Although I was only at Garmin for nine months, the experience gave me the opportunity to test my skills as an electrical engineer in a new domain.
As a Senior RF Design Engineer on the Aviation - Weather Radar team, my primary focus was on high-speed digital interfaces for the GWX 8000 Storm Optix. Additionally, I had the chance to design RF circuits, broadening my expertise beyond embedded systems and SerDes into wireless communications and radar technology.
My move to Garmin was motivated by curiosity—I wanted to see if switching industries could recreate the hyper-growth environment I experienced early in my career at Broadcom’s ASICs Product Division (APD). After a few months, I realized that my success was a combination of both my own capabilities and the unique culture at APD. Ultimately, it wasn’t worth taking a one-third pay cut, and I returned to Broadcom, where I went on to earn 7x what I made at Garmin.
While brief, my time at Garmin gave me valuable hands-on experience with X-band software-defined radar, high-speed PCB design, and RF circuit design—skills I still leverage today.
• Led high-speed interface design for an X-band software-defined radar system, covering design, implementation, and verification.
• Developed a DDR4 simulation and verification methodology—a significant upgrade from the team’s previous DDR2-based designs.
• Designed RF matching networks using EM/SPICE co-simulation, ensuring optimal performance across varying conditions.
• Created a Python-based tool for automated ADC anti-aliasing filter design, based on system performance requirements.
• Collaborated with PCB vendors to define a stack-up that met both signal/power integrity and extreme environmental reliability.
• Conducted pre-layout design experiments, enabling constraint-driven PCB design and determining target impedance values.
• Developed a parameterized Momentum layout model to optimize FPGA high-density trace breakout, balancing crosstalk and ground-plane discontinuities near the VIA anti-pads.
• Resolved PCB layout issues by analyzing S-parameter data (IL, coupling, TDR plots), allowing me to pinpoint physical layout flaws and provide actionable guidance to layout engineers.
• Simulation & PCB Design: Keysight ADS, Cadence Allegro
• Programming & Scripting: Python
• High-Speed & RF Analysis: S-parameters, TDR, EM/SPICE co-simulation (Keysight Momentum)
• System & Interface Verification: Custom DDR4 simulation methodologies using Keysight Si/PI Pro
Despite my short time at Garmin, I delivered high-impact contributions that improved high-speed interface design, RF circuit performance, and PCB signal integrity in the GWX 8000 Storm Optix radar system.
My work helped the team modernize their DDR verification process, optimize RF circuit design, and resolve critical PCB layout challenges for high-speed digital interfaces in extreme operating conditions.
Key Outcomes & Impact:
• Modernized DDR Verification: Established a DDR4 simulation methodology, transitioning the team from outdated non-EM based DDR2 design processes, thus improving design accuracy and validation efficiency.
• Improved RF Circuit Performance: Designed RF matching networks using EM/SPICE co-simulation, improving signal integrity and performance stability in X-band radar applications.
• Optimized PCB Stack-Up for Harsh Environments: Worked with PCB vendors to develop a stack-up meeting both high-speed signal integrity requirements and extreme aviation reliability standards.
• Accelerated Debugging & Design Iteration: Developed automated Python-based ADC anti-aliasing filter design tools, reducing manual design time and ensuring system performance compliance
• Resolved Complex PCB Layout Issues: Used S-parameter analysis to pinpoint and resolve signal integrity issues, improving high-speed digital interface performance and reducing costly re-spins.
Although I ultimately returned to Broadcom, my time at Garmin expanded my expertise in high-speed PCB design, radar system engineering, and RF circuit optimization, skills that continue to influence my work today.
Although I was only at Garmin for nine months, the experience gave me the opportunity to test my skills as an electrical engineer in a new domain.
As a Senior RF Design Engineer on the Aviation - Weather Radar team, my primary focus was on high-speed digital interfaces for the GWX 8000 Storm Optix. Additionally, I had the chance to design RF circuits, broadening my expertise beyond embedded systems and SerDes into wireless communications and radar technology.
My move to Garmin was motivated by curiosity—I wanted to see if switching industries could recreate the hyper-growth environment I experienced early in my career at Broadcom’s ASICs Product Division (APD). After a few months, I realized that my success was a combination of both my own capabilities and the unique culture at APD. Ultimately, it wasn’t worth taking a one-third pay cut, and I returned to Broadcom, where I went on to earn 7x what I made at Garmin.
While brief, my time at Garmin gave me valuable hands-on experience with X-band software-defined radar, high-speed PCB design, and RF circuit design—skills I still leverage today.
• Led high-speed interface design for an X-band software-defined radar system, covering design, implementation, and verification.
• Developed a DDR4 simulation and verification methodology—a significant upgrade from the team’s previous DDR2-based designs.
• Designed RF matching networks using EM/SPICE co-simulation, ensuring optimal performance across varying conditions.
• Created a Python-based tool for automated ADC anti-aliasing filter design, based on system performance requirements.
• Collaborated with PCB vendors to define a stack-up that met both signal/power integrity and extreme environmental reliability.
• Conducted pre-layout design experiments, enabling constraint-driven PCB design and determining target impedance values.
• Developed a parameterized Momentum layout model to optimize FPGA high-density trace breakout, balancing crosstalk and ground-plane discontinuities near the VIA anti-pads.
