Michael Picchiotti

Background

About Michael Picchiotti

Currently, I am an Integration and Test lead on a DARPA program and RF digital control specialist at Northrop Grumman in the Integrated Digital Subsystems group. I also lead a modeling team to predict the degradation of B1 radars that are out in the field. Digital technologies are becoming the forefront of Northrop’s radar systems and I am lucky enough to help lead the integration activities for the digital transformation here.A typical day includes coordinating and leading meetings between multi-disciplinary teams to prepare for the arrival of new hardware for research and development purposes. To do this successfully, I leverage existing control architectures and modify them such that they will prove successful for our program’s needs. I also spend my time mentoring multiple employees to help them learn and develop their skills to become valuable members of the teams I lead. I am a self-starter with leadership skills that allow me to help my team be prepared to conquer the challenges that come our way. Organization and effective communication skills are essential for this as there are always various moving parts that are required to be developed in parallel. Maintaining a schedule that is feasible for seamless integration is a great challenge I love to overcome. I don’t take the lead role lightly; I make sure I lead by example and am there to help my team when the going gets tough.I am a fast-paced learner who works incredibly well with little to no oversight. On my first day at Northrop, I was given the following problem: design a single control unit using a COTS FPGA that can support single RFIC to fully assembled array testing. When I started, there was no integration lead for the component testing so naturally I took on the responsibilities of the role. I began leading the test board designs, procuring the required hardware for our testing needs, and developing control scripts and emulators to prepare for hardware arrival. I helped create a highly successful solution that was able to maintain my programs highly aggressive testing schedule. My success was highly attributed to the team of people I was able to lead to working towards the goals and requirements I put in place.I am someone who has a constant thirst for knowledge and never wants to become stagnant in my field. There are so many emerging technologies that reshape the way we live and it is an exciting time to be an engineer and be able to learn of the new solutions that can be applied to legacy problems. I strive to expand my knowledge daily, “If you’re not growing, you’re dying.”