Ben Brenkman
I'm a self-motivated computer engineer passionate about hardware and firmware. In my home lab, I design custom boards, write firmware, and use advanced tools to build and test projects. I've developed many skills independently through hands-on experimentation and continuous learning.
My Journey
As an embedded systems engineer in the access control domain, I developed and debugged firmware for a variety of microcontrollers, resolved field issues, and worked cross-functionally with software teams to deliver secure, connected embedded solutions.
Key Achievements:
- Developed low-level C/C++ firmware for various microcontrollers
- Worked with Ethernet/IP, Bluetooth, and IP-over-BLE communication stacks
- Developed internal tools to encode/decode, test, and debug custom protocols
- Collaborated with software teams for system integration
- Developed test and provisioning tools used in product manufacturing
- Brought to market new wireless line of products
- Worked on OTA updates and bootloaders
Technologies:
Worked on high-power wireless charging for heavy duty vehicles.
Key Achievements:
- Developed firmware to control high-power wireless charing
- Debugged complex systems with several connected MCUs over a CAN bus
- Implemented a unit-testing framework to reduce bugs
- Participated in hardware and firmware development of new products
Technologies:
Graduated as a computer engineer with a minor in CS, worked on several cool projects
Key Achievements:
- Developed wireless telemetry system that transmitted data collected over a CAN bus
- Created hardware and firmware to control a 3d photogrametry rig
Technologies:
Technical Skills
Primary language for embedded systems development with deep understanding of memory management and optimization.
Experience
- Bootloaders with supoprt for OTA updates
- Ported auto-pilot software to custom boards
- FreeRTOS and linux backended firmware
- Worked in custom C++ stl and worked with advanced primitives such as async, mutexes etc
- Developed effecient firmware in C/C++ on embedded devices
- Worked in complex technical stacks, Ethernet IP, Bluetooth etc.
I really enjoy programming in this langauge, it is the language of choice for me for personal projects. Due to it low level yet versatile nature I have used it every where from webites to low level firmware.
Experience
- Custom langauge (similar to protobuf)
- Many many cli tools
- Low-level firmware with async capabilities
- Network performance tools
- Voxel ray-tracer
- Reactive websites
- Control software for drones
- Many tools like noise libraries, image manipulation ...
Used a lot for making testing code!
Experience
- Custom hardware testing framework
- Code generation for custom binary protocols
- Cli tools
PCB design from schematic capture to manufactuering, done some high-speed signals, power delivery and digital circuits
Experience
- Designed 4-layer carrier board for CM5 with high speed signals
- Multiple low power boards designed
- Custom antenna design
- Digital circuits
- Radar antenna design
Worked with lots of diffferent microcontrollers
Experience
- Designed boards around many microcontrollers
- Worked with standard and advanced MCU peripherals
- Lots of personal designed around the RP2040 and RP2350
- Ported open source firmware to STM32 based board
- Worked with RISC-V and ARM MCUs
Experience
- Wireless lock with IP over BLE
- Wifi controlled devices
- Telemetry data over LoRa
Let's Work Together
I'm always interested in discussing new opportunities, innovative projects, or just connecting with fellow engineers. Feel free to reach out!