Hardware Engineering
Early career embedded systems design and support at GE Intelligent Platforms, working with mission-critical hardware.
Starting in Embedded Systems
Fresh out of college with a computer engineering degree and enthusiasm for hardware design, I joined GE Intelligent Platforms to work on embedded systems for mission-critical applications. The role promised exposure to VME boards, CompactPCI systems, and embedded computing solutions used in defense and industrial applications.
Design Team Projects
On the hardware design team, I contributed to significant projects including the AMC-0247 SATA module and a redesign of the CPCI-7506 Pentium M board. Working with Mentor Graphics tools, I gained hands-on experience with professional hardware design workflows.
Key Design Experiences
- • Professional hardware design tools
- • Mission-critical system requirements
- • Component selection and validation
- • Design review processes
Hardware Support Evolution
Transitioning to hardware support opened up a new perspective on embedded systems. Troubleshooting deployed products like the VMIVME-7810 dual-slot Pentium M board provided invaluable insights into real-world system behavior and failure modes.
Support Challenges
- • Complex system debugging
- • Customer communication
- • Field deployment issues
- • Documentation and solutions
Technical Growth
- • Hands-on troubleshooting
- • System integration knowledge
- • Performance optimization
- • Root cause analysis
Long Term Support Leadership
As LTS Representative, I managed obsolescence strategies for customers requiring 10-15 year product support beyond commercial availability. This role combined technical knowledge with strategic planning and inventory management.
Strategic Planning
Developed long-term support strategies for mission-critical systems, ensuring continuity for customers with decade-plus deployment requirements.
Inventory Management
Managed $5M+ in specialized component inventory, including nitrogen-stored parts for long-term preservation and availability.
Customer Solutions
Helped customers avoid costly redesigns through strategic component procurement and lifecycle management planning.
What Carried Forward
Supply chain and qualification processes
Learned how hardware goes from concept to customer: component sourcing, board qualification, production testing, and long-tail support.
Hardware-software integration
Debugging deployed embedded systems taught me how hardware and software interact under real-world conditions, which shaped how I approach systems design.
Key Learnings
Complex systems require deep technical understanding and patience
Manufacturing and supply chain are as critical as design
Customer support provides invaluable product insights
Long-term planning is essential in hardware development