Jenna Dickman

I cherish the flow state I enter when creating and problem-solving. I love pushing my limits and accomplishing things that makes me redefine what I know to be possible. Integrity drives my positive impact on our world. I’m interested in how Tech can bring us into the Ecological Age. How can my efforts improve our relationships with each other and our planet?

Currently working as a Design Engineer on a next-gen hardware logic emulator at a leading EDA Company. I graduated with a degree in Computer Science at University of California, Berkeley in May 2024. I’m stoked to be starting my career in my ideal position of RTL design/verification, working on a impactful project with a cool group of people!

Previous experience as an Embedded Systems Engineer in an internship at STOKE Space Technologies, where I had the opportunity to support a stellar start-up team building 100% reusable rockets!

I work in SystemVerilog and C/C++. Also well-versed RISC-V, Java, Python, PHP and SQL.

In my free time I coach posture and movement patterns, slackline across canyons and compete in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Industry & Research Experience

Embedded Systems Engineer Intern

STOKE Space Technologies – June 2023 to August 2023

Owned the development of Engine Power Module (EPM) firmware and driver for stage 1 rocket engines, ensuring precise and synchronized power distribution to electrical components of S1 engines by orchestrating real-time microcontroller and flight computer interaction
Integrated telemetry sensing in the EPM to monitor critical subsystems, enhancing overall system reliability and performance by providing console engineers with continuous power status data on S1 rocket engine electrical components
Collaborated closely with the avionics team to clarify and develop firmware design, ensuring effective communication and readiness five days ahead of a challenging deadline, preventing any delays for the team
Contributed to the board bring-up of the custom EPM PCB, rigorously testing firmware and driver against the actual hardware to validate both software and hardware functionality.
Designed and built the framework for a scalable driver for uninterruptible power supplies,, that will ensure uninterrupted power to the ground computer during critical rocket operations, providing real-time monitoring, power event detection and alerting mechanisms for timely engineer notifications and safe rocket depressurization

Undergraduate Researcher

Berkeley Autonomous Microsystems Lab – January 2023 to Present

Researching and developing an AI-based system leveraging neural networks and TPUs for advanced computer vision; aiming to facilitate real-time drone detection and tracking, providing essential data for guiding MEMs actuated micro-missiles
Crafted motion tracking software for analyzing correlations between gap closing actuator (GCA) pawl action and rotor displacement, enabling a PhD candidate to gather data and validate the effectiveness of their design by producing accurate measurements and visualizations, aiding in the analysis and interpretation of experimental results
Developed code to calculate device characteristics of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) bridges powering MEMS gap closing actuated micro-swimmers, helping determine the need for higher SOI doping levels
Conducted probe station device testing to validate the integrity of bonding in a gold-on-gold fabrication technique by executing comprehensive test protocols and analyzing the results to ensure proper bonding and adherence to quality standards

Software Development Engineer Intern

Ontraport – June 2022 to August 2022

Developed a CRUD Redis caching layer improving the CRM application’s database query performance for users’ improved experience when accessing account information
Resolved 12 frontend and backend bugs to improve the UI experience and prevent crashing errors
Wrote unit tests for each Redis cache CRUD function and integration tests using PHPunit to ensure effective cache
Gained exposure to all aspects of Development Lifecycle and Full Stack (PHP, mySQL, JavaScript, CSS and HTML)
Reported to my mentor on a regular basis in this role and attend all relevant Development Meetings.

Education

University of California, Berkeley

Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science
Graduated May 2024
Dean’s List: Term Honor – Eight semesters (GPA: 3.53)

Stanford University

Early Admission Program for High School Students
Attended May 2007 to August 2007
Top of class: Biochemistry/Human Physiology Focus

San Marcos High School

Graduated 2008
Health Science High School Major Program
National Honor’s Society

Projects

CPU Design

Two-Stage Pipelined RISC-V Processor – Implemented: Datapath, ALU, Register File, Immediate and Branch Comparators, Load/Store and Control Logic. Pipelined to separate instruction fetch and execution stages. Supports full RISC-V Instruction Set Architecture

Assembly Code Projects

RISC-V Handwritten Digits Classifer– Implemented linear algebra functions in RISC-V assembly code for machine learning matrix processing

C Projects

Snake – Capable of uploading variable board size and shapes, dynamically allocating only the necessary memory. Control snake using textual inputs, snake grows as it eats fruits, dies on impact with self or wall. Capacity for multi-snake game. Developed unit and integration tests. Debugging using cgdb and solving memory leaks with Valgrind.

Java Projects

Gitlet – Commits contents of directory to a hidden repository for version control. Functionality supports commit tree branching, branch mergers, commit checkout and log display. Full status display feature. 1500+ lines of code from scratch and developed 30+ integration tests.
The Enigma – Reciprocal cipher with customizable rotor permutations, alphabet and plugboard settings. Formatted output for increased encryption. Solves the German flaw. Really, really fun.
Jump61 – a pure strategy game, involving no element of chance. allowing a user to play against a computer or against another person, or to allow the computer to play itself. Built an AI to make best moves for the computer player.
Flood – the puzzle game Flood is one of Simon Tatham’s collection of GUI games.

