Embedded Software Engineer | Edmund Merrow-Smith

Location: Weymouth, UK

Email: edmund_merrow-smith@protonmail.com

Profile:

        Mid-level embedded software engineer and graduate of Swansea University, with both an MSc and a BEng in Electronics and Electrical Engineering. Experienced C developer for real-time embedded systems using low-power microcontrollers in high reliability deployments. Adept at developing electronic and microcontroller systems for extreme environments. An appreciation for both a systems engineering approach and an agile development approach to software engineering.

 A background in physics and a curiosity for how things work have helped me understand the problems faced in developing for the tough environments that the projects I’ve been on have attempted to design for, I am currently looking for the next challenge to sharpen my skills on.

Highlights:

• .Embedded software / firmware / drivers 

• .Bare-metal software 

• .Microcontrollers and embedded systems (Atmel ATXmega) 

• .C (C99, C89, MISRA C) 

• .P-threads (pseudo-threads, proto-threads, cooperative multitasking, coroutines) 

• .Version control/Configuration control (GIT, TortoiseSVN, GIT+SVN) 

• .Low power systems (microcontrollers and electronics) 

• .ADC, DAC and power management drivers and state machines 

• .Electronics design, testing, and implementation for extreme environments 

Other technical skills and experience:

• .Microcontrollers 

  • ◦.(Atmel ATXmega, ARM STM32, Freescale MC9S08/Motorola HCS08, Microchip PIC) 

• .UML documentation (Enterprise Architect) 

• .STM32 HAL + STM32CubeIDE/eclipse + STM32CubeMX 

• .IAR Embedded Workbench 

• .Assembly / ASM (Atmel, HSC08) 

• .OOP (C++ 11 / 14 / 21, Python, SPARK / ADA) 

• .XML + pugi-XML  

• .Embedded linux (yocto project) 

• .MATLAB + simulink 

• .Networking (Ethernet, IPv4, IP/TCP, UDP) 

• .Serial Comms (RS232, UART, USART, SPI, I2C/TWI) 

• .RTOS (real-time operating systems, Feabas: C for Real-Time Embedded Developers) 

• .3D CAD & 2D CAD (FreeCAD, Solidworks, AutoCAD inventor) 

• .PCB design (Altium) + circuit simulation (QUCS + SPICE) 

• .TCAD (Silvaco semiconductor FEA / FEM) 

• .FPGA firmware (Verilog, VHDL) 

• .USB (USB-C power delivery) 

• .Digital motor control (PWM DC, multi-phase brushless, steppers with interface chips) 

• .Electronics design, modelling, manufacture, packaging 

• .Semiconductor materials and devices 

• .Instrumentation (conventional electronics instruments and nanoscale instrumentation) 

• .Electrical, mechanical, chemical and physics laboratory experience 

• .Linux (used linux as daily driver PC for +12 years, familiar with Bash scripts and Vim) 

• .Office suites, spreadsheets, and image editing software (MS Word, Libre-office, Calc / Excell, PDFs, LaTeX, GIMP, html) 

• .Motorsport (telemetry, vehicle and engine electronics / wiring, engine setup and maintenance, vehicle dynamics, alternative fuels) 

Soft skills and personal attributes:

• .Inventive, Pragmatic, and Inquisitive 

• .Solid background in physics and mathematics 

• .Good problem-solving skills 

• .Work well under pressure; never prone to panic; adapt well to unexpected events and circumstances 

• .Confident teamwork skills (experience at SURE and Metrol) 

• .Good independent working skills (experience at Metrol and during MSc) 

• .Good written English, some ability with Welsh, German and French 

• .Self-motivated; career goal to achieve engineering chartership 

• .Enjoy challenges and learning; constantly seek out and find projects, articles and books to update and expand skills and understanding, multiple friends and colleagues have called me academic, side interest in history. 

• .UK passport and driver’s licence 

Career and Education:

2022-07 – Present

Magicard Ltd. (Brady Corp. Ltd.)

