OVERVIEW- Technical

Computerised Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technology:

See also Plessey (now Thales). and Island Systems Ltd.

• Senior Quality Engineer (Test and Configuration Controller) - Flomerics Ltd. Full time 1996-1997 (left following death of technical director and company reorganisation).

Flomerics works in the field of Computerised Fluid Dynamics (Computerised Modelling) and modelled the Pentium processor for heat flow. The software products are also used for predicting the spread of bacteria through hospital air vents.

Products developed on multiple UNIX platforms (including Sun, HP, Silicon Graphics IRIX and DEC) using FORTRAN, C, C++ and Informix. Windows 95 and NT experience.

My experience with Flomerics was during the product development at a time when the next generation product was a long way behind schedule, having a number of QA issues associated. I took this product right through to a successful Beta Release and took on QA responsibilities for other products across the company. Work included:

• Acted as the company QA Manager for this international company.

• Test team leader, developed testing strategies (for both UK and USA products).

• Setting up of a quality control process based on the V-model, to take the company closer to ISO 9000 accreditation and Tick IT.

• Capture of faults and bugs with associated details for Metrics analysis. MS Excel charts and graphs used to present weekly Metrics analysis.

• Introduction of Clear DDTS for recording problems and faults across product life cycles.

• Interviewed and trained staff.

• Developed system integration test strategies, test plans and scripts. Included performance testing, white and black box testing.

• Introduced automated test tools such as XRunner and year 2000 work.

• Documentation was done using MS Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint including macros) and Frame maker. UNIX editors were also used.

• Wrote manual test and regression test scripts.

• Wrote specifications for other engineers to produce automated GUI regression test scripts using testing tools such as XRunner, for which I required some XRunner knowledge.

• Introduced the Pure Atria Clear DDTS system into the company for fault tracking after comparison with other products (e.g. SQL’s PCMS). Also introduced Clear Case.

• Ran code reviews, among other normal QA functions.

• Used Framemaker on Unix and MS Office for Windows 95 on PC.

• On UNIX, used sed, grep, awk, Vi and produced simple shell scripts.

• Work here followed Object Orientated Design (OOD) methodologies linked to the V-model.

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Air Traffic Control (ATC) and Air Traffic Management (ATM) technology:

   See also Racal (now Thales). and Flomerics.

• Systems Engineer - Siemens Air Traffic Management (now Thales). Full Time 1994-1996 (left following large number of redundancies arising from a company merger).

Member of Air Traffic Management Integration Team for Finnish, Swedish and Hungarian projects (ADA based on DEC UNIX platform - multiple and complex client server system). Windows experience (various).

My tasks included:

• Design authority on: search and rescue (database subsystem), operational role management (This included the dynamic mapping of telecommunications equipment to controller positions). Working on three international route centres.
• Inter-system communication (TCP/IP link) subsystems.
• Compiled subsystem requirement specifications.
• Carried out thread analysis of design, used Object Orientated Analysis (Shlaer-Mellor Process) and Yourdon methodologies.
• Liaised with software team customer and other suppliers.
• Gave design presentations to full team and customer.
• Used Object Orientated Analysis.
• Documentation done using MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) on PC, Interleaf and Team Links on VAX workstation.
• Goal Directed Project Management (GDPM) was used alongside Microsoft Project, PowerPoint, Word and Teamwork.

 

• Principal Engineer, Radar Systems - Plessey Naval & Radar Systems (now Thales).  Full Time 6 years 1980 to 1986. (I left at the time of the company take-over).

• Became an engineer with the best all round knowledge of the company and project life cycles. Including bidding, design (systems, software and hardware), testing and installation.

• Wrote system software and hardware test specs at every level including: PROM based embedded firmware, printed circuit board (analogue and digital) manual and automated testing to software module and full system tests including system flight trials.

• Developed test equipment including diagnostic test software (RTL/2 Macro, Intel ASM and PLM).

• Wrote technical publications (handbooks) for system, schedules of equipment, wiring schedules, assembly drawings, item lists, etc. Basically every form of documentation from bid to delivery including procurement specifications.

• Wrote factory and site test specifications, customer parameter configuration documents and customer acceptance test documents for system, software and hardware.

• Controlled project budgets and PERT planning, liaised with production, drawing office, site support, etc. Basically everything across the full product lifecycle. I have also dealt with outside suppliers, checking sourcing and dealing with customer. Company followed DG5008 and DEF-Stan-0013 standards (forerunners of Prince).

