About Me

Andy Makovec's profile picture

Hi! I’m a hardware engineer with extensive experience in designing development boards, writing scripts for test automation, and creating test cases for board bring-up, design verification, and EMC.

Experience

Hardware Engineer at Rockwell Automation (May 2019 - Present)

  • Designed several development boards to enable test automation in early prototype and final test stages for a series of new I/O products:
    • Designed for requirements such as multiple isolation zones, 12+ high-speed signals, and several power integrity requirements, resulting in designs of 200+ components per board.
    • Oversaw layout performed by a separate layout designer. Facilitated resolution of placement conflicts.
    • Designed a quick-turn PCB to test a high-risk subcircuit. Created and executed test cases to verify the subcircuit.
    • Led DMI review and PCB DFM processes, and assisted in material ordering and organizing production runs.
    • Created test cases for board bring-up and design verification test, and oversaw execution of tests.
  • Designed and implemented Python scripts for test automation and results analysis:
    • Designed a Python script to capture test results from multiple pieces of test equipment and generate a test report containing 3000+ data points. Included a GUI for use by technicians.
    • Designed a Python script to visualize backplane communication failures with a heatmap.
  • EMC test plan generation (IEC 61000), specifically with regards to ensuring hardware was exercised to functional requirements while under exposure to noise:
    • Designed and implemented Ladder Logic (Allen-Bradley) for test automation.
    • Coordinated flashing of firmware and installation of software to 8 early prototype test setups in order to enable preliminary EMC testing.
  • Member of a cross-functional SAFe Agile team (hardware, firmware, and software), collaborating with other teams (~150 person project) to develop a series of 10+ products.
  • Served as Scrum Master (50/50 time split with technical work above, Sept 2019 - Sept 2020):
    • Led sprint planning and daily stand-ups, assisted in backlog grooming, and prepared stories and metrics in Jira.
    • Delivered bi-weekly readout presentations to an audience of ~150 people, covering a mix of technical progress and agile metrics.

Hardware Engineering Co-Op at Rockwell Automation (Jan 2018 - Aug 2018)

  • Performed EMC Testing of Ethernet-enabled embedded systems products to qualify conformance to the IEC 61000-6-4 standard, including configuring PLCs to automate the testing process.
  • Oversaw the hardware-related aspects of a quality control revision of a legacy embedded systems product including DMI review, PCB DFM process, prototype/pilot runs, and last-time buy considerations.
  • Investigated viability of potential cost savings in new Ethernet PHYs by testing for conformance to IEEE 802.3.
  • Designed and analyzed possible PCB layouts to solve space constraint issues in a new product under development.
  • Mentored a team of 3 engineering interns on a long-term embedded systems design project.

Skills

  • Design Capture: Mentor Graphics proficiency (Xpedition design capture flow, HyperLynx SI/PI modeling, library management), KiCAD competency (design capture and library management)
  • Programming Languages: Python proficiency, C/C++ and Java familiarity
  • Version Control: Git, GitHub, and GitLab competency
  • Other Skills: Linux, Jira, MATLAB, SAP ECC, Rockwell Software (Studio 5000, RSLinx, FactoryTalk)

Education

Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering Program of Study (The Ohio State University, Class of 2019)

Interests

  • Hardware Test Automation and Python evangelist
  • High speed digital design
  • Wireless design
    • Microwave and antenna design coursework
    • Amateur Radio Extra License (Callsign KE8KNA)

Contact Me