JOBS – February, 2015

Please see below opportunities and send resume as an attachment to wd_darshana at hotmail dot.  My imminent openings are for Quality Engineering and for Software Engineering (both for medical devices).  Please also notice contract opportunities at the end.  All US opportunities are for US based and local candidates.  Opportunities exist in China that are open to all and you can see description in my previous blog athttp://bit.ly/15STeDw specific one is for Director of Analytical R&D in Suzhou. When sending a resume, please mention job you are interested in, in the subject line and in the email include a brief summary of how best the job description matches your background and where the gaps are.

Senior Electrical Engineer – Austin/ San Antonio – TX

A company working on innovative range of products, has an immediate opening for senior electrical engineer with class III device experience.  Experience with closed loop, analog design hardware, microcontrollers, actuators  and ultra low power consumption circuit design highly desired.  More details will follow soon but if interested, please send resume as an attachment (with some details in email) at wd_darshana at hotmail dot com.

Senior Software/ Algorithm Engineer – Fremont, CA

A company providing innovative diagnostic & therapeutic products &  services to enable interventionalists in providing superior patient care, has an immediate opening for Senior Software Engineer, in Fremont, CA.  Position Summary: This position will be responsible for developing the next generation of image processing algorithms for company’s revolutionary medical devices for cardiovascular business. Individual will participate in object-oriented software development projects using C++ and Qt for a Linux environment. Communicate effectively, as well as to present information to a group in a professional manner. Work cooperatively as part of a team with people from various facilities and technical backgrounds.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
Design, develop, and optimize next generation image processing algorithms
Perform lab research and algorithm testing
Develop multi-threaded software for desktop applications
Design code for maintainability and unit tests
Identify, evaluate and mitigate technical project risks
Support formal verification and validation process and participates in transfer of products from R&D to manufacturing
Team player working in a geographically distributed team
Accurately estimate time and resources for completion of specific features/project
Assist in maintaining ISO certification and 510(k) submission requirements

Qualifications & Required Skills:
Minimum BS degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Math, Biomedical Engineering, or related field; Strong background in image processing; 5+ years of software development experience; Excellent coding skills in C/C++; Proficiency in MATLAB; Experience designing object-oriented and distributed software; System level architecture design experienc; Experience with source code management systems like GIT, SVN, Clear Case

Preferred
Experience developing software for medical device applications for user interaction and control
Experience with medical imaging algorithms like segmentation, co-registration, 3d reconstruction
Experience with python, DICOM, OpenGL graphics
Other: * Travel requirements are moderate. Travel to facilities would be about 2 – 3 days duration each trip with total travel expected to be less than 20%.

Please submit resume at wd_darshana at hotmail dot com, with answers to following questions in the email.  This is client HR’s requirement. 
Please provide information on your formal education:
Please describe your software engineering experience as it relates to design, proof-of concept, detailed design, code, unit and integration testing:
Please describe your experience utilizing UML modeling language, DiCom, MFC, BOOST, STL and C++ :
Do you have experience working Linux OS environment? If yes, provide more detailed information:

Senior Design Engineer with Embedded Hardware & Firmware Skills – Santa Clara, CA

A reputed contract engineering company has an immediate full time opportunity for  a Senior Design Engineer with Embedded Hardware & Firmware Skills.  A rounded individual is desired who has an interest and ability in a wide range of technologies.  The successful candidate will lead a group of engineers from time-to-time and may be required to act as the primary interface to the customers at times.  The company designs devices, firmware, and software for other companies and has a reputation for quick response with high quality work.  The person must enjoy working with customers and have good communication skills.  The person must work well on a team of high performing engineers.  The person needs to be organized.  The person must work well with others and be flexible as schedules and priorities change.

Technical requirements: Ten years of experience in embedded system design engineering is required.  Ability to supervise others is highly desired.  The person should have experience designing circuits with microprocessors from PIC to ARM, FPGAs, Bluetooth, and WiFi as well as experience with programming in C or C++ on these devices.  The person must enjoy learning and be able to learn quickly.  The ability to design and program FPGAs is desired.
This could be a work-at-home job, or work at the company site, in Santa Clara, CA.

