Gilbert T. Williams                            Software Development and Project Management

523 South Lakewood Avenue

Baltimore, MD  21224 USA                 bert@gtw4c.com        www.gtw4c.com

410.534.7888  (home)                        202.390.6044 (cell)

 

Synopsis of Experience:  Extensive hands-on engineering and project leadership experience in medical and aerospace electronics, including Planning, Requirements Analysis, System Architecture, Software and Hardware Design, System Integration, and Verification / Validation.  Expertise in Embedded Systems, Software Systems Architecture, Digital Signal Processing, Network Management, Software Development Process Definition, Software Reuse, Project Management, Automatic Test Equipment, Relational Databases, Data Reduction / Analysis, Language Design, and Graphics.  United States Patent 6314311 for medical device application. Other patents pending.

 

Summary of Abilities:  Have helped customers meet goals through developing and managing technical projects. Have implemented software and led teams in software development on operating systems ranging from Univac Exec-8 to DEC VMS to UNIX Motif to Microsoft Windows NT, including PSOS, VxWorks and other embedded systems.  Have managed projects ranging up to 20000 labor hours. Can write code in most major languages, including Ada, C++, C, SQL, LISP, etc., as well as several assembly languages. Can develop algorithmic software (signal processing, neural networks, etc.).  Can use CASE tools,  in-circuit emulators, logic analyzers, and other system integration, test, evaluation, and reverse engineering tools.  Can develop systems using Object-Oriented, Top-Down, Structured Design, Rapid Prototyping, UML, and other methodologies and teach others to do the same.  Can perform system analysis, design and tradeoff studies, including “-ility” analysis.  Can write and manage documentation development process, including proposal, technical, and user-level documentation.  Can effectively use common management tools including spreadsheets, word processors, and scheduling software.  Possess excellent oral and written communications skills, including meeting facilitation.

 

 

Detailed Experience:

 

2004 to Present: Sr. Systems Engineer, Research Analysis and Engineering, Inc.

Perform systems engineering, software development, marketing support, vendor interface, project management in defense contracting firm.  Responsible for all product development activities for Remote Unattended Sensing System, which integrates commercial sensors with commercial and military data networks.  Develop embedded software using VxWorks (C++) with Windows as development system.  Develop GUI configuration software using Java (Swing).  Defined overall system archtitecture which includes multi-task real-time data processing controlled via memory-resident relational database programmed via XML.

 

2002 to 2004: Sr. Systems Engineer, ImageGuide, Inc.

Performed systems engineering, software development, marketing support, vendor interface,
and various other functions in medical device development company. Developed full set of FDA quality procedures (iaw CFR21, part 820) to support development in regulated environment.  Developed concepts for patentable designs in the medical robotics field; one patent in process--five awaiting additional funding. Developed overall architecture for medical robot control system software combining proprietary, off-the-shelf, and custom software components. Implemented system software including GUI, image viewer, interprocessor communication, robot simulation, and targeting software. Productivity: 58936 SLOC of C++ using MS Visual C++ and 12827 SLOC of Java using Borland JBuilder in 9 months, exclusive of prototypes. Software utilizes XML, JNI, image processing, automatic code generation, robot kinematics, and third party (GEMS) library interfacing technologies. Negotiated more than $50K of "free" NRE from various vendors to support project development efforts. Reviewed and provided input for mechanical,  electrical, and system design elements.

 

SKILLS USED: C, C++,  Java, Windows, Linux, SunOS, Microsoft Visual Studio, Project, Excel,  GUI development, configuration management, system builds, requirements specification, system analysis, contract negotiation, software and systems integration.

 

 

2000 to 2002: Managing Director, BrainMaster Technologies, Inc.

Provided general management and technical consulting services to industry.  Saved customer ~$10MM by advising NOT to start a project. Developed software for FAA data system.  Performed project cost estimation and planning for small consultancy (~10 FTE), bringing in projects on time and within budget.  Provided systems and software engineering consulting.  Developed medical device software in accordance with FDA Quality System Regulation using Visual C++ for commercially successful EEG biofeedback system. 

