# Joao Mendes

> Senior Software Engineer | RF & ATE Instrument Drivers | C/C++ | Hardware–Software Integration

Location: Greater Boston, United States
Profile: https://flows.cv/joaomendes

Senior Software Engineer with 9+ years of experience developing production-critical RF and ATE instrument drivers and low-level system software.

I specialize in C/C++ development, hardware–software integration, and system-level debugging across complex tester platforms used in manufacturing environments.

At Cohu, I’ve contributed across the full product lifecycle- from architecture and hardware bring-up to long-term sustaining- supporting multiple RF and DSP instruments, including legacy systems.

I’m frequently consulted as a subject-matter expert to diagnose and resolve issues spanning hardware failures, driver defects, and application-layer bugs, and I enjoy improving team productivity through tooling, automation, and process improvements.

## Work Experience
### Senior Software Engineer @ Cohu, Inc.
Jan 2017 – Present | Walpole, MA
•Core developer of RF and DSP instrument drivers used in production ATE systems, working primarily in C/C++ on Unix
•Involved across the full product lifecycle, including architecture, hardware bring-up, production release, and long-term sustaining
•Go-to engineer for diagnosing and resolving complex issues spanning hardware behavior, driver software, and user applications
•Regularly support multiple instruments and legacy drivers across DiamondX and PAx tester platforms
•Develop internal tooling and automation to improve debugging efficiency and team productivity

### Web & Game Developer @ Independent Work
Jan 2014 – Jan 2017
•Designed, developed, and deployed Mendel Slug, a full-stack HTML5 arcade game featuring user-generated levels, progression systems, and multiplayer comparisons, demonstrating end-to-end ownership from concept through production
•Implemented a rich game engine using HTML5 Canvas, JavaScript, and jQuery, including tile-based rendering, unique NPC movements and behavior, and a Gregor Mendel genetics-inspired trait system with 100+ unique attributes
•Built and maintained backend services using Node.js, MongoDB, and Passport.js, supporting user authentication, persistence, and gameplay data
•Game can be found at www.mendelslug.net

•Developed Java-based plugins for a multiplayer game server to experiment with extensibility, event-driven systems, and user-facing APIs
•Completed structured frontend coursework focused on AngularJS and modern JavaScript frameworks

### Software Engineer @ LTX-Credence
Jan 2012 – Jan 2013 | Walpole, MA
•Debugged and resolved driver-level issues across multiple RF test instruments using C/C++ on Unix (CentOS), spanning application defects, memory issues, and hardware-induced data corruption
•Contributed to ClearCase branch creation and complex merges, including reconciling divergent codebases with hundreds of compiler errors
•Implemented driver enhancements to load, persist, and apply calibration data directly to RF test hardware

### Software Development Intern @ Weiss Asset Management
Jan 2010 – Jan 2011 | Boston, MA
● Developed Python scripts to perform various tasks, such as screen scraping and filtering websites for relevant asset data, emailing specific groups of people when certain information was found
● Wrote several C# Scripts using the Bloomberg API to extract Stock data and export it to local
Excel reference sheets used by traders
● Developed from scratch a Django-based web application to locally store investor knowledge and
schedule appointments

### Software Development Coop @ Verivo (formerly known as Pyxis Mobile)
Jan 2010 – Jan 2011 | Waltham, MA
•Developed and maintained Java-based BlackBerry applications, resolving customer-reported bugs and implementing platform enhancements
•Added support for BlackBerry OS 6, including UI transitions and improved data transfer between application screens
•Gained exposure to backend systems by working with the server team on RESTful APIs and fixing targeted C# service bugs

### Software Sustaining Co-op @ Motorola Solutions
Jan 2009 – Jan 2010 | Marlborough, MA
•Contributed to sustaining development of Motorola’s BSR cable modem termination system (CMTS), working primarily in C on an embedded VxWorks platform
•Implemented customer-requested enhancements, including wildcard support for command-line interfaces
•Debugged and fixed defects across the product UI and system components using ClearCase and Klocwork in a Unix-based development environment


## Education
### Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering
Northeastern University


## Contact & Social
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/joao-mendes-93a317b6

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Source: https://flows.cv/joaomendes
JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/joaomendes/resume.json
Last updated: 2026-03-31