QUALITY ENGINEER – Santa Cruz, CA

Summary:  Medical device design and manufacturing company, located near Santa Cruz, CA, focusing on custom injection molded plastic parts, has an immediate opening for Quality Engineer.  Position focus is on providing support in the development and maintenance of company’s quality systems, support activities related to the development and qualification of new product development for medical device components and assemblies as well as supporting existing products.
Responsibilities
* Write FMEAs, review and write protocols and reports for new products
* Ability to multitask on a variety of Quality System compliance and improvement initiatives in a hands-on dynamic environment and be involved with the design, procurement, validation and qualification activities including test, inspection and medical device contract manufacturing service processes.
* Responsible for the facility measurement equipment calibration and maintenance program.
* Collects, collates and analyzes manufacturing data for warranty and nonconformance to determine and report product quality trends.
* Conducts analysis of inspection and tests of a routine degree of complexity and provides recommendations accordingly. Develops quality control inspection requirements and techniques to achieve measured improvement. * Implements the Failure Analysis Process for internal and external nonconforming product to determine appropriate corrective action.
* Support Receiving, In- process and Final Inspection of various components and subassemblies for medical device products to support quality compliance and shipment goals as workload requires.
* Assist in the development and implementation of Quality System processes.
* Attend various product meetings with Engineering, Sales, Support, Marketing, and customers to address product requirements, customer concerns and training issues. Work toward and support Company/Department/Team goals including; QSR and ISO compliance, revenues, training utilization, customer satisfaction, and others as appropriate.
* Qualify and implement document changes involving product or process changes
* Coordinate the reporting, analysis, and resolution of material non-conformance incidences
* Provide support in the timely resolution of product complaints and/or safety issues
* Conduct quality audits and develop subsequent preventive action programs
* Assist Regulatory Affairs Department in the preparation of audits and reports for regulatory agencies.
* Perform Supplier Quality Audits and, as appropriate, Internal Quality System Audits; identify root cause of non-compliance and ensure timely/effective corrections and lor corrective preventative actions are implemented
* Drive effective root cause corrective action through internal and supplier surveillance and corrective action requests.
* Report MRB performance metrics and maintain corrective action database.
* Review and report in-process data from manufacturing processes and facilitate corrective and preventive actions

Requirements: 5 – 7 years’ experience in Quality, medical device, regulatory, and or a medical device manufacturing environment; BS in Bachelor of Science in Quality, Business, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering or related field; Certification, CQE, CQA a plus; Experience as an ISO Lead Auditor desirable; Must be able to communicate effectively at varying technical levels with a customer audience; Hands-on manufacturing experience in mechanical or medical device assemblies. CMM, MicroVu, Vision Systems Programming experience; Working knowledge of U.S. and international medical device regulations is desirable Working knowledge of desktop computer office software, Visio Tools, CAD software and e-mail is required; Excellent verbal and written communication skills; Flexibility to handle multiple tasks and meet timelines; Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills combined with a strong technical presence.

Senior Quality Engineer – Austin/ San Antonio – TX

A company working on innovative drug delivery technology has an immediate opening for senior quality engineer. Great opportunity to work at grounds level and grow into leadership role, in addition to the upside of stocks.

