Brian Fitzpatrick
Bentonville, AR 72712
cell  : 479-254-4013
email : [Send email using form at bottom]
Objective
Position as Linux Kernel Developer and loadable Device Driver Developer.
Additional areas of interest include:
a. Multiple posix threads with semaphores, spinlocks, and interprocess messages
b. Hardware Debugging including gdb, protocol analyzers, and logic analyzers
c. Tailoring of linux kernels for single board computersd. 
d. Device drivers for memory mapped PCI address space devices
Summary of Qualifications
10+ years experience with C programming
10+ years experience computer storage products
10+ years experience manufacturing and design test development
10  years experience with linux, unix 
7   years experience with device drivers (Linux, SCSI, PCI, IDE/EIDE) 
3   years experience OO programming (perl, java)
Work History
Embedded Software Engineer
Volt Technical Services Peoria, IL March 2008 - April 2008
As a contract engineer, I studied the startup firmware used in the development
of an engine control operating system for a major earthmoving company located in
Peoria, IL. In that position I worked on the design and implementation of a
modified (memory) free command for use in their embedded system and I also worked
on some diagnostic engine information gathering firmware. 
Unix System Support Engineer.  
Wal-Mart,  Bentonville, AR   April  2007 - October  2007
Provided Unix system support for multiple host systems in several Internet
network systems. Responsibilities included phone support, on line support, and
email answers for any system problems. Worked with other systems engineers,
application developers, and product managers. Developed and updated shell
scripts, Perl scripts, and researched future operating system setups. Provided
project scheduling updates and attended weekly and daily project meetings. 
Linux Device Driver Developer.
Omnicon Group/ North Atlantic Industries,  
Ronkonkoma, NY   February  2006 - February  2007
As a Linux Kernel Developer for two different defense oriented equipment
companies in Long Island, NY I modified and debugged device drivers for the 2.4
and 2.6 Linux kernels on Intel and PPC microprocessor-based embedded systems.
Activities included debugging existing drivers, migrating device drivers from the
2.4 kernel to the 2.6 kernel, and updating low level interface libraries. All
development was done using C and some assembly language on x86 and PowerPC
platforms. Device interfaces I supported included serial ports, PCI bus, ISA/EISA
bus, and memory mapped I/O register devices. 
Linux System Engineer.  
Kodak, Rochester, NY   October  2005 - February  2006
As a Linux Kernel Device Driver Developer for a commercial equipment  oriented 
company, in Rochester, NY, I provided low level test routines for a proprietary
embedded system. Interfaces included PCI bus, USB packets, and memory mapped I/O
registers. I also worked on single and multiple thread test routines for use in
preproduction design tests for proprietary interface boards. All work was done
using the Kiel embedded C development system on Power PC platform.
Linux System Engineer.  
Contract Position, Rochester, NY   October  2004 - September  2005
As a Linux Kernel Device Driver Developer for a commercial equipment  oriented 
company, in Rochester, NY, I provided low level device drivers routines for a
proprietary embedded system. Features included memory mapped I/O registers in PCI
address space, queuing of messages for driver to driver communication, and
kernel/user space data transfer routines.  All work was done using C and linux
2.4 on Power PC platform..
American Signal, Atlanta, GA May  2004 - July 2004
Project Leader and C Developer 
Temporary Position
As Project Leader for an embedded Linux-based highway-signaling device, I
managed the activities of two additional software engineers, participated in the
selection of a new platform and recommended purchase of a new development system
for a next generation PPC based embedded controller. Day to day activities
included debugging field reported problems involving light intensity, analog
cellular communications, and other device modifications for existing products. I
also worked with interpreting customer specifications and performed design
verification tests. 
Pikes Peak Workforce Center, Co. Springs, CO   July 1993 – Mar, 1994
Linux Firewall System Engineer
Supported a  Red Hat Linux based network firewall system that protected the
Colorado Department of Labor computer network. This included debugging startup
scripts, monitoring attacks, and analyzing network usage by job applicants
through the use of dan's guardian and mysql  unix software. I also participated
in the creation of a Workforce Center for Young Adults where the Linux firewall
was duplicated and placed in between the Cisco Server and the first Windows
Server in each Workforce Center LAN. 
SRC Computers, Colorado Springs, CO March, 2000 - Sept. 2001
System Test Engineer
Designed and developed a series of multithreaded POSIX compliant test a programs
used
to test specific hardware features of a new multiprocessor computer system
during the system integration and DVT phase of development. All tests were
written in gnu c with some assembly language routines, ran under both Solaris 2.6
and Red Hat Linux 7.0, and were maintained using CVS. All test failures were
resolved by working with the appropriate hardware engineers and by adding debug
features to the test programs such as serial port trigger signals, reordering of
operations, and capturing logic samples. Other projects included the design and
development of an image-processing program used to demonstrate system performance
at an industry trade show. This program was written in java 1.4 and used the AWT
library of image routines along with semaphores, multiple threads, and socket
communication. 
