1508 Gorham Street, Apt. 306
Lowell, MA 01852

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Email - tamcao_2002@hotmail.com


Engineering position in area of embedded software, hardware ASIC/FPGA verification, firmware, systems design/test, or program management.


  • Many years of extensive engineering design and verification experience of HW/SW for embedded systems.
  • Experience in embedded systems programming using C/C++ and hardware programming using Verilog/VHDL/SystemC.
  • Efficient in writing and executing test plans based on specifications.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of ASIC/FPGA unit level, chip level and system level functional verification.
  • Proficient in developing pseudo-random, self-checking testbenches, test cases development and debugging HW.
  • Extensive experience in design/development of verification, simulation environments and infrastructures for large/complex ASIC design by integrating third party IP and/or in-house modeling.
  • Knowledgeable in graphic HW accelerator and OpenGL.
  • In-depth working knowledge of software development and testing for TCP/IP data communication application.
  • Comprehensive understanding of WAN technologies (Layer 2 and 3), ATM, IP, Frame Relay, Optical.
  • Skillfully and effectively in communication with customers and co-workers either one-on-one or group presentation format.
  • Competence in engineering trade-off analysis and implementation.
  • Proven ability to perform responsibilities either in a one-person or team-work environment with on-time and quality results.
  • Management experience.

Software Languages: C, C++, Perl, Tcl, Scripting, FORTRAN, Assembly.
Hardware Languages: Verilog, VHDL, SystemC.
Verification Languages: Verisity eSpecman, SystemC, C++.
Simulators: MTI (ModelSim), NC-Verilog, VCS.
Processors: i960, Intel 80x86, 68HC11, 68xxx, PC104, ARC.
RTOSes: pSOS, VxWorks, Linux.
Buses: USB 2.0 EHCI, AMBA, BVCI, JTAG (IEEE 1149.1).
Network Protocols: TCP/IP, OSPF, ATM, Frame Relay, SONET, T1/E1, OC3/12/48.
System Comcepts: TDMA, FDMA, CDMA, LAN, WAN, DSP, satellite and wireless communications, data traffic analysis.



Terarecon, Inc. • Concord, MA
Sr. ASIC Verification Engineer (Consulting) (04/05-Current)

Develop test plan and simulation infrastructure environment using SystemC/C++ to test the 3D graphic processor hardware for graphics rendering (i.e, volume rendering).

  • Develop complex simulation environment to simulate SystemC RTL and ensure that environment is portable when simulating in Verilog when RTL is converted to Verilog.
  • Create hardware models to hook up to RTL for simulation.

Texas Instruments • Houston, TX
Sr. ASIC Verification Engineer (Consulting) (08/2004-04/05)

Implemented pseudo-random simulation testbench and tests using Verisity eSpecman to exhaustively verify functionalities against specification at unit level of the JTAG selector module (ICEPICK), conforming to IEEE 1149.1 standards. ICEPICK allows users to connect multiple in-circuit-emulators to TAPs (Test Access Ports) and selectively switching to these ports individually without disrupting the state of other ports.

  • Created test plan and test environment.
  • Collected functional coverage and line coverage.
  • Reported progress daily and weekly to management.
  • Worked with RTL designers to debug design.

  • Integrated ICEPICK core into system level for Davinci project.
  • Wrote/debugged tests for ICEPICK functionalities at system level.
  • Tested to insure that ICEPICK properly functions at system level.

    • Convenient-Mart • Self-Employed • Lowell, MA
    Manager (Owner) (06/2003-07/2004)

    Owned, operated and managed a convenient store with annual revenue of $300000. Primary contact for vendors and customers.

    • Sales increase 20%, minimizing loss and no employee turn-over since joining.
    • Managed daily operations and schedule of 2 employees.
    • Handled profit and loss, budgeting, and vendor relationship.

    ARC International • Nashua, NH
    Sr. ASIC Verification Engineer (07/01 - 06/03)

    Member of a 2-person verification team, tasks were to define test plans and implement new verification methodologies leveraging Verisity eSpecman’s pseudo-random, functional coverage, including integration of pre-verified eVC modules into the environment to functionally verify and debug IP peripheral USB 2.0 host core (EHCI compliance), AMBA-to-BVCI bus translation gasket, ARC (A6) processor.

