Robert Ferrier - PCB Designer

Q: Where is Robert based?

Robert is based in Nijmegen, Netherlands and prefers 100% remote projects.

Q: What languages does Robert speak?

Robert speaks the following languages: German (Native), Dutch (Intermediate), Swedish (Intermediate), English (Elementary), French (Elementary), Italian (Elementary) .

Q: How many years of experience does Robert have?

Robert has at least 32 years of experience. During this time, Robert has worked in at least 23 different roles and for 25 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 3 months . Note that Robert may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Robert's latest experience?

Robert's most recent position is PCB Designer at Bosch .

Q: What companies has Robert worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Robert has worked for Bosch , NKT Photonics , Q.ANT GmbH , MQS Automotive GmbH , and TRUMPF AG .

Q: Which industries is Robert most experienced in?

Robert is most experienced in industries like Aerospace and Defense , Manufacturing , and Space Exploration and Travel . Robert also has some experience in Telecommunication , Automotive , and Healthcare .

Q: Which business areas is Robert most experienced in?

Robert is most experienced in business areas like Product Development , Research and Development (R&D) , and Quality Assurance (QA) . Robert also has some experience in Production/Manufacturing .

Q: Which industries has Robert worked in recently?

Robert has recently worked in industries like Healthcare , Telecommunication , and Space Exploration and Travel .

Q: Which business areas has Robert worked in recently?

Robert has recently worked in business areas like Product Development , Research and Development (R&D) , and Quality Assurance (QA) .

Recommended expert

Nijmegen, Netherlands

Experience

Aug 2024 - Jan 2025

6 months

Waiblingen, Germany

PCB Designer

Bosch

Analog Medical Electronics design
Multi-layer PCB layout
Schematic & layout in Altium
Regulatory compliance

Feb 2024 - Sep 2025

1 year 8 months

Regensdorf, Switzerland

Microwave Photonics Designer

NKT Photonics

modelling and design of rf coupling networks
design of rf modulation circuits for optical circuits
optimise power requirements and reduction of noise requirements
ensured EMC and regulatory compliance

Apr 2023 - Jun 2024

1 year 3 months

Stuttgart, Germany

Optics & Microwave Design

Q.ANT GmbH

Control analysis of gyroscope using Matlab
Optomechanical analysis for space application using Sigfit, Solidworks, Zemax
Optics design for magnetic sensor using Zemax for prosthetics
Monitoring and control system
Microwave and optomechanical design for magnetic sensor system using Ansys and Comsol tools
Simulation and modelling of photonic and microwave bonding, mounting and packaging

Jun 2022 - Nov 2022

6 months

Stuttgart, Germany

Sensor Design

MQS Automotive GmbH

Sensor specification and definition
Sensor design and simulation for automotive application
Multiphysics simulation using Comsol and Matlab
EMC analysis and solutions using Ansys and CST and compliance with technical specifications

Nov 2021 - Jun 2022

8 months

Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

RF Design Engineer

TRUMPF AG

Development of high power RF source for laser excitation used in plasma generation system
Breakdown of customer requirements into subsystem specification
Development of Doherty power amplifier
Development of multiple power amplifier combiner
Thermoelectric modelling of transistor, packaging and mounting
Complete thermoelectric simulation using ADS and Ansys tools
RF PCB layout using Altium
Prototype construction and testing

Feb 2021 - Sep 2021

8 months

Frankfurt, Germany

Electromagnetic Simulation Engineer

Valeo AG

EM analysis of automotive 5G/LTE transceiver using CST and CATIA
Product specification relating to customer specification and regulatory requirements
Extensive mechanical and electromagnetic modelling
Analysis of embedded antennas and PCB stackup
Tolerance and yield analysis
Prototype construction and testing

Apr 2020 - Jan 2021

10 months

Dresden, Germany

Optical Test Engineer

Siltronic AG

Design of optical test system for analysis of ultrasonic transmitter
Cleaning system for wafer manufacturing system
Design and analysis using Zemax, Ansys and Matlab/Python
Testing and measurement of cleaning system

Jan 2018 - Jun 2019

1 year 6 months

Graz, Austria

Optical & Photonics Engineer

AMS AG

System analysis for automotive ASIL and functional safety requirements
Optoelectronic design for scanning LiDAR application
Design and analysis using CST, Ansys Speos, Zemax and Lumerical
3D modelling of die attach, bonding and encapsulation
Development of LiDAR evaluation PCB and fixture
System testing and evaluation
Optomechanical design using Solidworks and CATIA
Conformance modelling and testing using Labview

Jan 2017 - Dec 2017

1 year

Düsseldorf, Germany

Photonics Design Engineer

Intel

Optical frontend design for Optical Ethernet application
Requirement specification derived from IEEE 802.3
Design using AWR Microwave Office and Cadence
Wafer probing and testing

Jun 2016 - Dec 2016

7 months

Gothenburg, Sweden

Optics Design Engineer

Ericsson AB

Design and analysis for a free space optics communications link
Subsystem definition
Transceiver power budget analysis
Design and simulation with Zemax and Matlab
Measurement and test

