Prashanth Gokaran

Experience

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  Controlsoft South Africa

  May 2001 - Apr 2003

  Embedded Software & Hardware Design Engineer

   Designing and optimizing PCB’s from board level down to component resolution. Designing and compiling 100% of PCB data packs currently in use (pack contains all information regarding the product and manufacture of Controlsoft equipment as required by CEM’s as specified by UL standards). Acting as the resident VHDL expert–designing and implementing VHDL applications for next generation solutions. Designing and coded various firmware applications in C for 8051-based microprocessors. Product managing on Controlsoft solutions. Technical proofing of User and training manuals. Providing technical expertise to both high-level support and third party integration. Leading various beta-testing projects concerning access control software and hardware systems.  Providing a solution (designing customised components) that optimally integrated the Controlsoft Access Control System with the American Auto Matrix (AAM) HVAC System. Visiting paid to AAM Head Office (Pittsburgh, USA) – AAM engineers trained in manufacturing and testing procedures. Show less

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  Sygade Solutions

  May 2003 - Apr 2007

  Sales Engineer / Hardware Engineer

  Electronic Hardware Design Engineer: Consulting on the designing of battery charging circuits. Responsible for completing testing of prototype verifying that circuits operate as specified. Ensuring customer’s specifications and safety standards are adhered. Verifying Bill of Materials for products before prototyping and production hence limiting possible shortages during production and ensuring correct components purchased. Designing an active light sensor creating perfect lighting conditions for digital capture of driver’s license photographs as used by the Department of Transport. Lighting sensor monitors and adapts to varying lighting conditions. Testing SDK’s intended to be supplied with RFID development kits ensuring customer satisfaction and anticipating improvements to SDK. Testing and repairing hardware before delivery to customers. Representing company at the World Roads Congress held in Durban, South Africa in October 2003 demonstrating to foreign delegates how products developed at Sygade contributing to Road Safety. Assisting in streamlining and securing process of licensing drivers and vehicles. Representing the company at the RFID World Seminar held at the Sandton Convention Centre. Interacting with other technology providers and potential business partners. Sales Engineer: Providing technical information for proposals and tender applications. Assisting with technical specifications for new projects. Developing customer relations and providing technical information whenever required. Responsible for preparing demo equipment. Identifying new business leads and opportunities both nationally and internationally. Representing the company at the South African Intelligent Traffic Systems Conference held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Show less

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  Opto Africa Holdings (Pty)Ltd

  May 2007 - Jun 2014

  Hardware Specialist & Technical Expert

   Consulting on manufacturing of the above:o Verifying Bill of Materials for products before prototyping and production hence limiting possible shortages during production and ensuring correct components purchasing. Responsible for Prototype buying. Designing vehicle tracking interface board and managing production process for the product (GSM and GPRS). Designing various 125 kHz RFID readers. Designing various other IO interface boards. Internal sales of Bluetooth products, device servers and ZigBee products. Pre-sales technical support for the above:o Assisting clients with implementing various Bluetooth products, Ethernet to Serial converters and USB to Serial converters, ZigBee. Developing miscellaneous C applications for Linux. Designing Optical RS422 Isolator. Designing load cell digitizer. Designing remote pepper spray unit (Atmel based). Responsible for configuring and implementing of Outdoor GPRS modems sold to clients (Mikrotik, GPRS). Designing drum rotation (Directional) Sensor and System to integrate to vehicle tracking systems (Concrete Trucks). Strategy designing and supporting OPTO22 PLC’s. Project management:o Designing, implementing and managing projects.o Planning, organizing, motivating, and controlling resources to achieve project specific goals.o Reviewing project plans for deadlines and due dates.o Implementing on Ready Mix concrete trucks at the Medupi power station project.o Designing, implementing and project management (upgrading a Freeze Drier System for a multinational pharmaceutical company) Rand Value - R 950 000.  Upgrading of a Freeze Drier System for a multinational pharmaceutical company. Hardware and software supporting and commissioning of concrete batching plants running on OPTO22 PLC’s. Implementing and managing Google advertising for sale Bluetooth products, device servers and ZigBee products. Show less

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  DVD Maker

  Jan 2008 - now

  Owner

  Video Format Conversions From Analogue Formats to Digital.Supporting VHS, VHS-C, MiniDV and Hi8 Tapes.

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  Denel Dynamics

  Jun 2014 - Dec 2018

  Firmware and Embedded Software Engineer

  Schematic DesignVHDL development for various subsystems.Manage documentation.Ensure RTC178 Compliance.Project: Missile Telemetry PCB and FirmwareProjects : Unmanned Aerial Vehicles - Test & Quality Documentation, Compliance & Certification, Embedded Test ApplicationsProjects : Surface to Air Missile - Integration Firmware, Hardware Evolution, Hardware Design authorityProjects : Air to Air Missile - Firmware Improvements, Firmware EvolutionProjects - Internal Peer Code Review - Environment Management, Review Contributor, Tool ManagementNominations - CEO Excellence awards - Firmware Certification for UAVS FPGAVHDL Development and Support – CPLD, Softcore FPGA’s (uBlaze, PowerPC, ZYNQ), Xilinx & Altera. Conform to DO254 and RTC178C. VHDL Test Bench Development. Simulation on Modelsim. Embedded Test Software. Document Suite – Requirement Specs, Test Descriptions & Results Report, Development Files, Design Documents, Interface Control Document, Version Description Documents, Data Books, Software Accomplishment Summary. Linting – Formulation of Coding Standards. Peer Code Review. Code Coverage. Design authority – Manage Configuration Items. Debugging and Robustness Testing. Board design (Overview and oversee schematic design & PCB Layout) Integration – mechanical and other subsystems. SVN SAP HDL Designer/Developer XJTAG Modelsim. Team Leader – Firmware Group Software & Development Tool ManagementCourseso Acquisition Management(Ad Sparius)o System Engineering(Ad Sparius)o Business Continuityo AS9100o DO254 and RTC178C. Show less

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  Opto Africa Holdings (Pty)Ltd

  Dec 2018 - now

  General Manager

  Contract Negotiation – Public SectorNegotiate EULA and SLA contract with public sector entities.Respond to RFQ and Tender Bid submissions.Manage contract fulfilment and monthly reports.Clients include City of Joburg, City of Ekurhuleni, Msundusi Municipality, Rustenburg MunicipalityContract Negotiation – Private SectorNegotiate EULA and SLA contract with private sector entities.Respond to RFQ and Tender Bid submissions.Manage contract fulfilment and monthly reports.Clients include Scaw Metals, Barnes Fencing Group, Glendore SandsField Service team managementManage team activities.Review and process Job Cards.Skills transfer and training.Technical Input.Improve and streamline processes.Admin Office team managementReview achievements.Strategic planning.Weekly Reporting ReviewsHR CoordinationPeriodic performance reviews and feedback.Consider staff feedback and action requests from staff.Provide technical and software first line support to customers.Provide customers with training to operate and maintain systems.Escalate and monitor support requests to software team when needed.System Requirement formulationEngage with customer to understand needs and formulate requirements for new and complex systems or changes to existing systems.Recommend efficient and cost-effective products and requirement specifications.Identify opportunities to improve processes and results.Ensure compliance with industry and safety standards are met.Project Management and CoordinationManage software team activities and scheduling to meet project timelines and budgets.Plan system implementation and consider and mitigate risks and security issues.Ensure transparent communication between software team and technical team to ensure systems are development to meet requirements and implementation and testing is fully understood by technical team.Manage project timelines based on component availability and development time.Manage procurement processes. Show less