Benjamin Kamen

Highly adaptive self-taught Engineer/Analyst with over 25 years of computer/electronics engineering experience. Knowledge covers a wide range of concepts at levels of complexity ranging from circuit level electronics design to computer systems to large scale networks enabling the ability to view situations from a multitude of perspectives.

Culminating from all this previous experience, I've learned to architect, plan, provision, implement and maintain complex systems which helped bring success to the companies I've worked for through either the realization of substantial savings in operating costs or through the systems requiring little maintenance or repair.

As an excellent self starter typically needing no guidance/supervision, my roles of employment since 1992 have been reporting directly to senior management/staff.

Past employments included supervisory and instructional roles as I have also managed project groups as well as trained employees through seminars, training sessions and one-on-one assistance bringing better productivity through employees which have a better understanding of the company's product, their environment and the technology in it.

The roles that typically utilize this experience best are small companies or start-ups where a single person must wear multiple hats. Because I come with most of my own lab equipment obtained from my years of consulting or carrying on my hobbies at home, I can now offer my services as a more complete solution than most others in the market.

Inventions:

Scientific Papers/Publishings:

General Electronics: (Test & Measurement)

Specialty RF:

Computer Technologies:

• Operating Systems: (Alphabetical Order)

  AIX (IBM) Unix Atari TOS (Atari 8-bit & ST series) Commodore 64 & Amiga MS & IBM DOS HP-UX Unix Interactive Unix Linux (Fedora, RedHat, YellowDog, Ubuntu) MacOS

  NCDware Novell Netware OS/2 SCO Unix Sun Solaris/SunOS Unix (Sparc & x86) VMS Windows (1-3, 3.11(WFW), 9x, NT 3.51-4.0 (plus TermServ), Win2000 WkStn/Server (w/TermServ) ), WinXP (Apps Used: MS Office, Exchange, Outlook... you name it.)

• Hardware Platforms: Intel x86, Dec Alpha, Motorola 680x0 & PowerPC (Mac & IBM RS/6000), Sparc/Ultra-Sparc (Sun), 6502, 6800.
• Embedded MicroControllers: Microchip PIC 16/18/24/30-33/32 Series (Hardware and Firmware Design using CCS PIC-C and Microchip C18/C30/C32), Motorola 6805, Parallax Stamps I & II, ARM
• Languages: C, TCL/TK, Perl, VHDL, Verilog, Basic, Assembler (for 6502 & MicroChip), Unix Shells(ksh,bash)
• Networking:
  • TCP/IP, IPX, PPP, NetBIOS/NetBeui, 10/Fast/Gigabit Ethernet using both Copper and Single/Multi-mode Fiber (and some Token Ring), 802.11 (w/WEP, AUTH and more), IPsec, VPN Tunnels
  • Services: NFS, NIS, DNS, TFTP/FTP, HTTP/HTTPS, SMB, DHCP/BOOTP, NTP, RADIUS, RSYNC, SMTP w/AUTH & STARTTLS, VoIP, Legato Networker, Veritas Products, WebSense and more.
  • Hardware:
    L2/L3 Switches(Routers): Extreme Networks (Summit) and
    Cisco (16xx,17xx,25xx,26xx,45xx,72xx Routers / Catalyst 1900,2900,3500,4000,5000 Switches)
    L2 Switches: 3Com, SMC, Linksys and others
    Packet Sniffers: Shomiti, GN NetTest, Niksun, Ethereal, Unix (tcpdump)
    Packet Generator/Analyzers: Ixia
    Firewalls: Netscreen, Cisco (PIX), LinkSys, Netgear and others..
  • Cisco Certifications: Cisco IP Telephony (Call Manager 3.x - VoIP)
  • Email/Anti-SPAM: Norton SMTP Gateways, Sendmail (UNIX), SPAMassassin, MIMEdefang
  • VPN, IPsec (Netscreen/Unix/Windows)

Telecommunications Technology:

