mike-shea

We’re a small community makerspace focused on hands-on STEM and learning by doing. We run simple workshops and build sessions where people can experiment, learn, and make things together, with plans to expand over time.

I’m building out an expedition vehicle on a bare Isuzu truck, handling the structure, living space, and integrated systems from the ground up. Each stage is carefully designed with long-term durability in mind, then fabricated by hand, with an emphasis on how each part fits into the whole.

Served as technical lead for AC-coupled PV (ACcPV) firmware — enabling 3rd party AC solar inverters to integrate into a DC-focused ecosystem without direct communication. Redesigned the control logic to intelligently curtail ACcPV output when batteries were full while preserving load shedding capability.

Contributed to next-generation inverter firmware — implementing an event-driven state machine for sequencing from idle to grid-tied or islanded states in an RTOS environment, validating firmware in a software-in-the-loop (SIL) simulation environment, and gaining exposure to direct-quadrature (DQ) control theory.

Contributed to PVRSS firmware improvements around auto-detection in high crosstalk environments — captured high-frequency site data, performed FFT analysis to identify noise sources, and adjusted state machine order of operations with thread-safe telemetry snapshotting.

Supported UL 1741 / IEEE 1547 grid compliance certification — running Type Tests for ride-through, mandatory trip, and cessation, and building Python tooling to control test equipment and process oscilloscope waveforms into RMS calculations, reducing raw data file sizes by 99%.

Designed and implemented complete generator integration firmware — building new state machines for generator-connected operation, developing start/stop automation logic based on battery state of charge, and tuning a digital phase-locked loop to maintain lock through combined voltage swings of ±20% and frequency swings of ±10%.

Built a PLECS simulation model of switching converter bridge to evaluate FET selection for a next-generation inverter — scripting parametric sweeps to compare conduction and switching losses across frequencies and load conditions to inform component selection.

Proposed and advocated for changes to inverter state machine to improve islanding transition speed — making the technical case to modify a heavily guarded part of the codebase, implementing the change, and completely refactoring the mode selection logic into clean sequential structure.

Traveled to partner sites to investigate site-specific anomalies — characterizing overload conditions, back-EMF transients, and capacitive load switching as contributing factors. Delivered firmware improvements and co-designed a new relay driver board incorporating heavy-duty latching relays.

Ran multiple certification campaigns (UL 1741 SA, CRD200, UL 1998, SGIP) — building a Python automation suite to orchestrate grid simulators, DC supplies, AC loads, and inverters over USB, Ethernet, and RS-232, and hand-building custom automation components.

Designed, built, and validated a 40W flyback converter to supply the B-Link battery converter — achieving 88% efficiency, surviving continuous 50% overload, and earning Intertek certification (UL 1741 / CSA C22.2 No. 107.1).

Led HALT testing of the grid-tied / islanding inverter, PV Link solar optimizer, and SnapRS rapid shutdown devices — monitoring units through thermal, vibration, and combined stress testing, performing failure autopsies on return, and driving corrective actions across hardware, firmware, and manufacturing.

Supported AFD/GFD and PVRSS development and certification (UL 1699B, UL 1741) for the PV Link solar optimizer and SnapRS — prototyping hardware and firmware solution approaches, building custom test fixtures, and writing Python automation scripts under aggressive deadlines.

Diagnosed and repaired field-returned grid-tied / islanding inverter units, focusing on failed power silicon and switching circuitry — designed and built new RMA test bays from scratch and wrote SOPs for field-return testing and troubleshooting procedures.

Optimized image processing code using ARM NEON SIMD vector instructions in assembly language, achieving an average frame rate increase of 3.5x.

Designed and built test fixtures for design validation and production testing of a multichannel LED driver board.

Designed electrical distribution systems per NEC requirements — procuring custom parts as needed and writing installation and preventative maintenance procedures.

Tutored students in electrical and computer engineering coursework and assisted with lab sessions, evaluating and troubleshooting student work.

Cumulative GPA: 3.82, Class Rank: 2nd out of 18, Latin Honors: Summa Cum Laude

Memberships & Clubs & Involvement:
President of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, Student Representative for ECE Class of 2017, Member of IEEE Eta Kappa Nu ECE Honor Society, Member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Member of Engineering Without Borders, Member of Maine Outing Club, Member of UMaine Skeptics Club

Scholarships & Awards:
UMaine Engineering Hovey Award, Kepware Digital & Robotics Award, Dearborn Foundation Scholarship, R. & N. Singh Engineering Scholarship, Waldo M. Libbey Scholarship, ABC Amos D. Bridge Scholarship, UMaine Black Bear Award, Alton S. & Adelaide B. Hamm Scholarship, Louis H. Morrison Scholarship, Francis J. Hovey Memorial Scholarship, H. A. Crosby/K. L. Parsons Award, B.R.C.O.T. Scholarship

Awards:
Outstanding Student Award, Outstanding Attendance Award, Student of the Month Award