For this public online CV contact details have been omitted. For more information, please email me at jakob.winkler@gmail.com. Thank you.
I am an Embedded Systems and Firmware Engineer specializing in signal processing and real-time algorithm implementation. I’m especially experienced in translating research prototypes into production-ready hardware and firmware.
My experience spanning both academia and industry covers the whole embedded stack from system architecture and algorithm design to low-level software and drivers, as well as hardware-software interfaces and digital hardware. Beyond core development, I am a strong advocate for software quality, leveraging modern developer tooling, automated testing, and rigorous verification to build reliable systems.
In my recent work, I was able to thrive in cross-functional environments, working closely with product and data science teams to define features and ensure technical solutions align with product-driven goals.
Tractive, Linz, Austria
Firmware R&D Engineer
Research and development of signal processing and machine learning algorithms for pet trackers, focusing on biosignal and activity data, from prototyping in Python to product integration for embedded firmware in C++ as well as product and feature definition in close collaboration with other teams.
University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Hagenberg, Austria
External Lecturer (part-time)
Teaching Bachelor-level courses for Linux Device Drivers and VLSI/Chip Design.
Johannes Kepler University Linz, Institute of Signal Processing, Linz, Austria
Researcher
Algorithms and hardware architectures for embedded machine learning, focusing on ensemble methods such as gradient boosted decision trees.
Algorithm design and implementation in MATLAB and Python, Linux based software and device drivers using C, as well as hardware architecture and implementation in VHDL for an Intel FPGA target platform.
Danube Dynamics, Linz, Austria
Lead Software Architect
System design and implementation for an NVIDIA Jetson based embedded system serving as a platform for embedded computer vision applications, including Linux kernel builds, custom drivers, and root filesystems.
API design, system architecture, and software implementation for a distributed system for embedded computer vision applications in Python, C, and C++.
Silicon Austria Labs, Linz, Austria
Junior Scientist, RF Architecture & Design
Design and implementation of measurement systems for 77 GHz mmWave/RF based on the Xilinx RFSoC platform. Implemented signal generation and capture as well as a programming interface for automated measurement setups in C and Python in addition to digital hardware implementation in VHDL.
University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Hagenberg, Austria
Research Assistant
Design and implementation of prototypes for FPGA based digital video signal processing of multiple synchronized concurrent high-resolution streams.
Intel Mobile Communications, DMCE GmbH & Co KG, Linz, Austria
R&D Trainee (part-time)
Software implementation for pre- and post-silicon verification tooling. Worked on optimization and bugfixing of a custom scripting environment and bytecode compiler within a large C++ codebase.
Additionally worked on a Windows device driver for custom PCIe based hardware.
University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, MSc Embedded Systems Design, Hagenberg, Austria
with distinction
Thesis “A Framework for FPGA-based Video Signal Processing”
Teaching assistant (tutor) for concurrent software development, Linux drivers, and VLSI design courses.
University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, BSc Hardware-Software-Design, Hagenberg, Austria
with distinction
Thesis topic: Usability of scripting environments in EDA tools