• Resources: POTS, T1/E1 (ISDN-PRI/BRI, Robbed Bit Signalling - E&M Wink/Immediate Start, FrameRelay, ETS300, DASS2 and more...), T3
• Hardware:
  Adtran Switched Products(Atlas800/800+ & Atlas550, L128T)
  Ascend MAX/Pipeline products (Max1800, Max4000 & 6000 series, MaxTNT)
  W&G and TTC T-BERT Analyzers
  Gordon Kapes, Inc. Series 920 & 930 PFT/Simulators
  TelTone TLS Series Simulators
  Other various CSU/TSU/DSU product lines (Adtran, ADC/Kentrox)
• PBX's:
  Mitel SX-200Light (5 yrs) supporting ~185 lines/~150 users.
  Lucent Definity G3SI(light exposure) supporting Multi-T1/E1 Test Environment
  Nortel Meridian Series(light exposure) consulting customers on Trunk Config
  Lucent 5ESS Series(light exposure) consulting customers on Trunk Config

Other Skills of Interest:

• Private Pilot and Aircraft Owner
• Electronics Hobbyist (Schematic/PCB Design, Layout, fabrication, etc...)
• Designing & Operating personal Internet Domain/WebServer/MailServer

Engineering Consultant - Jun.2005 to Present

SPEC, Inc. - Jun. 2005 to Present
Job Desc: Consulting Hardware Design Engineer

1. To design a high-speed SRAM memory module (Design, PCB, Assembly and Test) for the CERFboard255 from Intrynsic, Inc.
2. Verilog HDL FPGA design for to be utilized as a data aggregator in a system for unexploded munitions detection for Sky Research, Inc through SPEC. (See: Magnetometer Survey to Detect Unexploded Ordnance)
3. To assisting with the design/prototype & assist in test, a PIC18F microcontroller based sensor utilizing 'C' for use with radiosondes for atmospheric research. (This included everything from SCH capture to PCB layout to assembly to code to test.)
4. To create test plan and conduct wireless survey for single pilot operation of afore mentioned munitions detection system.
5. To design an autonomous atmospheric measuring device for use in research at the South Pole (Jan 2009).
6. To design a data translator for a system sending 16bit synchronous data to a PC over 8bit asynchronous serial (RS232) (Dec 2009).
7. Redesign/Assembly/Test of custome PCB's for Atmospheric Instrumentation (Jan 2011).
8. Rewrite firmware for supervisor module for same Atmospheric Instrumentation used in NASA MACPEX Research (Jan 2011).
9. Rewrite firmware for same supervisor module for same Atmospheric Instrumentation used in NASA ATTREX Research (Oct 2011). This project also included travel to NASA's Dreyden Research facility to install/test/operate not only the supervisor, but additional SPEC instrumentation during science flights.

HI-I, LLC - Feb. 2011 to Aug. 2011
Job Desc: Designier of Hardware, Firmware w/Product Prototyping

Embedded Solutions Group - Jan. 2010 to Mar. 2011
Job Desc: Embedded Systems Engineer

Theraputic Alliances, Inc. - Jan. 2010 to Jun. 2011
Job Desc: SCH/PCB Layout

1. Ergys Family of Neural Stimulator:
2. Layout of PCB using High Voltage for stimulation of muscles during physical therapy.
3. Assembly of initial prototype for testing as well as minor modifications needed during testing.
4. NE4 Mini:
   SCH Entry/PCB Layout of 4channel design with some changes for this 1channel version.
   Assembly of initial prototype for testing as well as minor modifications needed during testing.
   CNC Fabrication of custom front panels for the NE4mini's enclosure.
   Modifications to 3rd Party Bluetooth Module to improve operation in NE4mini Design.

Univ of IL (Institute of Natural Resource and Sustainability and Electical and Computer Engineering) - Jun. 2006 to Present
Job Desc: Radar Data Analyst, Tracking Radar Engineer, Electronics Engineer

NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research) - Mar. 2006 to Nov.2009
Job Desc: Consulting Hardware Design Engineer

Apr. 2009 - Nov.2009: Schematic Design and creation of embedded firmware implementing TCP/IP over Ethernet to multiple serial port bridge using a Microchip PIC18F97J60 Microcontroller.

