentations, demonstrations, and addressed technical issues during sales calls, at industry trade shows, and training sessions.
- Created SW Development Tools technical marketing materials, requirements and packaging documents, participated in tools roadmap planning and design reviews, performed product installation QA, and contributed to the creation of interactive tools demonstration SW.
- Re-architected, updated, and maintained DeviceSQL product technical manuals and release notes, streamline product packaging, improve product installation, and performed product installation QA.
- Designed web sites, co-developed content, and provided web site maintenance for client projects.
- Clients include Metaware, Encirq, Embedded Performance, and Catalyst Enterprises
Field Applications Engineer
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS, INC., Storage Products Group (SPG) - Field Applications Engineer
01.1996 - 03.2001
- Represented Hard Disk Drive (HDD) OEM customers as a C2xx/C27xx DSP SW development tools liaison, gathering, tracking and documenting tools requirements, and participated in tools design reviews, evaluation, documentation, and packaging to ensure customer needs are being met.
- Spearheaded extended on-site C2xx/C27xx DSP SW development tools technical support, for HDD OEM customers, assisting with tools installation and configuration, providing customized training, and gathering, tracking, and resolving tools issues encountered.
- Collaborated with sales and field engineering to address and eliminate C2xx/C27xx DSP SW development tools issues of concern for the customer, customize sales and training presentations and demonstrations, and presented them on sales calls, at industry trade shows, and in on-site training sessions.
- Designed LA C27xx SW support package, integrated LA system with C27xx In-Circuit Emulator (ICE), evaluated resulting solution, and directed development of supporting documentation, for C27xx DSP SW development tools real-time trace solution.
- Co-authored TI DSP SW Development Tools article in initial Datatech data storage industry publication.
Field Applications Engineer
TEKTRONIX, INC., Test and Measurement Products Group - Field Applications Engineer
03.1991 - 01.1996
- Provided phone / e-mail / on-site Logic Analyzer (LA) technical support for customers, assisting with setup, configuration, and integration of LA system into customer’s product development test environment, provided LA training, and gathered, tracked, and resolved LA issues encountered.
- Collaborated with account managers to address and eliminate LA issues of concern for the customer, customize sales and training presentations and demonstrations, and presented them on sales calls, at industry trade shows, and in on-site training sessions.
- Designed, tested, debugged, and documented LA CISC/RISC processor and communication bus SW support packages, which several became formal products, and LAN/GPIB ATE control SW solutions.
Electronics Engineer
GENERAL DYNAMICS INC., Applied Research Group - Electronics Engineer
06.1986 - 03.1991
- Digital HW design, test & debug, and systems integration.
Education
SW Certification -
Mission College
Santa Clara, CaliforniaB.S. - Electrical Engineering - Computer Option
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OhioA.S. - Business Administration - Computer Science Option
Sinclair Community College
Dayton, OhioContinuing Education - undefined
Skills
- SW Development & Tools : QT framework and Creator, MS Visual Studio, Eclipse, CodeSourcery, and Notepad
- Programming Languages : C/C, HTML/CSS, Perl, Basic, and Assembly
- Operating Systems : Windows 11, Linux Ubuntu/CentOS, and UNIX Solaris OS’s
- Processor Architectures : S7 & S6, ARC, ARM, MIPS, PPC, and C2xx & C27xx TI DSP
- Engineering Tools : Test & Measurement equipment, StreamEye Studio video analysis, and more
- Documentation Tools : MS Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, & Outlook), Acrobat, and more
Accomplishments
- Recognized by customers for providing comprehensive and timely technical support satisfying their needs. This was often a deciding factor in their selection of the company’s products. Activities contributed to sales manager growing NA sales 20% year over year.
- Spearheaded extended on-site technical support plan for C2xx/C27xx DSP SW development tools to improve HDD OEM customer relationships. Activities contributed to team winning new >$50 million C2xx/C27xx design opportunities with existing and new HDD OEM customers.
- Developed C27xx DSP SW development tools real-time trace solution. This solution expedited completion of C27xx DSP SW development tools by 18 months, which helped in winning key HDD OEM customer >$50 million SOC design opportunities.
- Created Logic Analyzer (LA) SW support packages, training presentations, and demonstrations used on sales calls, industry trade shows, and customer training sessions. Activities contributed to account managers exceeding annual sales quotas >$1 million, and reducing LA ramp-up time for customer’s engineering staff.
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
A tireless, diligent, detail oriented, and highly methodical customer advocate who professionally builds lasting technical support relationships with customers. My broad experience providing HW / SW product technical support, issue resolution, test and debug, and training services ensures customer needs are timely met. My experience working closely with product sales, marketing, engineering, and operations teams to communicate customer requirements, usability, and related issues help to ensure the creation of high-quality products readily desired in the marketplace.
Timeline
Sr. Field Applications Engineer
Teledyne SP Devices, Sr. Field Applications Engineer
11.2017 - 01.2025
Sr. Customer Applications Engineer
MAXLINEAR, INC., Sr. Customer Applications Engineer
05.2017 - 06.2017
Sr. Customer Applications Engineer
EXAR, INC., Sr. Customer Applications Engineer
01.2014 - 05.2017
Sr. Customer Applications Engineer
STRETCH, INC., Sr. Customer Applications Engineer
06.2008 - 01.2014
SW Engineering Consultant
SAS DIVERSIFIED ENTERPRISES, SW Engineering Consultant
03.2001 - 06.2008
Field Applications Engineer
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS, INC., Storage Products Group (SPG) - Field Applications Engineer
01.1996 - 03.2001
Field Applications Engineer
TEKTRONIX, INC., Test and Measurement Products Group - Field Applications Engineer
03.1991 - 01.1996
Electronics Engineer
GENERAL DYNAMICS INC., Applied Research Group - Electronics Engineer
06.1986 - 03.1991
B.S. - Electrical Engineering - Computer Option
The Ohio State University
A.S. - Business Administration - Computer Science Option
Sinclair Community College
Continuing Education - undefined
SW Certification -
Mission College