25 Years, From Silicon to Autonomy
The full professional history — embedded firmware to autonomous-vehicle cybersecurity
My career began writing motor-control firmware and drivers on 8/16-bit microcontrollers in Mexico and progressed to helping secure the software of connected and autonomous vehicles in the United States. Two and a half decades across the full stack — silicon, embedded systems, software process, ADAS, and cybersecurity — the low-level understanding is still present in the high-level work. This is my professional history, grouped by era.
Cybersecurity & Safety for Autonomous Systems 2019 – present
Senior Cyber Safety Engineer
Stellantis · Auburn Hills, MI
2022 – present
- System cybersecurity and safety for ADAS modules across the development lifecycle.
- TARA, ISO 21434, UN R155, CSMS, and A-SPICE for Cybersecurity; supplier compliance management and coordination of cybersecurity tasks.
- Secure on-board communication architecture: SecOC and MACsec.
TARAISO 21434UN R155CSMSA-SPICESecOCMACsec
Cybersecurity Engineer
Magna Electronics · Auburn Hills, MI
2019 – 2022
- Product cybersecurity for ADAS: requirements elicitation, systems support for software development and testing, V&V, manufacturing, and functional safety.
- ISO 21434 and UNECE WP.29 alignment.
- Team lead for two ADAS projects; support for new project quotes; lead for cybersecurity training materials.
VultaraMediniDefensicsCANoeKeyWriterUNECE WP.29
ADAS & Advanced Technology 2013 – 2019
Software Robustness Engineer
General Motors · Warren, MI
2017 – 2019
- Test scenarios for ADAS; group representative for Quality; Simulink training; cybersecurity.
MATLAB/SimulinkCarSimDOORSRTCRQMUnderstand
Advanced Technology Specialist
General Motors · Warren, MI
2015 – 2017
- HMI rapid-prototyping software development; ADAS cybersecurity architecture; TARA; secure coding.
Qt CreatordSpace RCPRenesas R-Car H2/3Android StudioVector CANoeSecureITreePRQA CERT-C
Systems / Software Engineer — OnStar
General Motors · Warren, MI
2013 – 2015
- Application tools for telematics, DAQ, and mobile/wireless testing.
- Maintenance and development of a secure intranet site with ASP.NET Identity.
- .NET, web services, CAN/GMLAN for infotainment.
.NETBEA WeblogicOracle SQLDevelopersoapUIVehicle SpyQXDM
Software Leadership & Process 2008 – 2013
Lead Software Engineer
Chrysler Group LLC · Auburn Hills, MI
2010 – 2013
- Led a team of six engineers across Asia-Pacific and North America.
- Programming and model-based design in MATLAB/Simulink, Python, and C; dSpace TargetLink.
- Planned and fully implemented a configuration-management environment; developed coding and static-analysis standards.
- Developed the software quality process; CMMI lead, working with the SEI on CMMI SCAMPI. Contributor to initial cybersecurity architectural work.
MATLAB/SimulinkdSpace TargetLinkPythonCCMMI SCAMPI
J2ME Developer & Consultant
Mobatech · Troy, MI
2009 – 2010
- Main Java developer and consultant for Mobatech's BlackBerry applications.
Java (Eclipse, Ant, Polish)BlackBerry
Software Engineer
Accurate Technologies (ATI) · Wixom, MI
2008 – 2009
- Low-level hardware interfacing and communication-protocol development in C++/MFC.
- Licensing/security redesign using third-party libraries, IDA Pro, and crypto algorithms.
- Protocol development: XCP, CCP, TCP/IP.
C++/MFCIDA ProXCPCCP
Embedded Systems Foundations 2001 – 2008 · Mexico
Senior Software Engineer
Delphi Corp. · Juárez, MX
2007 – 2008
- Team leader managing groups of five-plus engineers (Synergy CM).
- Lead for a cluster project with NEC V850 and a Xilinx FPGA running MicroBlaze.
- Lead for an HVAC project with CAN/FNOS under MISRA and AUTOSAR.
- Integrated and tested CANbedded drivers for the NEC 78k0 (GENy); developed low-level software (motor control, PWM, OS); integrated high-level control software from MATLAB/Simulink.
NEC V850Xilinx MicroBlazeCAN/FNOSMISRAAUTOSARNEC 78k0
Senior Software Engineer
Sasken Communication Technologies · Monterrey, MX
2006 – 2007
- Team leader / senior engineer for the Linux BSP team.
- Scripts in Perl, bash, and sed/awk for dynamic power-management testing of device drivers for the OMAP processor and Linux (MontaVista, Wind River, open-source kernel trees).
- Tested and debugged power-management performance in embedded Linux using Lauterbach Trace32 and a National Instruments DAQ.
- Part of the team in the Texas Instruments CMMI appraisal.
Embedded LinuxOMAPLauterbach Trace32Perl/bashMontaVistaWind River
Software Engineer
Delphi Corp. · Juárez, MX
2001 – 2006
- Software team leader managing groups of five-plus engineers; preparation for CMMI and Automotive SPICE appraisals.
- Low-level software for several microcontrollers (Freescale, Microchip, NEC).
- On-board diagnostics software (KWP2000, GMLAN) for CAN-based controls.
- Software estimates for new-project bids; implemented security (crypto) algorithms for manufacturing processes.
- Designed MATLAB/Simulink/Stateflow models with auto-generated code (RTW, TargetLink); CANoe/CANalyzer programming in CAPL.
FreescaleMicrochipKWP2000GMLANStateflowCAPL
▦ Teaching — a 15+ years parallel throughline
Adjunct Instructor, Trine University (online) — MBSE and Systems V&V · 2024 – present
Adjunct Instructor, Ivy Tech (IvyOnline, School of IT) — Linux and Virtualization (AWS) · 2023 – present
Adjunct Instructor, Baker College — Electrical Engineering, IT, Cybersecurity; pen-testing with CORE Impact and Kali/BackTrack · 2011 – 2019
Adjunct Instructor, ITESM Campus Ciudad Juárez — Software Architecture and Software Programming · 2004 – 2007
Education
Ph.D. Candidate, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Oakland University · GPA 3.88 · expected Summer 2026
M.S., Information Assurance / Cybersecurity
Davenport University · GPA 3.76
B.S., Electronics Engineering (Digital Systems)
ITVER — Technological Institute of Veracruz, Mexico · GPA 3.73
Certifications & Core Languages
CompTIA Security+
Credential ID 35ESDPM5FJRE123W
Automotive Cybersecurity
SAE · ISO 21434
Languages & Systems
C · C++ · C# · Java · Assembly · Python · PowerShell · MATLAB/Simulink · Windows · Linux · Android