Mar. 2006: Finish up the final 'C' firmware development/debugging/testing of a Microchip PIC18F series based atmospheric weather sensor.

Eclypse International - Jun. 2008 to Jan. 2009
Job Desc: Consulting Design Engineer

Innotech, Inc. - Nov. 2005 to Jan. 2006 and Jan. 2006 to Jul. 2006
Job Desc: Consulting Hardware Design Engineer

1. PCB design of an RF Trap Transmitter for use in wildlife capture. (Includes design assistance and SCH capture)
2. PCB design of the RF receiver for use with the afore mentioned transmitter. (Includes design assistance and SCH capture)
3. Consult in testing/verification of system.

AZ Apps, Inc. - Jul. 2006 to Oct. 2007
Job Desc: Consulting Hardware Design Engineer

1. Writing of firmware and steer implementation of PIC 18F Microcontroller based system subprocessor. (Including SCH design assistance)
2. Writing of Verilog HDL for FPGA design for custom bus sensor subsystem. (Including SCH capture and final system implementation/debugging)

This position for the Illinois Natural History Survey involved working on a scientific research grant through the National Science Foundation concerning the automated tracking of various radio transmitter tagged wildlife. Aspects of this job included:

Bozsi Engineering, LLC. - Aug. 2005 to Jan. 2006
Job Desc: Consulting Hardware Design Engineer

This was another multi-job role in electronics engineering utilizing my skills in PCB design, manufacturing, assembly, QA and test. Also used were my skills with computer IT needs concerning the company network.

• Resource Communications, Inc.
• Park Ridge School District 64 - General Network Maintenance and Emergency Support
• Liquid Container - General Network/IT Support
• Village of Bolingbrook - General Network/IT Support
• Windy City Flyers - Web Site relocation/reprogramming project, internal server rebuild from Windows to Linux,
  VHF Radio Repair/Installation and other various hardware needs.
• Data Cable Technologies - Emergency Data Recovery
• Sellers Edge - Technology Liquidation Consultant
• High Ridge Partners - Technology Liquidation Consultant
• Gordon Kapes, Inc. - Network/IT Development Support
• DK Heating, Inc. - Computer/IT repair/support needs
• net7software, Inc. - Computer/IT Consulting
• Lipson & Potter Jewelers - Computer/IT Consulting

Example internal projects were:

• Brought company Email Services in house to new IMAP/POP3/WebMail/SMTP Server.
• Brought new internal DNS/DHCP Server online.
• Brought new internal Web Server and external Service Department Web Server online.
• Assisted in planning and installation of new computer room power distribution for new UPS system.
• Brought Internal Mail List Server online.
• Put new Firewall and associated corporate to home VPN's online.
• Assisted with internal user issues with desktop applications.

Examples customers I worked with were: (this list is only a sample and not intended to be complete)

• Park Ridge School District 64: Park Ridge has a medium to large scale network consisting of a main office with 3-T1's to the Internet with 8 T1's to the various schools in the district. The system was mainly comprised of Apple Macintosh workstations with some MS-Windows. Novell and Apple was the make-up of the file and authentication servers with Linux supporting the internal DNS and DHCP functions.


• Evanston Township High School: Work at Evanston consisted mainly of installing a new Cisco Catalyst 4000 series switch with Layer-3 capabilities to replace the previous equipment of a Cisco Catalyst 5000 with a Cisco 3640 series router.


• Oxford Bank and Trust: Oxford was having persistent problems with the ATM located at two branch circuits out in Naperville, IL. I successfully brought all communications online after years of trouble to a state of virtually maintenance free operation.


• Richardson Electronics: Basic guidance and support here when the technical staff at Richardson had questions regarding products they purchased from Resource.


• Hackney's Family Resturants: Successfully installed Firewall equipment at restaurant locations to bring company VPN WAN online via DSL Internet connectivity.


• Web Solutions (ISP): Provide technical advice concerning TCP/IP Networking and Communications for Web Solutions' various Cisco routers and T1's to customers.

In 1995, Open Port consisted of 6 owners when they asked me to come aboard. Two owners made up sales. Two of the owners were programmers. One was business development. The last one was engineering. There were no other employees yet.

