Paul McDonald

Background

About Paul McDonald

I architect and deliver complete Automated Test Equipment (ATE) and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) systems for aerospace programs where functional testing cannot fail.My work lives at the intersection of hardware, software, certification, manufacturing, and quality systems — particularly when organizations discover that “owning test” is far more than writing scripts or wiring racks.I specialize in:• Defining system-level test architecture from requirements through certification• Designing modular, scalable ATE hardware platforms• Establishing documentation and configuration standards that survive production• Integrating hardware, software, data systems, and operators into working, certifiable systems• Troubleshooting complex integration failures under schedule pressureMost organizations structure test as a collection of tasks. I structure it as a system.That means I don’t just automate instruments. I define:• Interface architecture and traceability• Hardware documentation standards (schematics, wirelists, panel layouts, BOM control)• Software architecture alignment (LabVIEW, TestStand, Python, C++)• Calibration and maintenance integration• Production readiness strategy• Certification support artifactsI have led ATE programs end-to-end — from early R&D prototypes to first-article builds and qualification support — personally delivering hardware, automation software, documentation packages, and on-site commissioning.My background spans aerospace, medical devices, and high-reliability systems. FAA A&P (4027377). FCC licensed. Lean/Six Sigma trained. I’ve worked on aircraft, life-support systems, and production lines, not just on paper.What differentiates me is not that I can “do everything.”It’s that I understand how the entire system must work together, and I take accountability for making it function in the real world.If your organization needs:• System-level test leadership• ATE/GSE architecture that scales to production• Integration strategy aligned with certification and quality standards• Or someone who can stabilize a fragmented test programLet’s talk.