 

SKILLS USED: C, C++, Oracle, SQL, PL/C, Windows, Solaris, SunOS, Microsoft Visual Studio, Project, Excel, Sun, RAID, COM integration, GUI development, configuration management, N-tier system architecture, system builds, telecom, modem banks, driver specification, requirements specification, system analysis, contract negotiation, boardroom presentation, people skills, software and systems integration.

 

 

1998 to 2001: Sr. Staff Engineer, MR Division, Marconi Medical Systems,

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Systems Software Development for commercial product.  Real-time embedded software development for MR front end components.  Contract management for domestic and foreign software vendors, including contract negotiation and contract management for fMRI and Cardiac projects.  Software tool evaluation and recommendation, including DOORS, Syngo, and others. Software systems engineering for motion control and data acquisition product upgrades.  Project lead for Japanese language user interface support.  Project lead for automatic voice output project. Project lead for Interactive MRI project.  Provide support for advanced technology with patents applied for in patient/image registration.  All development performed in accordance with FDA Quality System Regulation. 

 

SKILLS USED:  C, Unix, Linux, VxWorks(Power PC), Motif, DOORS, rcs, html, Animatics motor control, requirements specification, contract negotiation, project planning, subcontract management, client-server architecture, project leadership, audio production.

 

1996 to 1998: Systems Architect, ESA, Inc, Under contract to Picker International Computer Tomography Division to develop and integrate image reconstruction software for the PQ2000+ product line.  Primary responsibilities included design and development of integration test suites; recommending, designing, and implementing software performance and usability improvements (in C++) based on analysis of existing software designs, code, and customer direction; coordinating software test efforts among direct and contract developers; identifying system (hardware, software, and firmware) defects; and correcting software defects.

 

Developed digital signal processing (DSP) diagnostic and driver software for the PQ2000+ product line.  This product line uses Analog Devices 21060 SHARC processors as compute and data movement processing elements.  Achievements include 10000+ delivered source lines of 'C' and assembly code for diagnostics and drivers (PSOS+ on Power PC) (113 function points), development and support of hardware debug and test (requiring more than 10 firmware and electrical upgrades), development of a custom DSP bootstrap program, and processing of the first data from the newly designed PQ2000+ gantry subsystem.    Host system for development was Solaris on Sun Sparc workstations.

 

SKILLS USED: PSOS(Power PC), C++, C, Solaris, Assembly Language, SPOX, networked debuggers, test tool development, system builds, algorithm implementation, systems integration, performance evaluation and tuning, real-time embedded software,  DSP Assembly language, C, project planning, HP Logic Analyzers, Tektronix Oscopes, Analog Devices in-circuit emulator.

 

1995 to Present: Principal, 4C Consulting: Software and computer system engineering services.  Provide representation for offshore software development firms.  Provide proposal writing support to various Government contractors.  Developed large-scale portfolio management software at financial startup. Developed financial applications in C++ for OS/2 for private investors.  As subcontractor to Computer Horizons Corporation, integrated 'C' language data translation application for Pioneer Electronics running under VAX VMS and OpenVMS operating systems. 

 

1986 to 1995: Software/Systems Engineer--Westinghouse Electric Corporation:  Performed high-level and hands on software and systems architecture and implementation tasks for a variety of in-house, military, and commercial products.  Coordinated the efforts of various multi-discipline teams to achieve objectives.  Wrote and managed proposals, technical documentation (e.g., test plans, procedures, etc.), project plans, and marketing copy.  Performed independent research and development (IRAD) activities.  Submitted several potential patent applications.  During this time, participated in several shorter-and longer-term efforts overlapping the projects highlighted in the following paragraphs (e.g., Ada 9X voluntary reviewer, various proposal efforts).  Dates for project execution are approximate.

 

3/95 to 9/95: WEC:  Systems Engineering leadership role in developing a Unix network-based sonar system for U.S. Navy (AN/SQQ-89(V)6), creating design approaches with estimated savings of $2MM.  Performed planning, resolved problems directly with Navy customers, and synthesized optimal cost/performance solutions.  Led network management software development effort, using HP Openview and SNMP agent software to provide performance monitoring and application management capabilities.  Managed generation of test plans and procedures in accordance with commercial (ANSI) standards.  Developed business proposals and other technical documentation.  Performed project and cost management using commercial PC-based tools.