Thus, working at Open Port meant wearing many different hats. I was the primary personnel where anything technical but non-programming was concerned. The network we utilized was Unix/OS-2/Windows based and communicated via TCP/IP and NetBIOS.

Scenarios typically consisted of a request to come in to design/implement from the ground up a solution to a specific problem whether it be internally based or at a customer's site. These solutions dealt with Open Port's product line directly (i.e., specifying/installing of communications lines to a customer for OPT's product to function with.) or possibly just lending expertise to a situation outside the direct scope of Open Port products or services. "Pre-Sales" or "Post-Sales" Engineer would be a good way to describe this as both areas of the sales cycle have been supported. Some brief examples are:

• Advising customers in their presales trial phase as to what equipment and resources might be required.

• Supporting customers in post-sales situations where an unforeseen problem needed resolution. (downed phone circuits or bad provisioning)

Open Port's original product was enterprise-wide fax which eventually matured into carrier grade Internet Messaging. Open Port positions it as a Network Operating System. Originally it ran on a multitude of platforms. Thus, the operating systems with which I acquired experience in this environment included:

• Windows ( 3.xx, 9X, NT 3.51, 4.0, NT Terminal Server)
• OS/2 (2.1 thru warp)
• Unix (IBM AIX[moderate], HP-UX[light], Sun[heavy], SCO[moderate], DEC OSF/1[light])
• Vax/VMS [moderate]

Job Desc included:

• Telecommunications Engineer: OPT's Telecom infrastructure consisted of (8) T1's, (2) Mitel SX-200 PBX's and approximately 175 phones at two downtown Chicago locations. I specified, designed, implemented and maintained the entire infrastructure for the duration of Open Port's ~5yr existance. The configuration included POTS as well as T1 lines (originally Robbed-Bit but eventually switched to ISDN-PRI). The Mitel system is a modular fiber-distributed system. This was broken out into a star configuration throughout closets located on the floor of our office space. Other than it's selection when purchased, I orchestrated it's installation from start to finish. I would also recommend and implement all changes in services with OPT's telecom infrastructure. Our carriers were Ameritech, Focal Communications and US Sprint. For Internet services we used UU.net(WorldCom). All these services (including our remote office) was routed through an AdTran Atlas800 Integrated Access Device. These actually were such flexible devices, I implemented/maintained several development "mini-PSTN's" throughout the company for use in testing environments.
• Hardware R&D/Support Manager: Researching, specifying, recommending, designing, prototyping and testing just about any new hardware including computers, cabling, connectors, networking, telecom, special projects. The support aspect of this title typically involved transferrence of knowledge to other OPT employees once I had set up new hardware systems/test environments for their use. Also, seminars for new employees on topics such as Telephony or Networking were a regular occurrence.. Last, support included travelling to customer sites to do product trial/production installation. Sites travelled included UK/Europe and Asia as well as in the US.
• Network Engineer: Open Port's network infrastructure consisted of 10/100/1000Mb Ethernet in both copper and fiber-optic format. Some Token-Ring was also in use primarly in the testing labs. The network protocol used was primarly TCP/IP with little or no NetBIOS. We supported the full suite of TCP/IP services like DNS, DHCP, NTP, NIS, LDAP, SENDMAIL, POP, IMAP and others. Connected hosts on the network varied around 450-500 computers of all varieties from x86 to Sun Microsystems to IBM to HP and DEC. I was responsible for researching, recommending or designing and implementing new solutions for the network. Projects included network renumeration, plant maintenance, training for new employees, systems setup/administration. Maintainence of all Windows OS computers was eventually passed on to the Information Services group, but I continued to maintain core services on the network. Because I was still responsible for all Telcom and Core network services, User-Dialup Services was also a core function I maintained. Experience here included Ascend MAX/TNT product line of WAN devices, ISDN-BRI hookup both in the office and at employee sites.
• Electrical Engineer: Researching, recommending or design and implementation of solutions providing safe and reliable power to the sensitive computer and telecommunications systems of the company. Examples included specification of new circuits and loading limitations for equipment to be installed as well as the UPS systems installed to back them up.
• In-House/On-Site Customer Support Consultant & Member of ATG: ATG, the Advanced Technology Group, consisted of myself and Open Port Founders Marty Wegner, Omey Nandyal and Tony Dutra.

