Embedded Hardware Design R&D

Foundations in Documentation & Compliance:

My six-month internship at Aeron Systems (IoT Department) exposed me to the complete lifecycle of industrial embedded hardware design—from documentation and compliance, to R&D, prototyping, and production release. Initially, I worked on BOMs, hardware design documents, and requirement sheets, supporting projects like the MT1K10, and quickly realized how structured and standards-driven corporate R&D environments are compared to academic labs. This period also introduced me to CE testing protocols (IEC61000), where I studied surge, ESD, and EMI/EMC protection requirements, later contributing to the CE qualification of SPIM1000 at TUV.

Altium Library Optimization:

Midway through my internship, I identified inefficiencies in the company’s Altium component libraries, where inconsistencies led to redundant inventory and increased costs. I was assigned to standardize and rebuild the libraries from scratch, which involved reviewing datasheets for ~450–500 components across resistors, capacitors, ICs, MOSFETs, regulators, and passives. I defined a uniform nomenclature, parameter structure (RoHS, ESD rating, AEC-Q200 grade, etc.), verified footprints and symbols, and curated a clean, optimized library. This not only streamlined BOM generation but also reduced purchasing overhead by consolidating part selection.

R&D and Product Ownership:

In the latter phase, I was given greater ownership through two product-focused R&D tasks. First, I had the responsibility to design a new solar power measurement device, proposing architectures to allow integration within solar grids and advanced panel measurements (IV/PV curves, Pmax). I simulated circuit-level solutions in Multisim, documented trade-offs, and developed a partial PoC. Second, I independently designed and delivered a sensor-to-datalogger accessory—from schematic and PCB design in Altium, to testing, validation, and production handoff. These experiences taught me end-to-end development and the importance of inter-departmental coordination in delivering compliant, production-ready hardware.