Looking for a job

Nick Kakenov

@nickkakenov

Message

I build and validate high-speed electronic boards for test, transit, defense, and automotive platforms.

United States

Message

What I'm looking for

I'm looking to apply my board-level design, validation, and sustaining-support experience to high-performance server, datacenter, and accelerator platforms.

At Teradyne, I own board-level design for automated electronic test platforms, translating product requirements into schematics, power trees, component selections, and prototype plans. I reduced tester debug cycles by 30% by standardizing bring-up checklists, rail measurements, failure signatures, and firmware-hardware handoff documentation.

Previously at Luminator Technology Group, I designed embedded controller and passenger-information electronics for transit buses and rail vehicles, cutting first-pass hardware issue closure from four weeks to three. At BAE Systems and Aptiv, I developed and validated ruggedized defense and automotive electronic hardware while improving prototype fault isolation and reducing recurring bench rework.

I take boards from circuit definition through lab validation, production release, and sustaining support, working across processor, FPGA, Ethernet, PCIe, USB, CAN, and power-conversion interfaces. My work combines schematic capture, multilayer PCB design, SI/PI review, board bring-up, and failure analysis for high-performance hardware platforms.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Senior Hardware Design Engineer

Current

Teradyne

Jul 2023 - Present (3 years 2 months)

Owns board-level design for automated electronic test platforms, leading schematic capture, PCB definition, and design validation. Reduced tester debug cycles by 30% by standardizing bring-up checklists and documentation.

Schematic Capture Multilayer PCB Layout Controlled Impedance Routing Signal Integrity Power Integrity FPGA Ethernet PCIe USB 3.2 Board Bring Up Oscilloscopes Digital Multimeters Electronic Loads Protocol Analysis Root Cause Analysis Failure Analysis

Hardware Design Engineer

Luminator Technology Group

Mar 2020 - Jun 2023 (3 years 3 months)

Designed embedded controller and passenger-information electronics for transit buses and rail vehicles. Cut first-pass hardware issue closure time from 4 weeks to 3 weeks by introducing structured interface checkouts and boundary-condition testing.

Schematic Capture PCB Layout FPGA Ethernet USB CAN Power Conversion Multilayer Stack Up Impedance Requirements Prototype Bring Up Oscilloscopes Digital Multimeters Signal Generator Programmable Power Supplies EMC Failure Analysis

Electronics Design Engineer

BAE Systems

Jan 2019 - Feb 2020 (1 year 1 month)

Developed ruggedized electronic assemblies for defense and security systems, supporting requirements analysis, circuit design, PCB implementation, and prototype testing. Improved prototype fault isolation by 25% through repeatable power-on procedures and structured failure-analysis reports.

OrCAD EDA Tools Analog Design Digital Design Power Systems Design Processor Circuitry High Speed Interfaces Ethernet USB Serial Links Board Bring Up Oscilloscopes Digital Multimeters Power Supply Function Generators Electronic Loads Temperature Measurement Failure Analysis

Hardware Engineer

Aptiv

Jun 2016 - Dec 2018 (2 years 6 months)

Supported design and validation of automotive electronic control hardware for connected and automated vehicle systems. Reduced recurring bench rework by 20% by documenting assembly constraints, probe locations, and common power-up failure modes.