Saban Kocal
Verified Expert in Engineering
FPGA Engineer and Embedded Software Developer
Witten, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Toptal member since May 31, 2023
Saban is an embedded software engineer who has specialized in microcontroller units (MCU), C, and C++ since 2005. He has extensive experience working with microcontroller-based systems, including STM32, ESP32, Nordic nRF, TI MSP, Arduino, and FPGA. He is highly skilled in embedded Linux—FreeRTOS, Zephyr, and PetaLinux—and bare metal (no-OS) environments. Saban's in-depth expertise spans communication protocols and device drivers, including I2C, SPI, JTAG, UART, Modbus, PCIe, SFP+, and 1-Wire.
Portfolio
Experience
- Embedded Software - 15 years
- C - 15 years
- Hardware - 11 years
- Multithreading - 10 years
- C++ - 8 years
- Verilog - 8 years
- Embedded Linux - 6 years
- Real-time Data - 4 years
Work Experience
Embedded Software & FPGA Developer
Neros Technologies
- Developed drivers for TI MSPM0 microcontrollers, Zynq FPGAs, modulators, demodulators, synthesizers, analog-to-digital converters (ADC), and 16- and 8-bit digital-to-analog converters (DAC).
- Implemented device drivers using I2C, SPI, and UART.
- Debugged hardware issues using personal electronic lab equipment and implemented PCB fixes.
- Utilized Notion for bug tracking, task management, and documentation.
- Mentored a sub-team in software development on device driver implementation and facilitated daily standups.
Embedded Software Engineer
Bytec Med GmbH
- Developed a urologic irrigation device (IoT project).
- Worked on a device that took measurements from sensors such as load cells, color sensors, and accelerometers, processed them, and sent them to the cloud via Wi-Fi.
- Implemented Bluetooth low-energy communication between ESP32-C6 and nRF52840 for two independent parts of the device.
- Implemented various control loop algorithms for a hyperbaric "Blood Oxygenation Device Prototype" to control O2, CO2, blood pressure, and flow rate of the blood by using sensors such as flow and bubble sensors and controlled actuators such as valves and pumps.
Embedded Software & FPGA Engineer
Raith GmbH
- Developed an embedded device from scratch as ZYNQ SoM communicates with Bare Metal and Yocto-based Embedded Linux.
- Created a DMA Transfer mechanism from ZYNQ to Embedded Linux to C# GUI on PC without data loss.
- Designed and developed own Chip2Chip communication protocol between ZYNQ and Spartan FPGAs.
- Developed and used numerous protocols on FPGA and embedded Linux, including PCIe, SPI, I2C, 1-Wire, SPF+, JTAG, and UART.
Embedded Software & FPGA Engineer
Era Instruments
- Designed and developed the software and FPGA portions of the two systems below on Linux.
- Assisted in the creation of the Signal Intelligence System designed to collect ELINT and COMINT signals.
- Expanded the Direction Finding System: Added DMA transfer capability over PCI-e (3.0 x8) bus. Updated the entire FPGA portion of the project according to DMA transfer over PCI-e. Modified also the Linux Device Drivers.
- Devised communication protocols with PCI-e (3.0 x8), 10Gb, 1Gb, 100Mb, Ethernet, and UART. Used FPGA-related products such as Verilog, VHDL, DMA Transfer, JESD204, TCL, and Microblaze Linux.
Embedded Software Engineer
TUBITAK
- Developed various military projects about COMINT and ELINT (Signal Intelligence).
- Designed and implemented the National Emitter Database (SQL Server 2012) with 40 relational tables.
- Utilized communication protocols such as PCIe, 1Gb and 100Mb Ethernet, and UART. Recorded and replayed data to and from raid systems, Linux device drivers, and multithreading with C#, C++, and C.
Senior Software Developer
Turkey Finans
- Developed various loan and credit software using n-tier architecture.
- Implemented projects with approximately 90 software developers.
- Served as project manager and used TFS as source control.
Project History
Motor Control (Nanometer Scale)
https://raith.com/Additionally, I created my own communication system as an alternative to Xilinx's Chip2Chip IP Core. Most of the system operates in real-time at a frequency of 50 kHz. It's worth noting that our device operates at the nanometer/Angstrom scale, highlighting its exceptional precision.
GPS Tracker for Cats
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering
Istanbul University - Istanbul, Turkey
Certifications
Bluetooth Low Energy Fundamentals
Nordic Semiconductor
C++
CSD
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Istanbul Kurumsal Gelisim
Enterprise Design Pattern & Architectures
Bt Akademi
CCNA
Cisco
Skills
Libraries/APIs
SystemC
Tools
Git, Eclipse IDE, Zephyr, MQTT, Jira, Jenkins, MATLAB, Microsoft Project
Languages
C, C++, Verilog, C#, VHDL, Embedded C, Embedded C++, VB, Python
Paradigms
Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Best Practices, Desktop App Development, Design Patterns, RISC-V
Platforms
Embedded Linux, Windows, STM32, Bluetooth Low Energy (LE), Software Design Patterns, Linux, TestComplete
Frameworks
.NET, Blend4Web
Storage
SQL Server 2008
Industry Expertise
Telecommunications
Other
Communication Protocols, Multithreading, Direct Memory Access (DMA), FPGA, Software Development, Embedded Systems, Digital-to-analog Converters (DAC), Oscilloscopes & Tester Equipment, Embedded Software, Firmware, Low-level Programming, Optimization, Microcontrollers, STM32F4, Microprocessors, Real-time Operating System (RTOS), ARM Embedded, Zynq-7000, ESP32, Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), Analog-to-digital Converters (ADC), Arm Cortex-M0, Sensor Data, ARM-based hardware, Serial Communication, Embedded Development, State Machines, Yocto, Bluetooth, RF Communication, ARM Architecture, MCU, ARM, Embedded Hardware, ARM SoC, RTL, Microcontroller Programming, stepper motor control, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Real-time Data, Xilinx Vivado, Hardware, FreeRTOS, Nordic nRF52, IoT Security, wireless network, Networks, Networking, IT Networking, Kintex Ultrascale, IT Project Management, Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), GPS, Long-term Evolution (LTE), Nordic nRF91, nRF SDK, WiFi, Cloud, Wi-Fi 6, Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART), nrf SDK, I2C, Nordic Semiconductor, Cellular Networks, Network Security, DSP, Cisco Switches, Cisco, Cisco Routers
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