Key Responsibilities:
* Lead QA for: R&D- design, development, V&V phases including hazard/risk analysis and mitigation, DOE and related statistical design and analyses, GDT, design reviews, audits/compliance; Manufacturing including process development, qualification and validation, IQ, OQ, PQ, part/component selection, sterilization and packaging development and validation
* Develop and implement QA systems to be compliant with applicable international and national standards such as ISO 13485 and regulatory requirements of FDA CFR 820 and other bodies for Class III implantables
* Implement productive relationships with R&D and manufacturing suppliers and partners
* Work in a matrixed organizational structure to support company’s facilities, including the respective incubated companies, projects and technologies with an appropriate QA system for each segment
* Educate colleagues and support in-house uptake & implementation of these systems organization-wide* Support the following functions: Regulatory Affairs: provide appropriate documentation and materials to support filings for US and international trials and approvals; Intellectual Property: supporting documentation; Business and Commercialization, including due diligence documentation
* Develop & implement documentation systems for these business functions, including electronic systems, with help of to –be-hired Documentation Specialist

Key Qualifications
* Designed and implemented QA systems for implantable medical devices and drugs. Combinatorial device and Class III experience desirable. At least 10 years experience, >15 years desirable*
* Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or in an equivalent field required, with ASQ certification (CQE, CRE, CQM, CSSBB) desirable
* Led and grown QA organizations with a hands-on, leadership- by-example approach
* Demonstrated working experience with electronics hardware and software, biomaterials, drugs, drug delivery, and mechanical technologies while supporting multidisciplinary teams: engineering, biological, manufacturing, regulatory, intellectual property, clinical and business.
* Excellent and demonstrated grasp and use of statistics in R&D and manufacturing including DOE
* Supported multiple complex projects and start-ups: able to prioritize.
* Developed and implemented design controls, documentation, and design procedures, protocols
* Developed and implemented manufacturability, and related process flows and controls, and selected qualified vendors to manufacture Class III implantable devices
* Strong technical skills with demonstrated ability to provide solutions to a variety of technical problems of varying scope and complexity
* Analytical data-driven problem solver and team player, organized and an excellent communicator

Key Job Parameters
* Full-time position located in Austin/ San Antonio, Texas
* Some travel (~10%) may be necessary to meet job responsibilities
* Report to VP, Product Development

कशिश – “Kashish” Ghazal Program in Bay Area, CA

बे एरिया के जानेमाने आज़माये हुए कलाकार डिम्पल भाई पटेल ने “कशिश” नाम से ग़ज़ल प्रोग्राम प्रस्तुत किया जिसमे प्रस्तावना और कार्यक्रम की उद्धघोषणा कि  मशहूर शायरा/ कवयित्री अर्चना पांडा ने.  अगर आप ये कार्यक्रम चूक गए तो आशा है के ये समीक्षा पढ़कर अगले कार्यक्रम में जरूर आयेँगे. (You can read information on the writer below).

अर्चनाजी ने ये कविता सुनाकर  कार्यक्रम की शुरुआत की  “में बोली क्या लिखू बताओ, वो बोला आकाश लिखो, खुद को मत बांधो सीमा में, जो होता है आकाश लिखो” और फिर कलाकरोने बरसाई आकाश से ग़ज़ालोकी बारिश.  प्रेक्षकोंके होश उड़ गए जब डिंपलभाई ने गाया “होशवालोको खबर क्या, बेखुदी क्या चीज़ है”. कीबोर्ड पर उनको साथ दिया आलाप देसाई ने और तमल डे ने गिटार पर.  तबला पर पिता और बेटे, गुरदीप सिंह हीरा और संत प्रीत हीरा ने दिल जीत लिया.  लेकिन ये तो सिर्फ थी शुऱुआत.

बे एरिया की प्यारी गायिका उर्मि जोशी का परिचय तो उनकी आवाज में है, यह ध्यान में रखते हुए अर्चनाजी ने उनका परिचय करते वख्त कहा “खूबसूरती को सँवरने की जरुरत क्या है, खुद सादगी भी तो क़यामत का आभास है” हाय………. हो गया दिल घायल और क़यामत का आभास, जब उन्होंने गाया “यु हसरतो के दाग मोहब्बत में धो लिए”. फिर साथी कलाकार जयाजी ने गाया “तुझसे नाराज नहीं ज़िन्दगी, हैरान हूँ में”.

