Joseph Finnegan
Experience
Embedded Developer and R&D
Aloxy, Antwerp, Belgium — November 2020 - Present
Developed firmware components in C for an open-source RTOS on Cortex-M architectures in an Agile environment, using git for version control, and Python and Bash to create configuration tools and automate testing processes. Led development related to wireless networking, ensuring optimal integration of IoT protocols (LoRaWAN, Dash7).
Expanded unit and integration testing using GitLab CI and implemented automated testing/debugging tools. Wrote and maintained documentation for testing, configuration, and debugging.
Acted as the technical expert on IoT wireless connectivity, assisting customers with network connectivity, troubleshooting, and providing introductory IoT training.
Led certification management for the company, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements for industrial-grade short-range devices, and developing test builds for certification procedures.
Performed data analysis across customer sites, optimising network conditions, and enabling customers to deploy scalable and energy-efficient networks.
Graduate Researcher (PhD)
Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland — September 2016 - November 2020
Extended the implementation of the LoRaWAN protocol in C++ within the ns-3 network simulator and conducted the first published analysis of specific LoRaWAN features, enhancing its capabilities for wireless communication research.
Developed firmware for embedded systems in IoT prototypes used for scientific experimentation, focusing on low-power microcontroller applications.
Published original research in recognised journals and presented findings at international conferences, while regularly conducting peer reviews for high-quality journals.
Taught tutorials on computer networks covering the OSI model and led practical sessions for 100+ undergraduate students in multimedia communications and operating systems. Supervised research projects on remote wireless monitoring and LoRa-based IoT firmware updates.
Invited Researcher
Analysed the potential effect of proposed error mitigation techniques in next-generation Wi-Fi.
Explored the applicability of diversity combining techniques in increasing the scalability of LoRaWAN in urban multi-gateway environments.
Software Engineer Intern
SAP, Dublin, Ireland — January 2014 - September 2014
Designed and developed modern web-based enterprise applications using JavaScript, AngularJS, HTML, and CSS, as a Scrum team member in an Agile environment.
Skills
Programming: C, C++, Python, Matlab, & shell scripting (Bash).
Protocols: Wireless: LoRa/LoRaWAN, Dash7, Wi-Fi, IEEE 802.15.4-based protocols. Internet: TPC/IP, UDP, HTTP, MQTT.
Platforms: Linux (embedded, console, bash, monitoring and debugging), Contiki OS, ARM microcontrollers.
Tools / Libraries: ns-3, Cooja, Wireshark, tcpdump, version control (i.e. git), GitLab CI.
Education
PhD. in Computer Science, Maynooth University, Ireland
Maynooth University, Ireland — 2016-2020
Thesis: Large Scale Analysis and Scalability Enhancements for Low Power Wide Area Networks
MSc. in Advanced Computing
University of Bristol, UK — 2015-2016
Thesis: Extending a colour-and-depth detector to enable the tracking of multiple objects, for use in smart health applications
BSc. in Computer Science & Software Engineering
Maynooth University, Ireland — 2011-2015
Thesis: A study of the relationship between data aggregation and reliability in wireless sensor networks