AaronClarke.com
Blue circuit board

Embedded Systems Consulting Experience

I am an embedded systems consultant specializing in low-level software development for new products. I have worked with start-up companies to research and develop new prototypes and add features to existing products. Below is a very brief overview of my qualifications; feel free to contact me to discuss how I can assist with your project. You can call or text me at 716-514-4141 or send an email to ac@aaronclarke.com

Since 1995, I have worked on embedded systems for both large and small companies, contributing to a wide range of products across consumer, defense, aerospace and industrial markets. I am passionate about designing and engineering new products, guiding them from concept to completion.

I also maintain a blog that focuses on embedded systems development, primarily working with development boards and offering various tutorials, which you can find at blog.EmbeddedCoding.com. If you would like to learn more about my work, see my interview as an EEWeb Featured Engineer series. You can also download my resume in PDF format.

Embedded Systems Engineering Services

Here are some examples of the services I offer:

I can supplement your engineering team at any phase of development, whether you need temporary support for a difficult integration problem or help diagnosing hardware issues. For startups, I can serve in an advisory role, leveraging my familiarity with similar projects to step in quickly when needed. Identifying mistakes during a schematic review, for instance, can prevent the need for a board re-spin, which leads to significant savings in both time and cost.

Feel free to reach out today to discuss how I can assist with your project.

AARON CLARKE

Summary

Experienced Embedded Systems Engineer with expertise in product development, firmware engineering,
and embedded systems. Proven track record in aerospace, defense, consumer electronics, and medical devices.
Skilled in C/C++, Python, embedded Linux, and RTOS with a focus on delivering reliable, high-performance
solutions.

Skills

Programming Languages: Assembly, C, C++, C#, Fortran, Matlab, Perl, PHP, Python.
Microprocessors: ARM, fixed point DSPs, i.MX, OMAP, PIC, PowerPC, PSoC, Zynq.
Operating Systems: FreeRTOS, Linux, MicroC/OS-II, PetaLinux, UNIX, VxWorks, Windows.
Technologies: Bitbake, Bluetooth, Board bring-up, bootloaders, Embedded Linux,
GPIB, Ethernet, iSCSI, HID, network programming, MQTT, PXI, RTOS, SLIP, TCP/IP,
UDP, USB, VME, WDK, wireless communication modules, WHQL, Windows Logo Testing,
Yocto.

Professional Experience

Private Aerospace Launch Vehicle Company (Startup)
Avionics Firmware Engineer (Consulting), July 2020-Present
• Developed firmware to collect and transmit telemetry data from flight computer
sensors, including pressure sensors, RTDs, and the flight termination system.
• Developed data acquisition software to rigorously test the flight computer and validate sensor
interfaces.
• Used the software in the final qualification process to certify the flight computer for spaceflight.
• Contributed to the full lifecycle of the flight computer, from initial prototype development to the first
vehicle launch.
keywords: C++, Embedded Linux, nidaqmx, PetaLinux, Pressure sensor, Python, RTD.

Aaron Clarke, Lockport, NY
Embedded Systems Consultant, July 2007-Present
• Engineered a Bluetooth interface for a new product for a medical device startup.
• Diagnosed issue with Ethernet ports on prototype ARM Embedded Linux system.
• Fixed issue with Ethernet PHY addressing by updating Linux kernel and drivers.
• Troubleshooting crash issue on newly developed Samsung ARM11 debian embedded system.
• Set up BeagleBone Black Eclipse development environment for new product under development.
• Developed Debian Linux-based OS and drivers on TI ARM Cortex-A8 DM3730 processor module.
• Customized linux device driver to support TFT LCD display with OMAP Display Subsystem (DSS) module.
• Developed Linux build system for Freescale i.MX ARM system for embedded hardware manufacturer.
• Added USB interface to WiFi product for manufacturer of embedded modules .
• Evaluated capacitive touchscreen product for Raspberry Pi, diagnosed I2C problem with logic analyzer.
• Ported STMicroelectronics USB device stack to ARM processor system running FreeRTOS .
• Updated Agricultural GPS product for new PIC18 microcontroller and GPS receiver chip.
• Developed firmware for wireless system using Semtech 433MHz transceivers and PIC18
microcontrollers.
• Ported the Microchip Graphics Library to a new grayscale LCD controller for a PIC24F product
prototype.
• Delivered PIC display driver and customized graphics firmware on time to meet aggressive schedule.
• Debugged product firmware and rewrote an embedded USB Host stack to support common input
devices.
• Customized the Microchip HID USB device bootloader for a Microchip PIC18F industrial product.
• Ported U-boot, Apex, and vivi bootloaders to bring up new ARM-based products.
• Created custom embedded Linux kernels for ARM processors.
• Developed custom JTAG configuration scripts for programming NAND flash for production.
• Created custom boot code to support products with only NAND flash NVRAM.
• Maintained embedded Linux builds and ported new features to wireless access point.
• Developed shell and PHP scripts to boot embedded Linux systems with custom configurations.
• Diagnosed packet processing and IP filtering issues with embedded Linux switch.
• Debugged setup and administration issues for embedded Linux system and Linux server.
• Integrated software modules and debugged hardware prototypes for resource constrained ARM7
system.
• Performed design reviews of schematics and layout for consumer electronic prototypes for two clients
• Tested EMC compliance of consumer electronic prototypes.

Fisher-Price Inc., East Aurora, NY
Project Engineer, November 2004-July 2007
• Developed electronics for multiple consumer products.
keywords: 8-bit, 32-bit, ARM7, C, HID, MIDI, PSOC, RTOS, USB, audio, contract manufacturer,
codec, flash, signal processing, video.

ATTO Technology, Amherst, NY
Systems Engineer, August 2002-November 2004
• Developed firmware for iSCSI storage switch.
keywords: C, Ethernet, Linux, TCP/IP, UML, XScale, iSCSI, logic analyzer, network storage,
IETF, RFC
Sierra Research, Buffalo, NY, now part of DRS Technologies, Inc.
Engineer, June 2001-August 2002
• Developed VxWorks drivers and embedded software modules.
keywords: C, C++, Ethernet, ICD, Linux, Matlab, Perl, PowerPC, RS-232, RS-422, SLIP, UDP/IP,
VxWorks, bash, data-flow, gcc, serial

Amherst Systems, Buffalo, NY, now part of Northrop Grumman
Engineer, December 1997-January 1999
• Contributed to a wide variety of embedded software projects supporting CEESIM development.
keywords: Alpha, C, C++, GPIB, LabWindows CVI, RS-232, StrongARM, TCP/IP, UDP, VxWorks
gcc, logic analyzer, parallel port

VoCAL Technologies, Ltd., Amherst, NY
DSP Engineer, February 1996-June 1997
• Led team developing modem and fax firmware and hardware for Japanese client.
keywords: 16-bit, C, DSP, Perl, VLIW, algorithm, fax, fixed-point, modem

Dynamics Research Corp., Tonawanda, NY
Computer Programmer, June 1995-February 1996
• Awarded patent for work on data-acquisition system (U.S. Patent #5805464).
keywords: BASIC, C, FFT, LabWindows CVI, balancing, data acquisition, real-time programming, vibration
analysis

Education

B.S. Electrical Engineering, University at Buffalo, February 2000.
• Developed audio signal compression system using psychoacoustics in Matlab.
B.S. Mathematics, University at Buffalo, June 1995.
• Concentration in Applied Mathematics.
A.S. Engineering Science, Erie Community College, Williamsville, NY, June 1990.
• Awarded Engineering Society of Buffalo scholarship.