अर्चनाजी ने अगली ग़ज़ल और उनको पेश करनेवाले कलाकारका परिचय करते कहा “बिन सुरोंके गीत गाना चाहती हूँ, कशिश तेरी आज़माना चाहती हूँ” और उन्होंने सवाल किया “इश्क़ क्या है अरमान है या अहसान है”. ये सवाल प्रेक्षकों की सोच में रहा जब बे एरिया के प्यारे कलाकार, मनदीप सिंघ, जो रफ़ी साहेब के गाने खूबसूरती से पेश करते है, जब उन्होंने गाया, “अहसान तेरा होगा मुझपर”.

उर्मीजी और डिंपलभाई ने फिर दोहराया तलत अज़ीज़ का गाना, “फिर छेड़ी रात, बात फूलों की” और जयाजी ने गाया “क्यूँ ज़िन्दगी  की राह में मजबूर हो गए हम“. अर्चनाजी ने थोड़ी छेड़छाड़ करके सबको हँसा भी दिया.  जब डिंपलजी ने गाया “जुकी जुकी सी नज़र बेक़रार है”, तब अर्चनाजी ने पूछ लिया की गाना किसके लिए गाया जा रहा था.  जवाब तो नहीं मिला, लेकिन अर्चनाजी से ये शेर सुनके दिल खुश हो गया “एक ख़्वाब देदो हमें, वर्ना हम खो जायेंगे, इतना मत हसाओ, वर्ना हम रो जायेंगे।  यूँ भी आधा दीवाना कहती है दुनिया, पर पुरे पागल हम हो जायेंगे”. और इश्क़ की मस्ती के पागलपन से कौन अनजान है, ये सवाल सोच में रह गया जब उर्मीजी ने गाया “इन आँखों की मस्ती के मस्ताने हजारों है”.

प्रेक्षकों से स्टैंडिंग ओवेशन मिला जब मनदीपजी ने गाया  “मेरे महबूब तुजे मेरी महोबत की कसम” गाना का भी जवाब नहीं और नाही कोई कसूर गानेवाले का. अर्चनाजी ने ग़ज़ल सुनाई “जब तू मुस्कायो तो दिल ये बाग़ बाग़ है”. डिम्पलजी और उर्मीजी को स्टैंडिंग ओवेशन मिला जब उन्होंने दोहराया ये खूबसूरत गीत “शमा जलाये रखना, जब तक के में न आऊं”. फिर जयाजी ने गाया “दर्द दिल में उठा” और मनदीपजी ने दिल को छू लिया ये खूबसूरत गाने के साथ “होठों से छूलो तुम”.

डिम्पलजी ने खूबसूरत ग़ज़ल सुनाई “कल चौदवीं की रात थी”. अर्चनाजी ने शेर सुनाया “में चंदा कम समझती हुँ, में सूरज कम समझती हूँ, में सितारे कम समजती हुँ. उधर उनकी मुसीबत इशारों में बात कर रहे है, इधर मेरी मुसीबत में इशारे कम समझती हूँ”.  कभी कभी इशारे में नहीं समझनेवालों का अंजाम जुदाई होता है?  उर्मीजी ने गायी ये ग़ज़ल “दिखाई दिए के बेखुद किया, हमें आपसे भी जुदा कर चले”. फिर हमने सुनी डिंपलभाई और उर्मीजी के आवाज़ में “दुनिया जिसे कहते है जादू का खिलौना है”.

शाम बेहतरीन रंगो से भर गयी थी, और डिम्पलजी ने ये खूबसूरत ग़ज़ल सुनाई “सरकती जाये रुख से नकाब, रंग ले रही है शाम आहिस्ता आहिस्ता”. अर्चनाजी  की कॉमेंट्री से भी खूब रंग जमा था.  अर्चनाजी ने सुनाया शेर “आपकी मुश्कराहटने हमारा होश उड़ा दिया, हम होश में आने ही वाले थे, की आप फिर मुस्करा दिए”. ये मुस्कराहट भी क्या चीज़ है, दिल की कसक बढ़ा देती है.  अगले गाने की ये कड़ी देखिये “मगर रोते रोते हँसी आ गयी है, खयालो में आके वोह जब मुस्कराये”. कहो कोनसा गाना है येह?

