Erik Kallen Erik Kallen

Resume

Contact

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Summary

Software and embedded systems engineer with over 15 years of experience spanning low-level microcontroller firmware, embedded Linux, cloud-connected systems, and full-stack web development. Currently leading an embedded and cloud integration team at a Dutch energy-tech company. Co-founder of an engineering products company. Comfortable working across the full stack from silicon to browser, and from prototype to production.

Technical Skills

  • Languages & frameworks: C, C++, Ruby, JavaScript, Java, HTML/CSS, Ruby on Rails, Node.js, AngularJS, WebSockets
  • Embedded & OS: ARM Cortex-M, Allwinner H3, Buildroot, Linux, RTOS, Zephyr, bare-metal firmware
  • Connectivity: BLE, LoRa, 3G/cellular, Ethernet, UART, SPI, I²C
  • Hardware: PCB design, SMD soldering, FPGA, schematic reading, sensor interfacing
  • Tools & practices: Git, cloud-connected production tooling, remote monitoring systems, test & calibration automation

Language Skills

  • Dutch — native
  • English — professional proficiency (written and spoken)
  • German — professional reading/speaking; limited written

Education

  • Hanzehogeschool, Groningen (NL) — Bachelor of ICT, 2009
  • Communitech, Kitchener (CA) — Business Fundamentals, 2015

Experience

Team Lead — Asset Control & Integration at Zonneplan, Zwolle (NL) — Present

Zonneplan is a Dutch energy company offering solar, home batteries and smart energy management.

  • Leading the Asset Control & Integration team, responsible for firmware, cloud connectivity and production of smart energy hardware.
  • Played a key role in firmware development for the Zonneplan Smart Grid Node.
  • Played a key role in the technical implementation of the first home battery product launch.
  • Responsible for ramping up Smart Grid Node production, covering quality, tooling and manufacturing scale-up.
    (Skills: Zephyr RTOS, embedded firmware, GitHub CI/CD, production ramp-up, team leadership)

Co-Founder at EVAbits, Groningen (NL) — April 2017 – Present

EVAbits is a hardware and embedded software engineering company (“Testing Makes Perfect”) offering both product development and engineering services.

  • Co-founded the company with two former colleagues; responsible for product architecture, embedded firmware, and engineering services delivery.
  • Designed and built EVAjig: a cloud-native, turnkey platform for PCBA testing, programming and provisioning that streamlines electronics manufacturing workflows.
  • Delivers engineering services including FPGA-based parallel processing, embedded Linux, Zephyr RTOS, wireless communication, and in-house PCB design and manufacturing.
    (Skills: business development, embedded firmware, cloud integration, PCB design, FPGA, Zephyr RTOS)

Software Engineer at Diagnoptics, Groningen (NL) — January 2017 – May 2019

Diagnoptics develops medical diagnostic instruments for non-invasive assessment of tissue glycation.

  • Developed embedded firmware for the new Bluetooth-connected age reader device.
    (Skills: C, BLE, embedded systems)
  • Rebuilt the testing and calibration tooling, adding a cloud-connected tracking system for production traceability and quality control.
    (Skills: cloud integration, production tooling, calibration systems)

Senior Engineer at INCAS3, Assen (NL) — July 2009 – January 2017

INCAS3 applied sensor technology to real-world industrial and environmental monitoring applications.

  • Adapted firmware and Qt-based interface for a high-end networked audio device.
    (Skills: RTOS, Buildroot, Qt/C++)
  • Built a web interface and spectrum-fitting analysis tool for a full-spectrum radiation detector.
    (Skills: C/C++, Node.js, Buildroot, WebSockets, JavaScript, Linux kernel drivers, Ruby on Rails)
  • Taught embedded Java and C courses at HIT University, Assen.
  • Designed, deployed and maintained a remote environmental monitoring system in Northern Saskatchewan, engineered to operate at −40 °C to +80 °C.
    (Skills: C/C++, Buildroot, 3G/pppd, Ruby on Rails, robust field engineering)
  • Designed a low-power sensor readout stack based on Atmel Cortex-M0+, supporting stackable sensor, power/solar-charger, modem and LoRa boards.
    (Skills: C, Ruby on Rails, LoRa)
  • Designed and built a miniature sensor ball with motion sensors, SD card storage and temperature logging.
    (Skills: C, embedded hardware)

Engineer at Ingu Solutions, Kitchener (CA) — April 2015 – August 2015

  • Established the Waterloo, Canada office; responsible for recruiting, hiring and mentoring of co-op students.
  • Led development of the second revision of the Xploring WiseMote product: sourced components, updated firmware and readout software.
    (Skills: C, PCB manufacturing, 3D CAD, prototyping)

Co-Founder at Bazingalabs, Groningen (NL) — April 2011 – June 2014

  • Developed prototype boards for wireless hobby electronics based on the Arduino platform, targeting home IoT applications.
    (Skills: business development, C, web development, PCB soldering, bootloaders)

Engineer at Rosnes Sensor Solutions, Assen (NL) — February 2009 – July 2009

  • Prototyped a wireless sensor for detecting parked and moving vehicles.
    (Skills: C, sensor interfacing, 433 MHz radio)

Student at Hanzehogeschool, Groningen (NL) — 2005 – 2009

Notable projects:

  • Route optimisation simulation for a taxi company (Skills: Java, algorithms)
  • Network design, setup and configuration for a school (Skills: networking, switch/server management)
  • Terminal-based VoIP application (Skills: C, GStreamer)