• Resolved PCB layout issues by analyzing S-parameter data (IL, coupling, TDR plots), allowing me to pinpoint physical layout flaws and provide actionable guidance to layout engineers.
Despite my short time at Garmin, I delivered high-impact contributions that improved high-speed interface design, RF circuit performance, and PCB signal integrity in the GWX 8000 Storm Optix radar system.
My work helped the team modernize their DDR verification process, optimize RF circuit design, and resolve critical PCB layout challenges for high-speed digital interfaces in extreme operating conditions.
Key Outcomes & Impact:
• Modernized DDR Verification: Established a DDR4 simulation methodology, transitioning the team from outdated non-EM based DDR2 design processes, thus improving design accuracy and validation efficiency.
• Improved RF Circuit Performance: Designed RF matching networks using EM/SPICE co-simulation, improving signal integrity and performance stability in X-band radar applications.
• Optimized PCB Stack-Up for Harsh Environments: Worked with PCB vendors to develop a stack-up meeting both high-speed signal integrity requirements and extreme aviation reliability standards.
• Accelerated Debugging & Design Iteration: Developed automated Python-based ADC anti-aliasing filter design tools, reducing manual design time and ensuring system performance compliance
• Resolved Complex PCB Layout Issues: Used S-parameter analysis to pinpoint and resolve signal integrity issues, improving high-speed digital interface performance and reducing costly re-spins.
Although I ultimately returned to Broadcom, my time at Garmin expanded my expertise in high-speed PCB design, radar system engineering, and RF circuit optimization, skills that continue to influence my work today.
• Simulation & PCB Design: Keysight ADS, Cadence Allegro
• Programming & Scripting: Python
• High-Speed & RF Analysis: S-parameters, TDR, EM/SPICE co-simulation (Keysight Momentum)
• System & Interface Verification: Custom DDR4 simulation methodologies using Keysight Si/PI Pro
Although I was only at Garmin for nine months, the experience gave me the opportunity to test my skills as an electrical engineer in a new domain.
As a Senior RF Design Engineer on the Aviation - Weather Radar team, my primary focus was on high-speed digital interfaces for the GWX 8000 Storm Optix. Additionally, I had the chance to design RF circuits, broadening my expertise beyond embedded systems and SerDes into wireless communications and radar technology.
My move to Garmin was motivated by curiosity—I wanted to see if switching industries could recreate the hyper-growth environment I experienced early in my career at Broadcom’s ASICs Product Division (APD). After a few months, I realized that my success was a combination of both my own capabilities and the unique culture at APD. Ultimately, it wasn’t worth taking a one-third pay cut, and I returned to Broadcom, where I went on to earn 7x what I made at Garmin.
While brief, my time at Garmin gave me valuable hands-on experience with X-band software-defined radar, high-speed PCB design, and RF circuit design—skills I still leverage today.
• Led high-speed interface design for an X-band software-defined radar system, covering design, implementation, and verification.
• Developed a DDR4 simulation and verification methodology—a significant upgrade from the team’s previous DDR2-based designs.
• Designed RF matching networks using EM/SPICE co-simulation, ensuring optimal performance across varying conditions.
• Created a Python-based tool for automated ADC anti-aliasing filter design, based on system performance requirements.
• Collaborated with PCB vendors to define a stack-up that met both signal/power integrity and extreme environmental reliability.
• Conducted pre-layout design experiments, enabling constraint-driven PCB design and determining target impedance values.
• Developed a parameterized Momentum layout model to optimize FPGA high-density trace breakout, balancing crosstalk and ground-plane discontinuities near the VIA anti-pads.
• Resolved PCB layout issues by analyzing S-parameter data (IL, coupling, TDR plots), allowing me to pinpoint physical layout flaws and provide actionable guidance to layout engineers.
Despite my short time at Garmin, I delivered high-impact contributions that improved high-speed interface design, RF circuit performance, and PCB signal integrity in the GWX 8000 Storm Optix radar system.
My work helped the team modernize their DDR verification process, optimize RF circuit design, and resolve critical PCB layout challenges for high-speed digital interfaces in extreme operating conditions.
Key Outcomes & Impact:
• Modernized DDR Verification: Established a DDR4 simulation methodology, transitioning the team from outdated non-EM based DDR2 design processes, thus improving design accuracy and validation efficiency.
• Improved RF Circuit Performance: Designed RF matching networks using EM/SPICE co-simulation, improving signal integrity and performance stability in X-band radar applications.
• Optimized PCB Stack-Up for Harsh Environments: Worked with PCB vendors to develop a stack-up meeting both high-speed signal integrity requirements and extreme aviation reliability standards.
• Accelerated Debugging & Design Iteration: Developed automated Python-based ADC anti-aliasing filter design tools, reducing manual design time and ensuring system performance compliance
• Resolved Complex PCB Layout Issues: Used S-parameter analysis to pinpoint and resolve signal integrity issues, improving high-speed digital interface performance and reducing costly re-spins.
Although I ultimately returned to Broadcom, my time at Garmin expanded my expertise in high-speed PCB design, radar system engineering, and RF circuit optimization, skills that continue to influence my work today.
• Simulation & PCB Design: Keysight ADS, Cadence Allegro
• Programming & Scripting: Python
• High-Speed & RF Analysis: S-parameters, TDR, EM/SPICE co-simulation (Keysight Momentum)
• System & Interface Verification: Custom DDR4 simulation methodologies using Keysight Si/PI Pro
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