यह कड़ी है मंदीपजी ने फिर जो ग़ज़ल गायी उसमे से “वोह जब याद आये बहोत याद आये”. डिंपलजी ने फिर सुनाया यह गीत “चांदी जैसा दिल है तेरा” और फिर जयाजी और डिंपलजी ने गाया “किसी नज़र को तेरा इंतज़ार आज भी है”. हम भी यह ग़ज़लों की शाम को याद करते रहेंगे और फिर आनेवाली एक और ग़ज़लों की रंगीन शाम का इंतज़ार करते रहेंगे.  दिल तो चाह रहा था की ये गीत और ग़ज़लों का सिलसिला चलता रहे, पर वख्त चेतावनी दे रहा था.  अर्चनाजी ने यह शेर सुनाया “सांसों की सीमा निश्चित है, इच्छाओं का अंत नहीं है और जिसकी कोई इच्छा नहीं ऐसा कोई संत नहीं है”. डिंपलजी और उर्मीजी की आवाज़ में आखरी गाना सुना “आज जाने की जिद न करो” और फिर जाना न चाहते हुए भी हम ग़ज़लों का प्यार दिल में लिए, गीतों की सोच दिमाग में लिए, और इतने प्रतिभासम्पन्न कलाकारों के प्रति आदर मन में लिए अपने घर की और निकल पड़े.

PS – My interview will air at Women’s Radio Network at 1 pm PST or 4 pm EST – If you are at or near your computer, please tune in at  www.wrnw1.com/listen-live/ today, Monday, July 21.

Often people believe that writing or journalism is my full time profession.  Professionally, I have two small businesses – My primary business is Recruitment for biotech, medical device & health IT companies and additionally, my other small business is offering Trainings in Diversity, Working Effectively in Global Environment & Team Building.  I welcome all connections with those looking for job opportunities; if you would like to connect with me on LinkedIn then feel free to send me an invite at wd_darshana at hotmail dot com.

I get complementary tickets at all bay area theater events and conferences and attend as press.  Besides writing about conferences, new technologies & concepts, I write about live theater reviews, book reviews and about events in English, Gujarati, & Hindi.  My writing is my labor of love & my contribution to promote live theater, arts, literature and poetry. Please tune in today at the link above. Many thanks!

 

Celebrating Poet Shree Narsinh Mehta – Gujarat Day Event by Bay Area Gujarati Samaj

Bay Area Gujarati Samaj of Northern California celebrated Gujarat Day at ICC in Milpitas, CA.  Pragnaben Dadbhawala, a tireless and dedicated community volunteer and lover of Gujarati culture, literature, and arts, organized the program, with a focus on Saint Narsinh Mehta.  Pragnaben also welcomed and thanked the officials of the state who were present, including council members Ash Kalra and David Whitman.  Also present was the chief guest, the Mayor of Milpitas, Mr. Jose Esteves.  Gujarati community would be amiss if we did not celebrate the community that has welcomed and included us with open arms.  Mr. Esteves, as representative of the city of Milpitas, was honored and deeply thanked for his presence and for support of ICC and the Indian community.

Each year, during Gujarat Day celebration, a prominent Gujarati poet or writer is selected.

Saint Narsinh Mehta (1414-1481), a poet, saint, and Krishna devotee is deeply revered.  He is credited with having composed 1400 plus poems.  Most of his compositions are tributes to Lord Krishna.  Additionally, he has also written about societal traditions and challenges he encountered.  Being part of a traditional Nagar community, Narsinh Mehta was expected to strictly follow traditions and his rebellious nature annoyed the community.  Narsinh’s compositions are like a window into the ritualistic, separatist world of the time, where untouchables existed apart from higher castes and girls were supposed to bring in big doweries.

