Mark Contreras

As a founding member of Andiamo Systems, helped to define new product, a network storage system, system signal architecture and signal integrity requirements. Work consisted of being responsible for signal integrity of individual boards simulating all nets, debugging boards and system integration. When I was offered the job, before the papers were submitted to form the company, I was told "if you make one mistake or miss one schedule, you will be fired". Every schedule was met, every device worked, every board worked - it was wonderful. Andiamo Systems was sold to Cisco for about $4.8B. I didn't take a vacation or have any time off for 3 years. Work hours were grueling, but it was the most fulfilling job I have ever had. The only meeting I missed was when I worked until 4AM on a Sunday/Monday morning and slept thru the alarm for our 8AM weekly status meeting. Long hours were required. Reference from the Sr. VP of Engineering that hired me is available upon request.

Asked to return to Aehr Test Systems because the company did not understand signal integrity related to high density burn in boards (Mainly did this to give me time to help take of my mom because she was starting to have health problems). Allowed me to focus on PCB design and signal integrity. Created spreadsheets that accurately predicted cost of boards and time to completion for design and manufacturing tasks. Selected and oversaw integration of new Cadence PCB design tools.

As the only Electrical Engineer in the Electrostatic Chuck group, we productized the ESC that allowed all moving parts to be eliminated from within the plasma chamber by using electrostatic forces to hold the wafer to the chuck during plasma etching, significantly reducing the particle count by orders of magnitude and thus increased the customers yield during the wafer etching process. Named on 2 patents for the electrostatic chuck - the monopolar and bipolar electrostatic chucks.

• Increased efficiency by implementing new business unit strategies and streamlining operations.

• Managed budgets and resources effectively to achieve financial goals and maximize profitability.

Managed the Burn-In Boards business for all Aehr Test Burn-In boards. Improved signal quality and received letters complimenting improved signal quality from customers such as IBM, Siemens and Motorola. Managing the marketing, sales, design, manufacturing and follow up business, we sold $8M in boards a year.

Aehr Test Systems provides accelerated life testing of devices and printed circuit boards (PCBs).
Designed, debugged and integrated 2 main digital boards for a new test system including software. Also designed new Burn-In Boards for the new test system. Became responsible for all Burn-In Boards at Aehr Test Systems.

Tasked with improving the speed and signal integrity of the high speed tester. Formed a team to develop a new tester to device interface that significantly improved signal integrity by using spring loaded contacts embedded in a teflon dielectric that provided an easily interchangeable interface that allowed 100 psec risetime signals to propagate without degradation or distortion. The GP300 set a new standard for the tester to device interface that is still used to this day.