• RESUME of Kurt Stevens
  
  
  • Click To Email
  • Skills
    • PHP, HTML, JavaScript, MySQL, C, Csh, Awk, Perl, TCL/Tk, Valor Genesis and Enterprise, Microcontroller Embedded C, VMS DCL, TCP/IP, UNIX and Linux, MS Windows, MS Office. Offsite support, installation, configuration and testing through VPN.
  • Work History
    • Computer Consulting / Contract Programmer 2000-Present Self Employed Provider of contract programming and consulting services to Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing industry, and general contract programming and consulting services.
      • Created or Worked on significant parts of the Control Center engineering process management product marketed by Direct Logix, Inc., including administrative and security functionality; session management; job, process and routing management; Cycle Time Report module; Dynamic menu system; User interfaces. Written in PHP, MySQL, HTML, CSS, and Javascript.
      • Wrote graphic communication tool that serves as an interface between PCB manufacturer’s CAM systems and circuit board designer’s CAD systems. A copy of the CAM circuit view is saved as a graphic in a web page along with comments and annotation. The resulting communication includes automatically generated scripts that zoom to the same view on the CAD system, and can be emailed. Written in Perl, PHP, output generated in RTF format.
      • Wrote employee payroll, time tracking and resource planning package for a car rental company, in PHP, MySQL, HTML, CSS and Javascript. The user interface pages for the package made extensive use of AJAX calls to the database to avoid unnecessary page refreshes. This makes a web application appear and function more like a native application and makes it easier to use.
      • Wrote code for a Flash photo gallery that includes PHP user interfaces for allowing users to self maintain the galleries on their web sites. Interface allows changing the order of galleries and the order of pictures in galleries visually, with drag and drop. Users can upload photos to their sites, which are automatically scaled and thumbnails are created.
      • Years of experience in user interface development in various languages before learning PHP proves helpful in designing intuitive user interfaces for usability in web applications. Methods such as user input checking, length and allowable character limits, and required inputs checks create usability as well as security. Experience with layout methods that allow user input from graphical manipulation such as drag and drop and Javascript driven graphical controls provides the ability to deliver application efficiency and utility.
      • Performed a plant wide network and systems inventory for PC Boards, Inc. while contracting for Preproduction Solutions, Inc. (PSI) to resolve systemic problems that were impeding manufacturing. Solutions included discovering intermittent failure points in network wiring junction blocks, found improper network switch locations (intermittent heat related failures), identified outdated hardware, exposed single point of failure in redundant domain controllers. Provided systems upgrade quotes and network upgrade proposal.
      • Wrote Tooling Quality Interruption Report, for Preproduction Solutions, Inc. a software package to provide problem identification for all printed circuit manufacturing tooling, including PCB data, artwork tooling, CNC programs, drawings, and specifications. Software maintained history database, included interface for building reports with 3d graphing, provided automatic email notifications for unresolved issues. Written in PHP, MySQL, HTML, Javascript.
      • Created software tools using command line PHP for Preproduction Solutions, Inc. to extract PCB job data from Infinite Graphics’ ParCAM product into a MySQL database in support of the integration of PSI’s ValueFab preproduction automation software. Provided support for the addition of MySQL database interface to ValueFab.
      • Provided much of contracted programming and support offsite through VPN secure network connections, including installation, configuration and testing. This has resulted in savings for contract employers by reducing travel and related expenses.
      • Work on local business systems, Unix and Windows, performing installs, hardware and software upgrades, patches, set up and configure backup systems, troubleshooting and repairing system and network hardware, writing Unix system scripts. Operate own servers for development, including web (IIS and Apache) servers, PHP, Perl, MySQL servers, servers for Vmware and Virtualbox and network install servers. Maintain own network of 8-10 Windows and Unix systems.
      • Embedded AVR microcontroller experience includes coding for devices such as character LCDs, keypads, solenoid drivers, stepper motor drivers, standard and RGB LED arrays, sensors, RS232, i2c, and SPI serial connections, TCP/IP connections, and includes designing circuits and circuit board layouts for embedded devices.
      • DFM (Design For Manufacturability) projects: DFM projects are software library extensions to Valor Computerized Systems’ Genesis and Enterprise CAM/Design Verification products, written in C using Valor’s DFM extensions. Custom DFM software generally automates tasks that a CAM operator does manually, and greatly reduces the time involved.
        • Laser Drill Preparation DFM that checks circuit board layers for proper features and clearances for laser drilling to automate the process of converting and checking a circuit from standard to laser drill.
        • Locate Fine Pitch Devices DFM, creates layer consisting of small pitch device features copied from another layer to assist in the PCB manufacturing process. Software finds the pitch device locations based on input pitch size minimums, trims overlapping features and applies them to the new layer.
        • TDR flyby test output DFM, looks for specific types of circuits on a layer, and generates TDR program instructions based on flyby test points found. Software examines layer for circuits that fit flyby specifications, examines IPC 356 netlist to match ground points for flybys.