 ID Card Printers

 Weymouth, UK

Embedded Software Engineer

 C++, STM32 ARM, Linux, GIT, Jira, Confluence, XML

• .Work as part of engineering department to design, development, maintain, support and provide continual improvement of Magicard's printer product line 

• .Respond timely to issues escalated to engineering by tech support 

2022-04 – 2018-06

Job Hunting

 Southampton, UK

2022-01 – 2022-03

Chamsys Ltd. (Chauvet Lighting)

 Stage Lighting Industry

 Southampton, UK

Software Engineer

 C, STM ARM, Linux, Eclipse, GIT+SVN, GDB

• .Work with R&D for design, development, maintenance, support and continual improvement of the bespoke ChamSys / MagicQ / QuickQ software and related MQ deck products 

• .Design and implementation of software, firmware and hardware 

• .Testing and release of software, firmware and hardware 

• .Support of ChamSys products 

• .Successfuly collaborated with production team, taking feedback to update and improve test firmware for production QA. 

• .Left by mutual agreement: Role not a suitable environment for furthering career, and not a fit for team and company culture. 

2021-01 – 2022-12

Career Break

 Dorset, UK

• .Took voluntary redundancy after entire R&D team made redundant following industry downturn. Due to hiring freeze and being in the height of the pandemic, decided to shelter and avoid travel. 

• .Personal break to focus deeply on mental and physical health, resulting in an ASD diagnosis. I now use my diagnosis to counter some of my bad traits, build on some of my good traits, and help me play life to my advantages. 

• .Academic pursuits including various online history and biology lectures. 

• .Continued electronics hobby with personal projects including; solar PVs, USB power delivery systems, battery and off-grid systems, DC-DC PC power supplies, FreeCAD, QUCS + SPICE. 

2018-06 – 2020-12

Metrol Technology - Dorset Research Centre

 Oil and Gas Industry

 Dorset, UK

Graduate / Junior Embedded Software Engineer / Firmware Engineer

 C, microcontrollers, IAR, Atmel, PCB, TortoiseSVN, Enterprise Architect, UML, JIRA

• .Worked in a high technology engineering environment. 

• .Responsibilities included: 

  • ◦.full firmware development life cycle for the company’s product range, covering design, development and testing. 

  • ◦.designing products for extreme temperatures and strain 

  • ◦.low power development 

  • ◦.developing new and existing products to enhance the service offering 

  • ◦.designing code for microcontrollers. 

  • ◦.producing innovative designs to ensure the company stays ahead of the competition. 

• .Part of collaborative team effort to develop prototype product for long distance underground EM communication and control applications, running off harvested background energy. 

• .Whole firmware lifecycle involvement, from capturing requirements, developing code, controlling equipment, analysing results, support for users of the final firmware, and the practical application of the results. 

• .Sole software and firmware developer for the bulk of the project’s code development. 

• .Created combined hardware and software systems to harvest power from cathodic protection and charge storage capacitors as replacement for battery power and to manage system power budget. 

• .Documented systems in UML. 

• .Investigated capabilities and developed extended spec for chosen microcontroller. 

• .Feabhas training course: C for real time applications. 

• .Took voluntary redundancy after entire R&D team made redundant following covid-related downturn. 

2018-01 – 2018-04

Job Hunting

 Swansea, UK

2017-08 – 2017-12

Career Break

 Looking after family with illness.

 Ceredigion, UK

2016-11 – 2017-07

Assystem Ltd (Systems and Software)

 Automotive, Rail, Aerospace, Defence and Nuclear Industries

 Bristol, UK

Graduate Systems Engineer

 Spark / ADA, DO-178C, Verification & Validation, V-life cycle, Unit Testing, Rapid Software Testing, FPGA, Agile, DevOps

• .Reviewing and writing technical proposals and responses to client RFI, RFP, RFQ documents. Resolved misidentification of client priorities in response. Ensure two proposals were corrected to address overlooked customer comments and requirements. 

• .Researching quotes for electrical equipment and generating BoM for technical proposals. 

• .Agile and DevOps training. 

• .Unit testing in ADA for aircraft engine software. 

• .Training for Rolls Royce IT infrastructure (citrus). 

• .Assembly of rack-mount aircraft electronics test suite. 

• .Training for Verification and Validation of FPGA firmware development for satellite communications encryption. 

