# Bill Cox

> SWE at Google

Location: Sausalito, California, United States
Profile: https://flows.cv/billcox1

I've had the good luck to work with outstanding hardware and software developers, starting in National Semiconductor's Linear group, and later QuickLogic and Synplicity.  I founded ViASIC in 2000, sold it to Triad Semiconductor in 2010, and since 2015 worked in security for Google.

Over the next five years, I hope to change the world! (that was my last five-year goal, too).

Specialties: I build new technologies, typically involving both hardware and advanced algorithms.  I developed place and route tools for both FPGAs and ASICs, technology mappers, FPGA and structured ASIC architectures, microcontroller designs, compilers.  I also enjoy cryptography, and occasionally run a workshop called, "Write your own crypto, but never use it!"

Most recently, I've fofucsed on building AI agents such as CodeRhapsody, and helped SWEs learn how to efficiently use AI coding agents.

## Work Experience
### SWE @ Google
Jan 2015 – Present | San Francisco, California, United States
I build new technologies quickly for an amazing manager.  The one you probably have not heard of is Android Cloud Key Vault, which protects your Android backup with secure hardware.

### CTO, ViASIC Software Division @ Triad Semiconductor
Jan 2011 – Present
Early software development from the blank whiteboard stage.

### CTO/Founder @ ViASIC
Jan 2000 – Jan 2010
Chief cook and bottle washer.  Basically, I do anything and everything from inventing technologies, to coding algorithms, to selling products.

### Programmer @ Synplicity
Jan 1996 – Jan 1999
Worked for Ken McElvain, one of the best programmers in the world.  Wrote the original schematic generator for HDL Analyst, did some early work on the ASIC mapper.

### Programmer @ QuickLogic
Jan 1990 – Jan 1996
Worked with a great team developing place and route tools for QuickLogic's early FPGAs.  Had a great time.

### Programmer @ National Semiconductor
Jan 1986 – Jan 1989
Wrote original Simple Switcher CAD program, most of the assembly code for the LM628/LM629, and did everything from developing the test patterns to soldering burn-in boards.


## Education
### BS in EECS
University of California, Berkeley


## Contact & Social
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/waywardgeek
- Portfolio: http://www.billrocks.org
- Portfolio: http://www.viasic.com

---
Source: https://flows.cv/billcox1
JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/billcox1/resume.json
Last updated: 2026-04-10