Vincent Hodnett
Wexford
Summary
Dynamic Antenna Design Engineer with proven expertise at Taoglas in custom antenna design and RF testing. Antenna integration experience in IoT and M2M wireless products using Cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GNSS technologies.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Antenna Design Engineer
Taoglas
Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
05.2021 - 07.2025
- Antenna integration to customer devices – SW tools: SolidWorks, Altium, ViewMate.
- Custom antenna design and website models – SW tools: CST Studio.
- RF Testing – equipment, e.g., Anritsu, Keysight, Rohde & Schwarz, and Copper Mountain Technologies.
- Noise figure measurements.
- Mentoring interns and work experience students.
RF Test Engineer
Taoglas
Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
07.2016 - 05.2021
- Passive, Active (TRP/TIS) antenna testing, anechoic chamber active/passive calibrating using both (AMS-8600 ETS 0.45 GHz to 6 GHz and StarLAB SLV2 0.6 GHz to 18 GHz).
- ETS GNSS anechoic chamber (Model: 5247) - Tracking an acquisition sensitivity test using the Spectracom GSG-5 GPS simulator.
- Antenna integration to customer devices, reliability testing (ISO 16750 environment), documenting data sheets, application reports, and simulation studies using CST, as well as Gerber file review.
Graduate Engineer
Taoglas
Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
03.2015 - 06.2016
- 1 year and 4 months of experience – assisting senior engineers, antenna testing, prototyping, RF cable assembly, simulation studies using CST software, Gerber file review, processing raw data, and documenting data sheet reports and SOP reports.
- Started part-time in March under trial, and switched to full-time in April and May.
Night Porter
Maldron Hotel (Newtown Park Hotel)
Barntown, Co. Wexford
09.2014 - 05.2015
- Assist the bartender in closing the bar and restaurant area. Hoover, mop the floor.
- Hotel room service.
- Late bar service.
- Three nightly security walks (locking and opening the side and back doors, turning on the security alarm at night).
- Meeting room preparation.
- Opening the door for late arrivals.
- Firing up cookers for morning chefs, setting up breakfast tables, cold food counters, and warming coffee machines.
- Reception Check-In/Out, card payments, issuing digital room cards.
- Monitoring of the fire alarm panel.
Erasmus
Hochschule für Telekommunikation, Leipzig, Germany
Leipzig
03.2012 - 07.2012
- Research and study of Atmel microcontrollers, and C programming using AVR Studio. 2012 (Part of DT021, Electronic and Electrical Engineering Honours Degree, Work Experience)
Education
Level 9. - Master in Engineering - Electronic engineering
Waterford Institute of Technology
Cork Rd., Waterford City, Co. Waterford.01.2021
Level 8. - Honours degree - Electrical & electronic engineering
Dublin Institute of Technology
Kevin St., Dublin, Co. Dublin01.2015
Level 7. - Ordinary degree - Electrical services engineering
Dublin Institute of Technology
Kevin. St, Dublin, Co. Dublin.01.2009
Level 6. - HETAC, Certificate - Computer Programming
CCT
30-34, Westmoreland Street, Dublin, Co. Dublin.01.2014
Level 6. - FETAC, Electrician National Craft Certificate -
Waterford Institute of Technology
Cork Rd., Waterford City, Co.Waterford.01.2005
Level 6. - QQI, Project Management - Professional Development
Private Tutor provide by Taoglas.
Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.01.2019
Level 5. - FETAC, Certificate - Media and Audio
Ballyfermot College of Further Education
Ballyfermot, Dublin City, Co. Dublin.01.2007
Grade 4. RIAM - Pianoforte – Honours
Royal Irish Academy of Music
National Opera House11.2018
Skills
- Familiar day-to-day skills include: Altium Designer, data analysis, CST Studio, DraftSight, SolidWorks, eDrawings, EMQuest, SatEnv, Satimo MVG SW, ViewMate, AT commands, source control (TortoiseSVN), SharePoint, Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Teams
- Practical skills include: VNA testing, RF testing, antenna integration, antenna design, anechoic chamber testing, technical troubleshooting, soldering 0402 and 0201 size components, antenna tuning/matching using VNA, oscilloscope, multimeters, electrical debugging, breadboard building, microcontrollers, and model simulations/prototyping
- Computer skills studied in university include: C, C, Java, Matlab, Pspice, OrCad Capture, Wireshark, Dialux, OS software, Edx Code-Cast, AVR Studio, IAR Embedded Workbench, Notepad/Sublime Text, NetBeans, using Command Prompt, Mitsubishi GX Developer, VHDL, Linux (BASH), and Terra Term
- Theoretical skills studied in university include: control theory, automation, engineering- mathematics, mechanics, analogue electronics theory, digital electronics theory, DSP, communication theory, computer architecture, thermodynamics, solid state electronics, electrical power systems, system analysis and design, mixed signals, and semiconductors
Languages
English (Main)., Babbel Beginner (B1) – Deutsch (Need to follow up with live lessons and practice!).
Hobbies and Interests
Gardening, Music, DIY, Nature and Outdoor hiking. Happy to have walked 600 km last year and aiming to complete 600 km again this year using ‘All Trails App’. Would love to explore Canada.
Affiliations
Following the IEEE Association
Languages
English
First Language
German
Elementary (A2)
A2
Expectations
Job expectations for new role, would be to have greater opportunity for collaboration and mentoring using RF/Antenna software design tools to bring my engineering skill set to the next level, working on new and exciting projects.
Additional Education
- Professional Cert.: C Programming with Linux - Course by Petra B. Taylor, Remi S. (Edx), (July ‘24).
- Fundamentals of C++ by IBM via Edx learning platform, (Jan. ‘24).
- Professional Cert. in Advanced Embed. Systems on ARM via Edx learning platform, (June ‘23).
- Professional Cert. in Embedded System Essentials with ARM via Edx learning platform (May,’23).
- Udemy - FPGA Design and VHDL basics.
- MATLAB onramp.
- Cert. in Successful RF PCB design by Tony R. & Steve W. - University of Oxford, (Feb ‘18).
- 10-week course in CAD, D.I.T., Kevin Street, DIT.
- City & Guilds Mitsubishi Programmable Logic Controllers, Part 2, Unit 2. W.I.T., Co. Waterford.
Timeline
Antenna Design Engineer
Taoglas
05.2021 - 07.2025
RF Test Engineer
Taoglas
07.2016 - 05.2021
Graduate Engineer
Taoglas
03.2015 - 06.2016
Night Porter
Maldron Hotel (Newtown Park Hotel)
09.2014 - 05.2015
Erasmus
Hochschule für Telekommunikation, Leipzig, Germany
03.2012 - 07.2012
Level 9. - Master in Engineering - Electronic engineering
Waterford Institute of Technology
Level 8. - Honours degree - Electrical & electronic engineering
Dublin Institute of Technology
Level 7. - Ordinary degree - Electrical services engineering
Dublin Institute of Technology
Level 6. - HETAC, Certificate - Computer Programming
CCT
Level 6. - FETAC, Electrician National Craft Certificate -
Waterford Institute of Technology
Level 6. - QQI, Project Management - Professional Development
Private Tutor provide by Taoglas.
Level 5. - FETAC, Certificate - Media and Audio
Ballyfermot College of Further Education
Grade 4. RIAM - Pianoforte – Honours
Royal Irish Academy of Music