 

6/93 to 3/95: Westinghouse Electric Corporation:  Successfully led Westinghouse Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) control software product development, delivering a system with more functionality than the competition (over 30K lines of C) in less than 3 man-years.  This development used the BSO/Tasking C compiler and the Embedded Systems Products RTXC C-language executive to target a custom hardware design based on the Intel 80196NT microcontroller.  The control software designed uses hybrid object-based techniques and consists of more than 45 "objects" representing high-level system components (e.g., battery, switches, input line, output line).  These "objects" are manipulated by about 20 tasks, providing a good tradeoff between the productivity gains associated with object oriented analysis and design (OOA/OOD) and the pragmatic needs of real-time embedded system development.  Was responsible for the design of the control algorithms (e.g., battery charging, line monitoring, switch-over), the overall system architecture, integration of the application and executive software, supervision of PC-based support software, and overall controller integration.  Performed hands-on coding, testing, and hardware/software integration using standard tools including in-circuit emulators, PROM emulators, logic analyzers, and o-scopes.  Defined requirements for PC-based support tools.  Implemented MS-Windows 3.1/NT and prototypes for remote UPS control using the Windows SDK in C.  Managed subcontract for Novell Netware interface subsystem.

 

3/93 to 6/94: WEC: Implemented fuzzy logic control system targeting Motorola microcontrollers (65xxx) family for arc lamp ballast application.  Implemented fuzzy logic algorithms using off the shelf tools and designed A/D and PWM drivers using assembly language.  The whole control program occupies less than 1K byte of ROM in the low-cost ($2) part.  Patents were applied for this overall system.

 

10/91 to 6/93: WEC:   Developed all software for the Westinghouse Quieting for Jet Engine Testing (QJET) product line, including signal processing for active noise control (AD2101) and data acquisition and processing.  The data acquisition system was based on a client-server architecture using a DEC MicroVAX as the data storage server.  The primary data acquisition and display processing element was a single board PC connected to the VAX via ethernet and mounted in a passive backplane, which also contained the 16 Spectrum AD2101 digital signal processing (DSP) boards.  The data acquisition and signal processing control programs operated concurrently under Microsoft Windows 3.1.  The data acquisition subsystem resided in a VXI (VME for Instrumentation) backplane and interfaced with custom analog hardware via a set of commercial HP acquisition boards.  The VXI chassis interfaced with the PC via GPIB.  The PC-based acquisition/display software, implemented in C, used the Windows SDK to provide gauge and text representation of the 100+ thermocouple and pressure sensor data elements.  The PC-based DSP control software provided DSP software download and control loop parameter display, also using the Windows SDK. 

 

The DSP software was written in assembler and used FIR filters to perform control of noise-canceling speakers using two input microphones per DSP board.  Developed custom software that enabled the data to be stored in Excel spreadsheets for statistical analysis.  Developed a digital beamformer in Ada targeting the PC for system prototyping.  Received Signature Award of Excellence from Westinghouse for the work performed on this project.

 

3/90 to 10/91: WEC: Led team of 5 in conversion of CMS2 software to Ada targeting MIPS architecture.  This goal of this project was to convert the Torpedo Mk50 tactical software from CMS2 to Ada targeting a custom MIPS-3000 based board to reduce government procurement cost.  This project led to a multi-year software support contract for team members.

 

3/90 to 10/91: WEC: Developed configuration management database system providing software metrics and torpedo configuration tracking capability.  This system was written in Ada and interfaced with DEC RDB via static and dynamic SQL to provide persistent storage and query support.  Screens were developed using DEC FMS.  Developed a complete set of relational algebra operators, in effect creating a complete memory-based relational database system to enhance overall system performance.  Developed a set of call-back procedures to more readily implement event-based user processing. 

