What's Wrong with Me?

Well, here I am. I am 60. I had to drop out of engineering school in my 20's because my father got sick and I had to support the family. I excel at self-learning, so that wasn't a problem. Well, at least I thought so for 20+ years.

I worked as an engineers in a couple of industries for about 20 years. Did well. I launched my own business, designing and manufacturing electronic products (hardware and software-based) for that industry. Ran that for about ten years. The last economic implosion took us out (2010-ish).

Finding a job has been impossible. I have survived through consulting here and there, nothing crazy. Let's put it this way, I am far better value than the shit consulting gigs I have landed.

What can I do?

Assembler (ARM on-down to 6502). C, C++. Forth. LISP. Objective-C. Python. Django. PHP. MySQL. HTML. CSS. JavaScript. jQuery. JSON. OO, procedural, functional. Good amount of CS theory. I am also half way towards a Bs in Computer Science right now (not really learning anything I don't already know yet).

FPGA. Embedded systems. Analog. Digital. Communications. Control Panels, User Interfaces. Power electronics: SMPS, Motor Control, LED control, etc. I2C, SPI, RS232, RS422, USB, Ethernet, etc. SDRAM, DDR2, DDR3 memory layout, interface and FPGA controller design. SRAM, FLASH. DVI, HDMI, LVDS interconnects. Digital Filter Design (FIR, IIR, etc.). Sensors: light, temperature, acceleration, magnetic, GPS, etc. Graphics and text LCD interfacing and control. High-power LED light sources. Impedance-controlled board design. Transmission lines. High-speed board design (GHz range). Clock Synthesis, VCO. Clock management and distribution. SMT and Through Hole. Prototyping, testing and test fixture design. DFT (Design for Testing). Altium, KiCad. Component selection and sourcing. Full project ownership.

Embedded Systems. RTOS. DSP. Video and image processing. Genetic Algorithms. State Machines. Communications protocols. Embedded Drivers. Desktop applications and utilities. Database-driven web applications. Application automation scripts and plugins (Excel, Photoshop, GIMP, etc.). Native iPhone, iPod, iPad application development. Web application development. Linux server deployment and management.

SolidWorks. CAMWorks. FEA. Fusion 360. Siemens NX. AutoCAD. Parametric Design. Generative Design. Design for machining (CNC milling, turning, EDM, etc.). Sheet metal. Injection molded plastics. Laser-cut components. Elastomeric components (i.e.: silicone keypads, etc.). Composites. CNC (Haas) and Manual (Bridgeport) milling machine operation and programming. Welding. Anodizing, Powder Coating, Paint, Silk Screen, Laser-Engraving and other finishes. FEA simulation (thermal, airflow, motion, static loading). Photorealistic rendering for visualization. DFM (Design for Manufacturing). Prototyping. Manufacturing. DFM.

CEO (of my own company). CTO. VP/Director of Engineering. Research & Development Engineering. Intellectual Property. Sales and Marketing. Managing multidisciplinary teams. Extremely comfortable with customer-facing interaction. Distribution channel building and management. Supply chain management. Customer and Reseller training. Trade show organization, management and execution (national and international). International business (channel building, training, tradeshows, etc.). Languages: English, Spanish (fluent in both).

continues...