  ATG would research new directions for the company product line through innovative and sometimes whimsical examples of new applications. Also, whenever there seemed to be an unsolvable problem, Marty (Chief Software Scientist) and I would be assigned to jump in and fix/solve the problem.

  Other Responsibilities included:
  • Open Port's 3x3 Video Wall
  • In-House Training Sessions on Technology and OPT's Products.
  • Providing Top-Level Technical Support/Training to the Engineering, Client Services, Sales and IT Department.

  This particular position had me doing so many different things, it's difficult within the scope of this resume to list them here. The descriptions above only touch on some of the tasks I engaged on a regular basis.

Gordon Kapes, the owner, actually had 3 companies at the time I was employed for which I performed tasks for all 3.
 

• Gordon Kapes, Inc. manufactured telephony equipment such as 'Power Fail Transfer' equipment for PBX and Key systems, switched power supplies, and computerized site monitoring equipment.
• Studio Technologies manufactured professional audio equipment such a stereo simulators, microphone preamps, audio truck talent amps/mixers, computer audio workstation switches and mixers.
• Open Port Technology was the third company which Gordon started with 2 other businessmen. This company produced products for use in the field of computer based telephony initially focusing on fax technologies.

Daily activities included:

• R&D Lab Engineer/Technician.
• Debugging new product prototypes.
• Building product test fixtures.
• Write software/instructional test procedures for production testing of new products.
• Assist/train technicians repairing product returns.
• Occasional Trade Show travel.
• Maintain Novell computer network w/DOS & Windows architecture computers running over 10Mb IPX Ethernet.

While still an employee of Gordon Kapes, Open Port "rented" my services to do various large scale projects with US West on new fax based bureau style services out in Denver, CO. My charge was to specify, build and deploy the prototype and some production industrial fax servers to be delivered to US West. Eventually Open Port grew to the point of needing a full time employee. At that point I was asked by the CEO of Open Port to join the company permanently.

• Using problem solving skills along with limited schematics and documentation to troubleshoot and repair the wide variety of company audio products.
• Repairs consisted mostly of component level repair with some board level repair. Products consisted of professional audio equipment such as mixers (both powered and line level), VHF wireless microphones/receiver systems, UHF mobile radio amplifiers, home theater products (surround decoders and amps), CD players and teleconferencing products. Products utilized a mixture of thru-hole as well as surface mount technology.
• Other tasks included designing test-fixtures when needed to help speed/aid repair of products. The Service Department usually did not receive a duplicate set of the testing equipment that our production facilities had for testing products. So, we had to make our own.
• Handling customer phone calls concerning technical questions about products in a pre-sales and post-sales capacity as well as concerning repairs in process. We also had a walk-up counter at which we directly interacted with customers.
• Technical Liaison Representative between the Services Department and Quality Assurance in two different new product development teams concerning the Shure's teleconferencing product line.
• Working with the Advertising Department to help speed repairs sent in by endorsing artists by being a direct contact within the Service Department. This also included representing the company on-site for technical support when artists came to town for performances and required assistance.

• Original duties included writing repair manual for CATV decoders with commonly found problems through my own repairs. (no reference schematics were originally available.)

• Worked during a system changeout which involved removal, inspection, accounting and packaging/shipping of over 16,000 CATV converters. The core group for most of this consisted of myself and 2 other co-workers.

• Maintained PC's located at the business office.

• CATV Linemen wiring up cities for cable TV. This position involved everything from running plant cable/strand, clearance approvals, map verification and running construction crews.

Computer repair and support. Systems consisted of business and some personal IBM PC and Apple Macintosh computers. Other items included printers, modems and typical computer accessories both internal and external. Responsibilities included on-site customer service calls/installations.

Computer and Consumer Electronics repair and support. Responsibilities included customer service calls.