    • Supported design engineers to use new Verisity method to verify unit level testing.
    • Implemented configuration, makefile, infrastructure to be able to execute on test development and regression simulation.
    • Collected functional coverage and code coverage to report daily to management on verification progress.
    • Implement PLI/FLI in SystemC C++ to support interface to VCS, NC-Verilog, MTI simulators in the systemC verification models to deliver to customers.

    Sandburst Incorporated • Andover, MA
    Sr. ASIC Verification Engineer (03/01 - 06/01)

    Member of a start-up company in the design verification group, assigned to perform verification of the IP/MPLS routing chipset.

    • Implemented a packet generator to generate TCP/IP, Ethernet, MPLS packets in C++ to test the chipset.

    Sycamore Networks • Chelmsford, MA
    Sr. Systems Software Engineer (08/00 - 03/01)

    Member of central software team, tasked to develop embedded software for the main card in optical switch for controlling line cards using C++ on VxWorks and Linux RTOS.

    • Developed inter-switch and intra-switch communication using TCP/IP to monitoring “heart-beat” state of line cards and other switches.
    • Utilized Tornado and gdb to debug in MC 68PPC860 platform.

    Lucent Technologies, INS • Westford, MA
    Sr. Sustaining Software Engineer (1998 - 2000)

    Charged to resolve customers’ IP/ATM/FrameRelay networks software problems. Quickly became a go-to person in the group. Promoted to senior level within 8 months of joining the company.

    • Often involved in conference call as representative of engineering group to explain issue and/or resolution.
    • Interfaced with internal and external technical rep to detail problem and solution in engineering perspective.
    • Implemented software fixes in C, C++ in large, production networks, of customers such as MCI, AT&T, NTT, Sprint…for BSTDX-9000, CBX-500, GX-550 multi-services switches.
    • Provided interim software patches for customers on different branches (using Rational ClearCase version control).
    • Debugged embedded software problems in a real-time, multi-task, multi-threaded environment. Employed tools such as ICE, traffic generators, protocol analyzers, CSU/DSU, packet sniffers, T1/T3 pots to aid in debugging.

    General Instruments • San Diego, CA
    Systems Engineer (1997 - 1998)

    Given responsibilities to perform system integration and test (SIT) in GI Satellite Networks Division to integrate and test software/hardware for DC-II (Digit Cypher II) video uplink headend, TV set-top receiver, supported NTSC and PAL format.

    • SIT cable modem SurfBoard system using Cisco headend to emulate MSO data traffic handler.
    • Tests involving HW/SW integration, regression, system set-up and configuration against defined features in specification.
    • Wrote software in C/C++ to automate testing when possible.

    Sanders, Lockheed Martin • Hudson, NH
    Software Engineer (1996 - 1997)

    Member of a 2-person engineering team, completed a proof-of-concept project for a portable RF signal interception and direction finding conformance with MIL design standard.

    • Implemented software in C, on a DOS-based running on PC/104 platform. Display is via laptop’s RS-232 COM port and PC104.
    • Written device driver in C to access PCMCIA in PC/104, the Watkins-Johnson receiver and HCLS.

    Physicians Resources • Merrimack, NH
    Network Engineer (1993 - 1994)

    The only technical point of contact for internal and external managers, customers to get technical support, problems, and questions resolved.

    • Implemented, supported and upgraded Novell (v3.1.1) networks primarily used in small physician office environment with 10 or fewer nodes. Also provided software support to customers mainly in electronics billing.

    Hewlett-Packard • Andover, MA
    Summer Intern (1993 - 1994)

    Summer co-ops, tasks were to help engineers with various engineering works.

    • Helped administering Unix networks, backing up files, writing shell scripts.
    • Aided engineers with various tasks such as running environmental tests on medical electronic products and papers, testing customer returned on DOA connectors and reported finding to managers.


    UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS • Lowell, Massachusetts
    Master of Science • Electrical Engineering (1996)

    UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS • Lowell, Massachusetts
    Bachelor of Science • Electrical Engineering (1993)


    Vietnamese


    U.S. Citizenship

     



    Skills Summary | Experience | Education

    Contact Me
    tamcao_2002@hotmail.com
    (978) 937-3994 or (978) 257-2091