• Managed project configuration control.

• Hardware configuration engineering (Intel and DEC PDP11, 34, 34A, 35 based).

• Carried out integration work on rigs, used CRO's, PROM Programmers, Emulators, Logic, Protocol Analysers and Test Rigs.

• Significant role in small core team developing new cursive display product (Intel based). Developed: diagnostic software (Embedded sub-system), company's first MC1-16 press-fit backplane, pcb’s, test equipment and wiring loom. Led (hands-on) two software trouble-shooting teams working on a RADAR plot combiner and a BITE (built in test equipment) package including embedded firmware. Have written software in SARA (RTL/2 - Macro), PLM and INTEL ASM, under VAX VMS. Wrote test specs at all unit and system levels and supporting technical publications.

• Planned the move of Monterey Air Traffic Control equipment to Acapulco in Mexico on the USA borders. I also planned and designed the update and reconfiguration of the new Acapulco system. During this project Acapulco had to have zero down time. In addition I planned the upgrade of two other systems, one other in Mexico and one at a London airport.

• Designed hardware units (e.g. Radar turning interface, test equipment, multi-layer press-fit back-plane).

• Responsible for compiling cabling and wiring schedules, drawings and parts lists and delivery schedules for units, assemblies and systems.

• Involved in testing at every level from component (e.g. PROM) level to full system flight trials (e.g. with RAF).

• Led two trouble-shooting teams (Radar plot combiner and Cursive display Built in Test Equipment). This involved hands on work also including RTL/2 and hardware work.

• Worked on looking at technical problems referred to the company by sites (PDP/11 and Intel based).

• Worked on GUI vector maps and fullback control maps which were designed to be used by ATM controllers in the event of a computer failure while the system was live.  Also worked on other elements of the fullback control process.

• Trained new graduate staff.

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Airborne Satellite Communications Technology:

See also mobile device and telecommunications technology under Island Systems Ltd and Plessey (now Thales).

• Senior Engineer - Racal Avionics (now Thales).  Full Time (2 years) 1986 to 1988 (left following redundancies – company was under financial pressures following cancellation of MoD orders relating to another part of the company – took career break to attend University).

• Documentation including test specifications were done on Apple Mac and VAX.
• Software design using Yourdon.
• Designed and developed test equipment (hardware and firmware for the system). This also became a product for the company in its own right.
• Responsible for specifying project power supplies and finding subcontractors to manufacture these.
• Used 6800 and 68000 embedded Microprocessors, carried out integration work on rigs using Emulators, PROM Programmers, CRO's, Logic Analysers and Test Rigs.
• Trained staff.

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Engineering Experience:

• An extremely broad and successful product background. This experience includes testing, design, systems engineering, programming, hardware design, software design, installation, configuration (hardware and software) within systems houses and manufacturing.
• Designed electronic hardware (analogue and digital), cabinets (mechanical) and software (system, module and diagnostic).
• Testing includes white box, black box, regression, code reviews, module, integration, stress, performance and factory testing, installation testing and the full acceptance process including full flight trials with the ministry of defence and Civil Aviation Authority.
• Work experience includes working on a factory site (Plessey and Racal) and dealing with production issues arising from design implementation ranging from production of software, multiple-layer printed circuit board, motherboards and mechanical hardware.
• Taught BTEC Engineering.
• Registered as an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) with the Engineering Council.

• Registered as a Chartered Information Systems Practitioner (MBCS) with the British Computer Society.

 

Management Experience:

• Extensive experience as a consultant including leading test teams (e.g. As Test Manager on an IBM project for Defra) or as Portal test team leader on an NHS project.  Have contributed frequently to successful bid teams.  At IBM set up test strategy, introduced test tooling, recruited test team, put in place project standards and practices, ensured that 3rd party suppliers complied with QA processes, etc.
• At Flomerics was QA manager for this international company (based UK with several sites in both mainland Europe and the USA) – set up the entire company QA process.
• At Siemens responsible for a number of subsystem teams, across a number of sites.
• At Plessey – ran a number of projects working across departments, dealing with customers, installation teams and trouble shooting. Controlling budgets. Obtained a great deal of experience in full project life cycle from bidding, requirements analysis right through to installation and acceptance.
• At Racal – responsible for a number of sub-systems led development teams for several sub-systems.
• A great deal of consultancy experience working with top level management to help turn around delayed projects and leading teams.
• Head of department in a large comprehensive school. Wrote health and safety material for the borough educational authority and trained teaching and technician staff. Controlled department budgets.
• London Borough Councillor – effectively on board of directors of the single largest company in that London Borough, with executive responsibility for ensuring delivery of services and setting service delivery budgets.

