James P. Smith -- Sr. Firmware Engineer -- Resume
never missed a deadline
Technical:
- Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) Expander firmware; Fibre-Channel initiator/target apps.
- Low-level firmware for MIPS 24Kc, PowerPC 405, 440 SOC, & Intel 80186.
- RTOS: VxWorks; ThreadX.
- Networking: Token-ring WAN Bridge; Open Source LWIP.
- Process Control: Analytical instrument firmware & measurement apps.
General:
- Exceptional writing skills: proposals, specifications, user guides.
- Proven high-value contributor to all product life-cycle phases.
Education:
- BS Systems Engineering (with honors), Case Western Reserve University.
Representative Accomplishments:
(keyed to employers listed below)
- Architected and implemented several major components of the company's SAS expander Software Development Kit,
including: GNU-based Development Toolchain; BootLoader with fail-safe firmware update; and SAS Self-Discovery and
Configuration. Wrote over 90% of the documentation that is provided with the SDK. Results: All projects
delivered on-time. Zero support issues over 3+ years. [1]
- Designed/implemented firmware API to emulate a PowerPC 440 SOC design using discrete components in place of
440/ASIC, allowing parallel firmware and hardware development. Responsible for startup code, BIOS, and RTOS, including
all 440 peripheral devices (PCI, EBC, DMA, etc.). Project migrated iSCSI/TOE SDK and applications from VxWorks
prototype, to off-the-shelf PPC 750 board, and finally to custom PPC 440 board. Results: At each platform
transition, the entire system integration took less than 1 week. [2]
- Responsible for selecting development platforms, RTOS, and tools, including VxWorks, and JTAG debuggers, and
developing innovative training for colleagues. Designed "bleeding-edge" development environment while
beta-testing 440 support for VisionICE JTAG. Results: Cut ramp-up time for 15 new engineers from 30 days
down to 2 days. [2]
- Designed/implemented sample VxWorks fibre-channel Initiator and Target storage applications, and wrote the
associated Getting Started and Programmers Guides, for the Tachyon FC Protocol Chip Software Development Kit. Results:
Sr. engineering customers said it was the best SDK they had ever worked with. [2]
- Designed/implemented all 80186 firmware for a new, infra-red spectrometer process control instrument. Firmware
functionality included stepper-motor control, and time-critical analog sampling of multiple signals from a rotating
optical multiplexer/chopper. Worked with Marketing to define product specifications, and with digital, electrical,
optical, mechanical, and analog engineers to define hardware specs and to resolve hardware/firmware tradeoffs.
Results: Product delivered on-time and to-specification with zero defects. [3]
- Designed/implemented all 80186 and 80486 firmware for the IBM 8229 Token-Ring/WAN Bridge, including versions
for (a) leased-T1 and IBM LAN Management, and (b) Frame Relay and SNMP. Debugged system using ICE, logic analyzer,
and WAN protocol analyzer. Results: Product delivered on schedule to IBM's stringent quality standards.
[4]
- Responsible for international telecom standards compliance for a dual FAX controller for the IBM AS/400. Coordinated
efforts among Amati firmware development engineers and IBM's testing laboratory in LaGaude, France. Researched
and resolved all observed variances, issued ECRs, and generated new releases of the firmware. Results: Achieved
100% acceptance during PTT certification on the first test cycle. [4]
Employment History:
| |
[1] |
Maxim Integrated Products / Vitesse |
Colorado Springs, CO |
9/04 - 4/09 |
| |
[2] |
Agilent Technologies / Hewlett-Packard |
Roseville, CA |
4/97 - 3/03 |
| |
[3] |
Universal Oil Products: Guided Wave Division |
El Dorado Hills, CA |
2/95 - 4/97 |
| |
[4] |
Texas Instruments: Amati Division |
San Jose, CA |
8/92 - 2/95 |
Contact:
For contact information, please visit: http://www.tufox.com/jim
April, 2009