Nov 2015 - Apr 2016

6 months

Cologne, Germany

Photonics Design Engineer

Yazaki Europe Ltd

Specification and compliance
Design and analysis of components for an optical head up display
Involved in overall package development and subsystem specification
Design and simulation using CST, Luceda and Ansys Speos
Instrumentation cluster design
Support production site with industrialisation

Sep 2014 - Oct 2015

1 year 2 months

Siegen, Germany

Active Optics Engineer

PMD Technologies AG

Modelling and analysis of VCSEL properties
Product definition and thermal, reliability and aging analysis
3D ToF imaging modelling and analysis using Zemax and Lumerical
Efficiency calculations and improvement
Optics analysis and tolerancing
MIPI CS2-2 layout for 3D camera PCB layout using Altium
Mechanical chassis design using Solidworks
Architecture analysis and review

Sep 2013 - Aug 2014

1 year

Munich, Germany

Optoelectronics Design Engineer

Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG

Design of a broadband optoelectronic receiver
Discrete design
Design with AWR Microwave Office and ADS Momentum
Sourcing and test
Accelerated lifetime analysis

Apr 2013 - Aug 2014

1 year 5 months

Nice, France

RFIC Design Engineer

Sierra Microwave

Phased array front-end design
Circuit design using SiGe BiCMOS process
Design and simulation using ADS and Cadence
Wafer probing and testing
Package modelling and optimisation

Apr 2012 - Mar 2013

1 year

Erlangen, Germany

RF Engineer

Siemens Healthcare

Evaluation of high power RF sources for series MRI applications
Derivation of subsystem requirements
Unit testing and system integration
Subsystem modelling and analysis

Jan 2010 - Jun 2011

1 year 6 months

Nijmegen, Netherlands

MMIC Power Amplifier Design Engineer

NXP

MMIC power amplifier design using LDMOS process
Designs and simulation using ADS and Cadence
Monte-Carlo and tolerancing analysis
Package modelling using Momentum, HFSS and Ansys
Evaluation and application PCB design and testing

Jan 2009 - Jan 2009

1 month

United Kingdom

Microwave Photonics Design Engineer

MMIC Solutions Ltd

Design of microwave photonic components for optical communications
Design using InGaP process
Design using ADS and Momentum
EM analysis of packages, encapsulation, bonding and transitions
Design of PCB for DFM and DFT
Probing of test structures

Jul 2006 - Dec 2008

2 years 6 months

Hengelo, Netherlands

Active Optics Design Engineer

Thales Niederlande

MMIC design for radar application using 0.25 μm GaAs technology
Design and simulation using ADS
Bonding and packaging modelling
Design and testing of test structures

Jul 2005 - Jun 2006

1 year

Stuttgart, Germany

Infrared Optics Design Engineer

Valeo

Infrared optics design for automotive sensor application
Design and simulation using CodeV and Zemax
Prototype design using Solidworks
Test and measurement

Jan 2005 - Jun 2005

6 months

Aachen, Germany

Automotive Optics Design Engineer

Denso

Product definition
Optical design of lighting module for automotive application
Design and analysis using Zemax and LightTools

Jan 2004 - Dec 2004

1 year

Basingstoke, United Kingdom

Near Infrared Optics Design Engineer

Sony UK

Optical design for IrDA application
Design using Zemax and TracePro

Jan 2002 - Dec 2003

2 years

Ireland

Optical System Engineer

Xonex Ltd

Analysis of DVD mastering system
Precision optomechanical subsystem definition
Analysis using Zemax and Matlab
Process measurement

Jan 2000 - Dec 2001

2 years

Vienna, Austria

Space Optics Design Engineer

Wild Leitz AG

Microwave photonics design for space application
Design and analysis using Code V

Jan 1998 - Jun 1999

1 year 6 months

Rome, Italy

MMIC Design Engineer

Alenia Spazio Spa

Functional MMIC design for space applications using GaAs process
Design using ADS and EESOF
LTCC carrier design

Jun 1995 - Dec 1997

2 years 7 months

Stockholm, Sweden

RF Design Engineer

Ericsson AB

System design using EESOF tools
RF combining and distribution units
Tower mounted amplifier
Beam former and antenna design

Jun 1989 - May 1995

6 years

Portsmouth, United Kingdom

MMIC Design Engineer

Astrium Ltd.

MMIC design for space transceiver application using GaAs process
Design using EESOF tool
Probing and testing of circuits

Industries Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time. Longer bars indicate deeper hands-on experience, while shorter ones reflect targeted or project-based work.

Experienced in Manufacturing (11.5 years), Aerospace and Defense (11.5 years), Space Exploration (10.5 years), Telecommunication (6 years), Automotive (4.5 years), and Healthcare (2.5 years).