• .Left when team disbanded after company unable to fit graduate engineers in any team. 

2016-01 – 2016-10

Job Hunting

 Swansea, UK

2016-01 - 2019-12

SUCS (Swansea University Computer Society)

 Student Organisation

 Swansea, UK

Alumni Member

        Linux, C, Vim, Bash, Public Speaking, System Administration, IT, Computer Science Basics

• .The community keeps itself up to date on software, security, and related technical and legal topics and grants access to a large collective body of knowledge and experience. 

2014-09 – 2015-07

Swansea University

        Postgraduate Student at School of Engineering and Energy Safety Research Institute

 Swansea, UK

MSc Electronics and Electrical Engineering

• .Master of Science with Merit 

• .IET accredited 

• .Thesis: 

  • ◦.“Investigating feasibility and design of H2ICEs for small scale static applications” 

  • ◦.Converting car engines to run on hydrogen fuel to use as generators. 

  • ◦.Thermodynamics, Engine Design, Fuel Chemistry 

• .Other papers, essays, and reports: 

  • ◦.“Investigating novel method of forming nanosheets from zinc sulphate with n-ethylamine in microwave oven and surface characterization of.” 

  • ◦.“The future of power semiconductor devices' roll in renewable energy technology.” 

  • ◦.“Demonstration of TCAD 2D FEM analysis on Si DMOS.” 

  • ◦.“Demonstration of TCAD 2D FEM analysis on GaAs LED.” 

  • ◦.“Possible strategies for replacing fossil fuel power stations in the UK electric grid.” 

  • ◦.“The role of electric battery monitoring and management systems in the realization of renewable and sustainable energy.” 

  • ◦.“Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM) optical network design.” 

  • ◦.“Dynamic system analysis of servo motor and development and analysis of control system.” 

• .Communications: Wireless Communications, Optical Communications, Optical Networks 

• .Semiconductors: Energy Efficient Electronics Technologies, Wide Band-gap Electronics 

• .Power Engineering: Advanced Power Electronics and Drives, Advanced Power Systems 

• .Modern Control Systems 

• .Nanotech: Probing at the Nanoscale (AFM, SEM, STM, XPS), Nanoscale Structures and Devices 

2010-01 - 2015-12

SUCS (Swansea University Computer Society)

 Student Organisation

 Swansea, UK

Student Member

        Linux, C, Public Speaking, System Administration, IT, Computer Science Basics

• .Informal computer science lectures and programming tutoring from industry experts 

• .Lightning talk events 

• .Staff for 2 years 

2014-01 – 2015-07

SURE (Swansea University Race Engineering)

 Student Project

 Swansea, UK

Electronics, EV, and Engine Teams

 EV, Vehicle Dynamics, Lithium Batteries, BMS, Engine Maintenance, 3D printing

• .Investigating challenges involved with battery powered electric race car. 

• .Investigating rules compliant and competitive lithium-ion batteries, isolation mechanisms and monitoring systems. 

• .Investigating and manufacturing wheel speed sensors (hall effect sensor and water-cut steel rotary encoder). 

• .Installing, packaging and documenting car loom. 

• .Designing and installing slot-assembled 3D printed weatherproof button box for driver dash for both cars. 

• .Finding and ordering components, equipment and manufacturing from vendors. 

• .Review and update of all electronics-related components in competition cost report. 

• .Participated in full-team debrief after 2015 competition following disastrous results. Highlighted team structure and project management weaknesses that became apparent in light of discussions with more successful competitors during competition. Successfully persuaded demoralised team of the team capability and the necessity to improve and take changes on board. 

• .Investigating fellow competitors at competitions. 

2014-09 – 2015-05

Swansea University

 Student volunteer

 Swansea, UK

University open day general staff

• .Showcased Swansea University to prospective students and parents around campus. 

• .Noted by head of university’s promotion department for enthusiasm, professionalism, and good guidance throughout events. 