 

6/88 to 6/90: WEC:  Developed state-of-the-art simulation system in Ada, including overall architecture, control language (user interface) design, modeling, and executive design.  This simulation system uses object-oriented technology to model undersea weapons, targets, and the environment.  This simulation system consists of more than 100K lines of Ada and is in use at various Westinghouse facilities.  As part of the startup for this project, provided Ada training to engineering department and developed Ada reuse library using in-house and public domain components to reduce system development time.

 

6/86 to 6/88: Westinghouse Electric Corporation: Led team of 4 in design and integration of Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) to support production of the Torpedo Mk48 ADCAP, including planning and supervision of software design, documentation, code generation, and system integration.  This ATE uses Intel Multibus 80286 boards and custom interface hardware to test the operation of custom military processors.  The software is written in PL/M, CMS2, and assembler.  The ATE uses the ISIS operating system.  Reverse engineered military processor microcode to enable development of test software download components written in CMS2.  Developed build procedure for test download code.  Developed PL/M code to download test modules.  Implemented project tracking system to ensure timely delivery.

 

1983 to 1986:  Senior Development Engineer--Honeywell, Inc.:  Conducted integration of the first release of the Full Scale Development (FSD) Torpedo Mk50 Tactical Software.  Conceived architecture for the tactical logic controller including design of the Tactics Design Language used for operational control of the torpedo mission.  Developed overall mission control algorithms, implementing tactical and exercise performance requirements.  Detailed design and code for the safety monitor and launch control software, using Ada as the program design language and CMS2 as the target language.  The tactical software targets the AN/.AYK-14 military microcomputer.  Performed formal software verification and validation for the Advanced Development torpedo software (precursor to the FSD software).  Defined requirements for Requirements to Test Tracking System, which used Ingress RDBMS to allow the user to specify links among various specification, design, and test documents.  Developed formal documentation in accordance with MIL-STD-1679A, including Program Performance Specification (PPS), Program Design Specification (PDS), Test Plans (TPs), Test Procedures (TPRs), and Test Reports (TRs).  Received award from Honeywell for work on the Mk50 program.

 

1981 to 1983 :    AST, Data Systems (Electronic Engineer)--NASA Marshall Space Flight Center:  Developed real-time embedded software for the Materials Experiment Assembly (MEA), a Space Shuttle experiment which flew on STS-7.  The MEA project involved open-loop control of three furnaces.  The astronaut had only to power on the system and actuate a switch to begin a particular experiment.  This software was written using an application-specific language targeting a custom 8080-based microcomputer with 32K bytes of PROM and 16K bytes or RAM.  Specified requirements for data reduction software and designed the data recording software. Performed formal verification and validation of the flight software, including environmental testing.  Developed real-time, man-in-the-loop ground-based furnace test software targeting a Z80-based microcomputer running CP/M for the MEA project, as well as post-test data processing / analysis software.  Participated in NASA Professional Intern Program.  Received NASA awards for work on the MEA project.

 

1978 to 1981:   Member of Technical Staff--Computer Sciences Corporation,:  On contract to NASA, performed data analysis software development for the  Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) project.  Supervised work of 5 production coordinators.  Reduced time for generation of data packages used to support SSME analysis from 5 days to less than 6 hours.  This system was written in FORTRAN and operated on a Univac 1108 system, displaying plots on Tektronics 4010-class displays connected to the host via serial communication lines.  Core improvements included file system redesign, graphics output stream optimization, file conversion optimization, and addition of batch processing capability.  Team member for development of Engineering Document Generator (EDGE), a seminal text/graphics package supporting documentation of Shuttle missions at MSFC.  This system was written in FORTRAN and interfaced with a variety of graphics libraries, including Plot10, DISSPLAY, and others.

 

Education :

Carnegie-Mellon University                 Graduate studies in Software Engineering

Case Western Reserve University     Graduate studies in Computer Engineering

University of Alabama, Huntsville        Graduate studies in Computer Science

Jacksonville State University(AL)        BS/Mathematics

 

Security Clearance:  Held DoD Secret/SCI clearance 1983-1995.  Cleared at NASA and FAA for sensitive project work.  Willing to get TS/polygraph SBI.

 

Additional experiential details, rates, and references available upon request.