Interim Consulting, Colorado Springs, CO   Aug, 1999 - March, 2000
Unix Systems Programmer  6 Month Contract
Designed and developed a SYS V IPC shared memory server used to optimize data
retrieval for the application servers that formed the backbone of an Internet
tool which allows customers to track the shipping status of their packages. The
code was written using ANSI C and operated on Solaris 2.4. I also provided a
library of interface routines that performed automatic connection to the shared
memory region and control of data updates through the use of semaphores and
messages. I also developed perl 4 scripts used to examine existing source code
modules for mismatches between error messages and the arguments passed to these
messages.
System Technology Associates, Colorado Springs, CO Jan.1998 - Aug. 1999
Firmware Engineer   Contract Position
Supported real time embedded firmware used to operate storage controllers that
provided the RAID 0, 1, and 5 interface between SCSI storage devices and multiple
hosts. Updated and repaired C source files for the host interface, device
interface, and diagnostic sections.  Also performed design verification tests for
periodic releases of the firmware on several hosts/OS's including Digital Unix,
VMS, and Windows NT 4.0 . Responsible for solving failures reported by the
internal or external customer base by duplicating the error, isolating the
failure, and determining the solution. 
EMASS, Inc., Englewood, CO  Nov. 1996- Jan. 1998
Sr. Manufacturing Test Engineer
Set up the manufacturing tests by moving the test software from Sun Solaris 2.2
workstations to a set of networked PC's using Unix (Red Hat Linux 3.0/3.1) as the
operating system. The test software was implemented using perl scripts.  Used the
test software to perform all final assembly and host testing of the fifteen
prototypes and first 40 production models of an automated tape library system.
Conducted qualification tests on all engineering changes prior to general
manufacturing release and worked closely with the design and quality groups in
resolving all internal and external error reports. 
Designed and wrote the specification for the next generation of test systems.
MOST Manufacturing, Inc., Colorado Springs, CO  1994-1996 
Sr. Manufacturing Test Engineer
Provided the PC based test software used to test rewritable optical disk drives.
The tests were written in Microsoft C 7.0/7.1 and ran under DOS 6.0 and were
configured to run several parts of the manufacturing line including power on
tests, extended run in tests, and final tests. Worked closely with the design
group and performed release tests on all firmware upgrades prior to release to
the manufacturing group. Supported the quality and design groups by providing
specialized tests and different test platforms including Zadian TDS and Adaptec
SDS-3. Would also fill in as production supervisor on occasion.
Conner Peripherals, Longmont, CO  1991-1993
Software Engineer IV
As a member of the design-engineering group, I was responsible for providing and
supporting test tools for the IDE firmware design group. Took an existing set of
screen based test software written in Turbo C under DOS 5.1/5.3 and added new
features such as DMA transfers, test sequence creation and editing, and
specialized error handling. The firmware engineers used these tools to test all
their changes. Also wrote the specification and plan for a new engineering test
laboratory that was formed in 1993.
LMSI, Colorado Springs, CO         1986-1991
Lead Test Engineer
As the Lead Test Engineer for the manufacturing side of the company, designed
and modified a set of DOS 3.1 test programs written in C and assembly language
that were used to perform the initial, burn in, and final tests of the optical
disk drives designed and produced at this location. Worked closely with design
engineers to isolate failures and qualify new firmware releases.  Helped maintain
a 100 % success rate at the Final Test Station for a period that lasted more than
twelve consecutive months.
Digital Equipment Corporation, Colorado Springs, CO  1981-1986
Senior Software Engineer
Worked on the diagnostic portion of embedded firmware for a disk/tape
controller. The firmware was all done in VMS/VAX assembly language. Supervised a
group of four software engineers in the development of diagnostic features and
routines for a new controller. Prior to that, provided the host based test
software for the manufacturing line that produced several disk/tape controllers.
These tests were written in Pascal and ran on VAX and PDP-11 computers that were
networked together. 
Boeing Company, Seattle, WA                       1978-1981
Software Engineer
First assignment was to create new software for an automated test system used to
test memory cards for the air-launched cruise missile. This software was written
in Fortran, compiled on an HP 1000 minicomputer system, and ran on an HP 9580
test system. After that, I moved to the commercial side of the company to support
the Flight Test calibration laboratory. In this role, I developed an RMS-11K
indexed database and additional tools used to store calibration data on an RSX
Education
BSEE, Bradley University, Peoria, IL
AS Engineering, Illinois Central Community College, Peoria, IL