Manufacturing

Aerospace and Defense

Space Exploration

Telecommunication

Automotive

Healthcare

Business Areas Experience

The graph below provides a cumulative view of the freelancer's experience across multiple business areas, calculated from completed and active engagements. It highlights the areas where the freelancer has most frequently contributed to planning, execution, and delivery of business outcomes.

Experienced in Product Development (32.5 years), Research and Development (26.5 years), Quality Assurance (10.5 years), and Production (0.5 years).

Product Development

Research and Development

Quality Assurance

Production

Skills

Experience In Multidisciplinary Projects In Varying Industrial Sectors Including Space, Defence, Communications And Sensors.
Led Product Design And Participated In Multi-physics And Solid Modelling Of Systems/subsystems To Optimise Designs, Reduce Development Time And Time To Market, And Generate Requirement Specifications.
Experienced In Regulatory Conformance Within The Sensor/communications/medical Sectors Such As Iso9001, Iso/ts 19159, Iso 26262, Iso13485.
Demonstrated Proficiency In Advanced Optical System Design Using Code V, Ansys Tools, Discovery, Zemax, Speos And Lumerical, Lighttools, Cst, Tracepro And Other Industry Standard Software.
Optical Modelling And Simulation For Sensor, Illumination And Communication Systems, Design Assurance And Stray Light Analysis/remediation Using Lighttools And Industry Solid Modeller Software.
Experience In Optics And Microoptics Design In Visible, Nir And Fir Wavelengths.
Experience In Advanced Rf And Microwave System Design Of Discrete And Integrated Circuits And Antennas Using Ads, Mwo (Axiem, Emsight, Celsius) And Cadence For Applications In Radar, Communications And Sensors.
Communications And Analog Design And Simulation Using Pspice And Ti Spice.
Electromagnetic And Thermal Simulation Using Tools Such As Ansys Hfss, Cst And Ticra For Circuit And Antenna Design.
Demonstrated Proficiency In Advanced Data Analysis, 3d Modelling And Packaging, And Simulation Using Ansys, Matlab/simulink, Comsol, Systemvue And Mathcad.
Programming In Python (Tensorflow, Pytorch, Scikit), Fortran And C#.
Use Of Ai Code Tools Such As Cursor, Github Copilot, Codeium And Intellicode.
Test Script Generation Using Labview/teststand.
Knowledge Of 3d Modelling And Simulation Software Such As Ansys, Solidworks (Layout And Simulation) And Catia.
Pcb Layout Using Altium And Autocad.
Use Of Project Management And Related Tools Such As Sql, Microsoft Project, Sparx Enterprise Architect, Doors, Jira And Tortoisesvn.

Languages

German

Native

Dutch

Intermediate

Swedish

Intermediate

English

Elementary

French

Elementary

...and 1 more

Education

Oct 1987 - Jun 1988

Heriot-Watt University

Master of Science, Optics & Photonics · Optics & Photonics Program · Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Oct 1985 - Jun 1986

Bradford University

Master of Science, RF & Microwave Engineering · RF & Microwave Engineering · Bradford, United Kingdom

Oct 1980 - Jun 1984

St. Andrews University

Bachelor of Science, Physics & Chemistry · Physics & Chemistry · St Andrews, United Kingdom

Profile

Created

November 2025

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is Robert based?

Robert is based in Nijmegen, Netherlands and prefers 100% remote projects.

What languages does Robert speak?

Robert speaks the following languages: German (Native), Dutch (Intermediate), Swedish (Intermediate), English (Elementary), French (Elementary), Italian (Elementary).

How many years of experience does Robert have?

Robert has at least 32 years of experience. During this time, Robert has worked in at least 23 different roles and for 25 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 3 months. Note that Robert may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Robert be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Robert would be well-suited for roles such as: PCB Designer, Microwave Photonics Designer, Optics & Microwave Design.

What is Robert's latest experience?

Robert's most recent position is PCB Designer at Bosch.

What companies has Robert worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Robert has worked for Bosch, NKT Photonics, Q.ANT GmbH, MQS Automotive GmbH, and TRUMPF AG.

Which industries is Robert most experienced in?

Robert is most experienced in industries like Aerospace and Defense, Manufacturing, and Space Exploration and Travel. Robert also has some experience in Telecommunication, Automotive, and Healthcare.

Which business areas is Robert most experienced in?

Robert is most experienced in business areas like Product Development, Research and Development (R&D), and Quality Assurance (QA). Robert also has some experience in Production/Manufacturing.

Which industries has Robert worked in recently?

Robert has recently worked in industries like Healthcare, Telecommunication, and Space Exploration and Travel.

Which business areas has Robert worked in recently?

Robert has recently worked in business areas like Product Development, Research and Development (R&D), and Quality Assurance (QA).

What is Robert's education?

Robert holds a Master in Optics & Photonics Program from Heriot-Watt University, a Master in RF & Microwave Engineering from Bradford University and a Bachelor in Physics & Chemistry from St. Andrews University.

What is the availability of Robert?

Robert is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

What is the rate of Robert?

Robert's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.