Medallion - Computer Engineering Co-op 1
Jacob
Experience Information
Employer: Medallion Instrumentation Systems
Job Title: Software Engineering Co-op
Major: Computer Engineering
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: Yes
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
Medallion Instrumentation Systems designs and manufactures precision instrumentation, display systems, controllers, and sensors.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
The team at Medallion was working all summer to complete software and hardware development on a new touchscreen interface for Malibu boats. Working in the software department, I wrote software verification tests to help find bugs and performance issues. Both the software and firmware needed to be updated and tested on a regular basis. My programming assignments were to write and improve applications for simulating controller units. Despite working primarily with software, my tasks involved plenty of hands-on work with the hardware systems.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
Because Medallion produces gauges and displays for vehicles, the technology makes extensive use of controller area network (CAN) communication. Learning how to use the messaging standards for communicating with the gauges was the main technical challenge. This involved learning how to program with drivers and how to program in language which I had never used before, Visual Basic. From the hardware perspective, I learned about analog inputs, relay outputs, and power modules. Knowledge of how the entire system worked was required to write and execute effective tests.
Favorite Part of the Experience
Medallion is a great place to work, with friendly people in a relaxed yet professional atmosphere. The benefits of working at a small company became more apparent at the end of the semester after I had become better adjusted. The entire community has a sense of unity and direction that made me feel proud to be part of the team. Fun surprises happened over the summer that made my experience feel unique, such as going out on an actual wakeboard boat to test the displays. One night, the co-ops got to learn how to wakesurf, with expert instruction from the engineering supervisor!
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
The most beneficial aspect of this co-op experience was helping me better decide between focusing on electrical or software engineering. Working with real embedded systems has informed me of what skills to focus on to better fit my natural abilities and interests. Medallion provided several opportunities to practice a variety of skills relevant to the entire field of computer engineering.