2009-09 – 2014-08

Swansea University

 Undergraduate Student at School of Engineering

 Swansea, UK

BEng Electronics and Electrical Engineering

• .Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (2.ii) 

• .IET accredited 

• .Thesis: 

  • ◦.“Position Tracking of MFL Steel Floor Inspection Equipment inside Large Drained Out-of-Service Above-Ground Liquid Petrochemical Storage Tanks” 

  • ◦.Finding a technology for tracking the position and movement of inspection equipment inside large steel containers, where oil, gunk, welding operations, the remote locations, and the metal walls prevent most common solutions from working (GPS, camera tracking, LIDAR, RADAR, SONAR, etc.) 

  • ◦.Design and testing of low-power, portable, wireless, millimetre-precision distance measuring beacons that use simultaneous radio-ultrasound pulses to broadcast location. 

• .Analogue Electronics, Analogue Design, Circuit Analysis, Instrumentation and control, Practical Circuits, Electronic Circuits, Design Electronics 

• .Digital Electronics, Digital Design, Signals and Systems, Digital Communications, Speech and Image Communications, Microcontrollers, Software Engineering 

• .Semiconductors, IC Design, Electronic Materials and Devices, Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology 

• .Nanotechnology, Quantum Devices, Nanoelectronics 

• .Power Engineering, Power Electronics, Power Systems 

• .Communications, Electromagnetics, Microwave Circuits and Antennas 

• .Mathematics for Engineers, Dynamic Systems, Control Systems, Engineering Management, Intensive German 

• .Team project: Building micromouse with line following and obstacle avoidance. Team lead, PCB designer, software developer. PCB-as-chassis design was made base for following year classes 

2013-08

Swansea University

 Student volunteer

 Swansea, UK

Summer electronics workshop demonstrator

2011-08 – 2012-07

Technical University of Graz (TUG)

 Undergraduate exchange student

 Graz, Austria

Erasmus Student

        Semiconductor Materials, Advanced Solid State Physics, Electronic networks and devices, Electromagnetics, Electrodynamics, Digital Communications, Computer Engineering, Information Theory and Coding, Mathematics for Engineers

2009-09 – 2011-07

SURE (Swansea University Race Engineering)

 Student Project

 Swansea, UK

Electronics Team

Freescale HCS08, RS232 communications, Wireless digital communications, Vehicle telemetry

• .General team commitment and familiarity with team, current car design, and competition rules. 

• .Telemetry system, including signal processing module for packet baud compatibility between radio and data logger. 

• .Measuring and creating 3D models of made-to-fit parts for documentation. 

• .Minor manufacturing tasks including: sanding aluminium and carbon fibre monocoque chassis in preparation for adhesive and paint, assembly jigging and fastening, and manufacturing steel space frame brackets to fit. 

• .Review and update of all electronics-related components in competition cost report. 

• .Daily experience working in teams, coordinating between departments and solving design, manufacturing, finance and logistics problems as they arose. 

• .Installing, packaging and documenting car loom. 

• .Performing inventory check and audit on team's electrical systems. 

• .Investigating fellow competitors at all attended competitions. 

2007 – 2009

 Ysgol Bro Pedr

 Comprehensive School

 Lampeter, UK

GCE / A-level Student

 Mathematics    A   A-level   WJEC 

 Physics     B   A-level   OCR 

 Chemistry     B   A-level   WJEC 

 Design and Technology  A   AS-level   WJEC

2007 – 2008

 Ysgol Bro Pedr (with Dragon Machinery Ltd)

 Student / Apprentice EESW Project

 Lampeter, UK

EESW Team Member

 Embedded Software, PIC chips, Ladder Logic, ADC Signal Processing

• .Engineering Education Scheme Wales Apprentice Engineering Competition 

• .Detecting metal contaminants in soft material shredders. 

• .Proposed and coded PIC chip as signal processor. 

• .Won best prototype, nominated for 7 of 11 awards at the Celtic Manor event. 

2005 – 2007

 Ysgol Bro Pedr (Lampeter Comprehensive)

 Comprehensive School

 Lampeter, UK

GCSE / O-level Student

 A*  Physics, Design & Technology - Systems and Control

 A  Mathematics, Chemistry, Information Communication Technology (IT)

 B  English, Biology

 C  English Literature, Welsh 2nd Language, Economics