    • Unix Systems Administrator / Engineering Programmer 1994-2000 Carolina Circuits (formerly AMP-AKZO Corporation)
      • UNIX System Administrator responsible for HP-UX, Sun Sparc, Apollo and Linux systems in Front End Engineering, and Photolab departments.
        • Maintained systems; software and firmware updates, software installs, including full OS installs, backups. Maintained peripheral equipment; including robotic and manual tape systems, robotic and manual optical disk systems, raid array and standard hard disk storage systems. Wrote system scripts for automation of maintenance tasks, using csh, Perl, Informix SQL. Maintained network for departments of responsibility, including throughput and load analysis. Provided systems consulting for other departments with UNIX systems or pc controlled equipment.
        • Oversaw equipment and software maintenance contracts and negotiated with maintenance providers on behalf of Engineering Management for best service based on cost. Saved the company $50k annually for 2 years by implementing a change in the maintenance contract for CAM software.
      • Engineering Programmer responsible for creation, maintenance, and upgrading of software for the enhancement, error reduction and automation of the processes in the Front End Engineering, Photolab, Innerlayer Test, Electrical Test, Drill and Route areas.
        • Created Front End Engineering’s process flow user interface and automation for Valor Genesis; User interface to guide CAM engineer through process steps, with automated steps where possible, automated defaults determined by process flow, error and completion checking, user and timestamp tracking. Project used Valor Genesis graphic interface tools, Csh, html, tcl/tk, C and Perl.
        • Wrote Production Data Management System to handle data compression, archiving, revision control and delivery of production data to CAM and Engineering systems, film and paper plotters, CNC Drill and Route machines, and Electrical Test equipment. System included; Graphical user interfaces and interfaces to other software systems; production data storage on servers and raid array; data archival to robotic optical disk with tape backup subsystem; Featured fully automatic transfers after point and click selection, with error and data integrity checking. Written in Csh, Tcl/Tk, VMS DCL
        • Created circuit board graphical location information system; user interface to database of circuit board graphical area location snapshots and usage descriptions, to facilitate operations such as locating test points and instructions for hypot test operators and locating measurement areas and instructions for Quality operators. System allowed insertion and markup of graphics and insertion of text instructions and viewing of instructions through authenticated web forms. Permissions based maintenance forms allowed each department to manage their own information, including adding and removing users and permissions. Written in Perl and HTML. Included interfaces for Photolab, Drill, Engineering, Quality and Electrical Test departments.
        • Wrote Technical Drawing Display System; includes a filter for translating board technical drawings from Gerber, ODB++ or hpgl format to dwf format for cross platform graphical viewing in web browser, to reduce the need for multiple copies of paper plot technical drawings. Viewing allowed zoom, pan, scroll and drag scroll of technical drawings.
    • CAD CAM Operator III 1991-1994 AMP-AKZO Corporation
      • Edit and panelize PCB data for printed wiring board shop; design PCB data for tests and special projects; design features for panelization; design, create and test software for CAD CAM, photoplot and AOI automation; design, create and test software for PCB data management; work with engineers creating tests for process enhancement; troubleshoot CAD CAM and Photolab equipment; recommend and/or implement repairs and updates to equipment; equipment includes HP, SUN workstations, Orbotech and MDA laser photoplotters, DuPont automatic film development equipment; train and assist operators in software usage; software includes in-house written and Commercial (PAR, UCAM, XPERT 1700)
    • Graphic Arts Technician 1989-1991 Digital Equipment Corporation
      • Plot and verify phototools; maintain automatic film development equipment; test, add and rebatch chemistry for developers; created phototools using glass and film masters; familiar with plotting, development, use and storage of both glass and polyester film masters and tools; wrote VMS stream tools in C on VAX and PC; updated and maintained accounts for automated FTP transfers; wrote tools to cut graphic windows for PCB artwork; wrote tools in C to generate UNIX scripts for aperture list; trained operators to use scripts and tools; worked with VAX System Manager on NFS project for UNIX-VAX.
    • CNC PCB Drill Equipment Operator 1988-1989 Digital Equipment Corporation
      • Setup and Drill PCBs on high speed air bearing CNC machines; download drill programs per job control sheet; verify CNC drill program accuracy per specs, prints; inspect and organized PCB drill tools per CNC drill program; perform first pass X-ray inspection for registration; identify and adjust for innerlayer misregistration; drill new alignment plugs as necessary for quality; maintain CNC drill equipment; managed salvage of PCBs after bit breakage; maintained high quality rate in volatile environment.
    • PCB Circuit Image Operator 1985-1988 Digital Equipment Corporation
      • Expose PCB inner layers on Ultraviolet exposure unit; setup and verify ultraviolet circuit exposure equipment; inspect, setup phototools using glass exposure tools; maintain, repair glass phototools; verify first pass articles for quality; verify correct chemical development for exposure process; expose lots per master schedule; update WIP in shop floor control system; also worked in Innerlayer Test and Final Test areas.
  • EDUCATION:
    • Coursework at - Greenville Technical College, Greenville, SC
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Programming
      • UNIX
      • Advanced C
      • C