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Training/Management Experience:

• Teaching / Management Position - Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.  

Teacher - Kingston upon Thames - Full-time 5 years 1989 to 1994 – Head of Physics and Electronics, Taught courses in A level Physics, Science, Electronics, BTEC Engineering – pupils achieved high pass rates.  Developed E-learning suite.  (Note still supply teach in London between contracts: including Science, Maths, IT – Access, Word, Excel, DTP, Web Publishing and IT applications).

See also Nortel for on-line training material, Island Systems Ltd - Multimedia CD ROM Author/Product Manager.

• Contributed significantly to the writing of RBK health and safety regulations and the implementation of COSH.

• Interviewed and trained staff.

• Independent computerised learning resources developed on both PC and Acorn machines. Used Windows 3.0, 3.1, MS Works, publisher, PC and Acorn DOS based Question Mark.

• Repaired and built lab equipment.

• Looked after department budget, staffing needs and carried out staff training.

• Deputised for line manager.

• Liaised with local firms acting as mentor for students on work placements (from school and university).

• Prepared and presented teaching courses, including GCSE, A-level & BTEC (Engineering).

 

Local Government Experience:

• Management Positions - Local Government - Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.

See also Teaching.

Served as a London Borough Councillor - Front Bench (evenings) 1995 to Present.

Councillor for Local Government -  (evenings – interests outside of work).  Ward top in London, Council among top performers in UK.  Past Deputy Mayor and Past European Parliamentary Candidate (London).  

Kingston has a Neighbourhood system with each of the 4 Neighbourhoods responsible for their own budget and policy.  Chaired (2002-2006) the largest (and at time considered to be the most efficient) Neighbourhood strategic committee.  Responsible for a front line Neighbourhood budget of over £2.25 million.  Main roll on the Council has been in the environment (ecology, pollution, etc), engineering and service delivery – I have been behind the Councils top Web site facilities (producing my own experimental site which at one point was getting more hits than the local newspaper was selling in the immediate area).  I have user tested a number of council IT systems (including ISIS and public information points), pressed for improved use of IT tools by Council Officers (spreadsheets, to project management tools to help the highways department).  Have been audited on performance by Government Inspectors.

• Contributed significantly to various bodies including:  

Heathrow Airport Advisory Committee, Thames Water Liaison, Association of London Government (ALG) Environment and Local Agenda 21.

Work prior to 1980: Youth worker - Dover YMCA, shipping clerk - Delta Controls (letters of credit, etc), various electrical shop retailing work.

 

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TRAINING

·        Various Rational courses (TestManager, ClearCase, ClearQuest, RequisitePro, RationalRose, etc) at Rational and at IBM.

·        Requirements Development and Management Training.  IBM

·        Goal directed project management (GDPM) planning course.

·        Management Courses – Graduate Management Development Course at Bristol University (sponsored by Plessey) and at Brunel University (sponsored by Kingston upon Thames).

·        University of Westminster C++ programming short course (examined course - score 83%).

·        CTEC - Software Support Skills and Year 2000 (included A+ software and hardware support).

·        Rational Rose - including OOA Unified Modelling and Rational Unified Process (RUP).

·        Learning Tree - UNIX Hands-on Workshop.

·        Learning Tree - Java Hands-on Workshop.

·        Learning Tree – Java and XML Application development Hands-on Workshop

·        SQL - PCMS assessment course.

·        Kennedy Carter OOA readers course (Shlaer-Mellor Process).

·        INTEL iAPX 86, 88, 186 part 1 assembler and Motorola MTT6-MC6805 assembler.

·        Studied for RSA Teacher/Trainer Diploma in IT (changed job before submitting dissertation).

·        Attended British Computer Society talks including ethical (white hat hacking) for security proving.

·        FORTRAN 4+ under RSX 11, Pascal under UNIX and VMS, RTL/2 under RSX 11.

·        Various Local Government and teaching training courses including a Radio Isotope handling licence.

·        IEE accredited training, including drawing office, test department (including ATE), production (assembly, PCB manufacture, trumph and drill programming), workshop practice (lathes, milling machines, etc).

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