Python Projects

Scheme Interpreter – Syntactic analysis of user input Scheme expressions parse Scheme tokens into program’s internal representation of Scheme expression. Evaluates tokens and prints string representation of result. Very challenging.
Ants vs SomeBees – Ants inherit and override traits from their parent class to defend their home from Bee objects in specialized ways. Ant objects interact with various location objects. A tower defense game inspired by PopCap Games’ Plants Vs. Zombies.
Cats (Auto-correcting Software) – a program that measures typing speed and features an autocorrect function that attempts to correct the spelling of a word after a user types it. Project inspired by typeracer.
The Game of Hog – a simulator and multiple strategies for the dice game Hog.
Pytris – Implementation of the classic game Tetris (Python + Tetris = Pytris).

Snap Block Coding Projects

Space Invaders – Implementation of classic space invaders game, including GUI.
2048 – A sliding puzzle game in which the goal is to combine the same numbered tiles to create a final tile 2048.
Mastermind – A code guessing game between a computer and human player. The computer generates a secret code and the human player tries to guess the secret code, using the feedback they receive from previous guesses.

Work Experience

Foundation Training Certified Instructor

Ardent Posture, Self-Developed Business – February 2015 to Present

Designed and built ArdentPosture.com from the ground up, learning WordPress web development skills
Developed graphic design and creative copy skills managing client relations and marketing Mailchimp campaigns
Organized and led large classes and workshops, developing public speaking and leadership skills
Trained under the creators of the Foundation Training method for 4 years, working daily with founder, Dr. Eric Goodman, attending 10 certifications.

Marketing and Media Manager

SB Rock Gym – November 2019 to July 2020

Manage the ongoing community across all social media channels. graphic design, creative copy and creation of all media both physical and online. Publish regular e-News letter, creation and management with MailChimp. Imaginative and engaging promotions.
Create opportunities, brand awareness and community partnerships. Research industry staying up-to-date on all things social.
Event planning, mic hosting, encouraging guest participation. Action and crowd photography.

Licensed Real Estate Assistant and Administrator

Sotheby’s International Realty – March 2015 to December 2017

Prepared CA Bureau of Real Estate Purchase and Sales Documents. Prepared property comparable reports for presentation to the client.
Manage open houses.
Designed, produced and managed marketing campaigns. Initiated, managed and semi-automated a regular Mailchimp e-News letter, e-marketing, social media and advertising campaign.

CEO Executive Assistant

Foundation Training LLC – September 2014 to December 2017

Assistant to CEO – Managed accounts payable, accounts receivable. Updated 5 years of bookkeeping, created a semi-automated system to turn mass data into usable, visual charts and graphs of income/expense trends. Assisted with the CEO’s other matters including managing investment records and payouts. Filed BOE, Property Tax, other Tax Filings yearly and quarterly.
Certification Application Process Manager – Managed every step of the Certification application process from first contact through several steps of billing, legal waivers and updates over months. Required diligent maintenance using collaborative organizational software, Zoho.
Customer Service Manager – Fielded all incoming correspondence from customers by email, phone and Zendesk. Questions often required a high degree of knowledge in the field and high degree of technical articulation. Empathetic and timely responses were necessary for the countless variety of inquiries. Used discretion and tact to inspire regular participation with the method and successful up-selling of the product packages.
Fulfillment Manager – Managed and processed fulfillment of all product orders and related customer service. Maintained shipment software and physical inventory at fulfillment site.

Licenses & Certifications

Foundation Training Instructor Certification

Issued Feb 2015 – No expiration

California Real Estate Salesperson License

Issued Apr 2017 – Expired April 2021

UC Berkeley Coursework

Computer Science & Electrical Engineering

Digital Design and Integrated Circuits
SoC Tapeout: Convolution Accelerator Team on the BearlyML Chip
Computer Security
Operating Systems
Computer Architecture and Engineering
Microelectronic Devices and Circuits
Great Ideas in Computer Architecture (Machine Structures)
Designing Information Devices and Systems
Data Structures
Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs
Beauty and Joy of Computing

Mathematics

Discrete Mathematics and Probability Theory
Linear Algebra and Differential Equations
Calculus II
Calculus I

Russian Language

Advanced Russian 103A
Intermediate Russian IV
Intermediate Russian III
Elementary Russian II
Elementary Russian I

Letters and Sciences

Engineering, Ethics and Society
Leadership (Haas School of Business)
Language and Linguistics
Endangered Languages
Brain, Mind, and Behavior
Introduction to Cognitive Science
Madness in Culture
Introduction to General Astronomy
Introduction to Economics
Introduction to Entrepreneurship

Extracurriculars

Volunteering

Harm Reduction Coordinator – August 2020 to Present

Berkeley Student Cooperative Facilitator – Facilitate quarterly harm reduction trainings for managers and members at the nation’s largest student housing cooperative to disseminate life-saving harm reduction information. These strategies and mindsets enable students to make informed choices around substance use. These workshops create a safer experience for attendees and their loved ones. May no one suffer a loss or a trauma due to lack of education.

Movement Instructor – January 2015 to January 2017

Casa Serena Residential Recovery Homes for Women – Using my experience helping people optimize through movement with my coaching business, Ardent Posture, brought bi-weekly classes to the facility to encourage healing through movement. Demonstrated how to use the Foundation Training movement method to restructure the body and mind.

Clubs

Space Technology and Rocketry (STAR) – September 2022 – December 2023

Association of Women in EECS (AWE) – October 2021 – Present

Current Reads

The Dream of the Earth – Thomas Berry

With Winning in Mind – Lanny Bassham

Test-Driven Development for Embedded C – Grenning

Fun

In my free time you’ll find me training jiu jitsu, slacklining (sometimes across canyons!), windsurfing, rock climbing, trail running, meditating, cooking paleo and tending to my happy house plants 🙂