Richard Fickling Email & Phone Number

Lincoln, United Kingdom

Lincoln, United Kingdom

As a senior engineer, my primary role continues to be in software development. The business benefits enormously from a large body of bespoke software to meet the needs of production and engineering, rather than relying on third-party solutions that never quite live up to expectations. Keeping this software up to date, performing well and doing the tasks required is challenging, but endlessly rewarding.I take a keen interest in the direction that technology is moving, and try to reap the benefits by taking advantage of cheaper, faster solutions when they become available, while always balancing the advantages against practical considerations and cost.

Lincoln, United Kingdom

Although my title was production engineer, the main focus of my daily workload was in software development. In addition to producing a number of databases to assist with engineering, production and quality control, I set about improving and updating a large body of legacy code used in production, much of which had become very difficult to manage due to the constant pressure to add new features.Most of the software written in this time period remains in continuous use on the site, having become an integral part of the production sequence for a huge range of electronic oscillators.

Lincoln, United Kingdom

As a technician, my main purpose was to help keep the wheels of production running in the factory. This required a knowledge of environmental test chambers and a diverse range of test and measurement equipment, from digital oscilloscopes to programmable power supplies. Fault finding and a practical working knowledge of electronics were essentail skills.I was also responsible for support of two Zevatech pick-and-place machines, which called for an interesting combination of mechanical aptitude and general computing knowledge.I managed to find time in between crises on the shop floor to work on some software projects, including an automated system for oscillator testing employing a range of GPIB instruments driven by HTBasic, and an essential transfer of vital FORTRAN software from a frighteningly old HP9000 mini-computer (size of a fridge) onto a much more reassuring modern PC platform.

Plc Programming, Introductory Course

Hnc Computer Studies

Onc Electrical And Electronic Engineering

Bachelor Of Science (Bsc), Psychology And Sociology, 2:2

Although I never developed a career in my area of study, psychology and sociology are fascinating subjects that help to encourage.

Education record

8 O levels including Maths and English, 3 A levels.