Narsinh’s compositions on Lord Krishna reflect both Narsinh’s deep devotion as well as the intense closeness he experienced with Krishna.  He asked for Krishna’s help and at least 52 times Krishna is said to have come to his aid.  But Narsinh also admonished and cajoled Lord Krishna.  While Lord Krishna supports righteous deeds and steadfastly stands against evil and wrongful deeds, in Hindu religion, he is also a God who is considered to be playful, loves music, and is credited with playing many little pranks that alternately fascinated and annoyed his devotees.

This entire program was presented by the children artists and they did such a superb and highly professional job that 400+ attendees were compelled to give standing ovations.  This absolutely talented group of performers included Ria Dadia, Kavya Dadia, Ishita Patel, Isha Pandya, Khusboo Pandya, Shivam Vyas (on drums), Khushi Vyas, Risha Jaha, Heer Dadia, Shreyas Patel (on tabla), Aryahi Vaidhya, and Shravya Anjaria.  Pragnaben’s fascinating commentary on Narsinh Mehta and his compositions interspersed the presentations by the children.  Narsinh’s poems can be enjoyed for both the beauty of the wordings and deeper meaning inherent in them.  Additionally, they can be enjoyed at surface level and also can be analyzed for deeper meaning inherent in them.  Below are some highlights.

જાગ ને જાદવા, ક્રષ્ણ રે ગોવાળિયા
તુજ બીના ઘેન માં કોણ તો જાશે
In this beautifully sung morning poem, Shree Krishna’s mother is lovingly waking up her son, to go attend to his chores and take the cows for grazing.  But Lord is always awake.  A deeper meaning inherent in the poem is to wake up one’s own consciousness.

ઉંચી રે મેડી તે મારા સંતની રે, મેં તો માણી ન જાણી રે
અમને તે તેડા શીદ મોકલ્યા, હે મારો પીંડ છે કાચો રામ
Despite climbing the long and arduous path to devotion, Narsinh feels that he is stil not ready to meet the maker, that he still needs to grow in his devotion.  Little further he says, he is not afraid of death but he is not sure if he has collected enough good karmas to go across and he asks Shree Krishna’s help to cross over to the other side.

જશોદા તારા કાનુડા ને સાદ કરીને વાર રે
આવડી ધૂમ મચાવે વ્રજમાં, કોઈ નહીં પુછણહાર રે
In this poem, the tone is completely different.  Narsinh is speaking on behalf of the Gopis (the women of the village) who loved child Krishna but also got tired of his little pranks.  On behalf of the Gopis, Narsinh says to Jashoda (Krishan’s mother), to call and stop him from playing his little pranks.  This poem shows that Narsinh identified so closely with the Gopis, who were deep devotees of Shree Krishna that he felt he could voice their concerns and he also felt close enough to Lord Krishna to complain about him.

Saint Narsinh Mehta has left such a treasure of poems that we will continue to enjoy them for years to come.  But what I had not anticipated was the enormous treasure of talent that exists in the Bay Area, among child artists.

In addition to the celebration of Gujarat Day with these poems and songs, several members of the Gujarati community who have contributed to the community and have departed in the last year, were posthumously honored.  They include, Shree Pravinbhai Desai (highly regarded in Gujarati community as a journalist and reporter), Shree Naranjibhai Patel (highly regarded for his selfless service to the community, including his contribution and service to Sunnyvale Hindu Temple), Shree Kanubhai Shah (journalist in well known Gujarati newspapers and promoter of culture), Shree Miraben Mehta (dedicated volunteer in Gujarati community and a tireless promoter of language and arts), and Deepa Thakore (also a promoter and lover of arts).

Huge kudos to Pragnaben and also the dedicated teachers and others who helped the children prepare for the program, Asimbhai and Madhviben Mehta, Aanalben Anjaria, Darshanaben Bhuta Shukla, and Ashishbhai and Palakben Vyas.

Finally, attendees enjoyed a delicious lunch of shrikhand, puri, undhiu, dhokla, and kachori.  This was yet another memorable celebration of Gujarat Day in the bay area.