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+:ID: 6c349dbb-eb4a-4202-830b-b1881395d433
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+#+title: just-talking/user-profile
+#+filetags: :project: :knowledge: :user-profile:
+
+* just-talking/user-profile
+Profile of Aner Zakobar for context in future conversations.
+
+** Identity
+- Name: Aner Zakobar
+- Email: aner@zakobar.com
+- Based in Israel (salaries in NIS), lives in Meitar
+- Father of two
+
+** Current Job (as of 2026-08-31)
+- Company: Applied Materials
+- Role: ML / deep learning, research-oriented (Algorithm Team R&D)
+- Base salary: 39k NIS/month
+- RSUs: ~30k USD/year (locked in for at least 4 more years)
+- Feeling: stable, good job security, but not happy with day-to-day or org visibility
+- Self-perception: feels he is past "just developing"
+
+** Education
+- BSc + MSc, Ben-Gurion University, 2019–present
+- MSc thesis: ROLL (Rate Optimized Likelihood Loss) — a novel loss function for differentiable ROC/AUC optimization under label noise. Uses KDE to approximate output score distributions, custom backward pass, evaluated on KEEL, CIFAR-10N, NIH ChestX-ray14. Competitive under clean labels, leads under high noise rates.
+
+** Work History
+- 8200 IDF Intelligence Corps (2013–2018): Designed/built end-to-end SDR communications systems. Built Linux-based DSP infrastructure. Created extensive GNURadio training curriculum — "wrote the book" on how the military uses GNURadio and DSP software development. Recognized for technical + general excellence.
+- Gita Technologies (2018–2022): Protocol Security R&D. WiFi/Bluetooth protocol weakness research. Real-time protocol analysis systems. ML for cross-correlating targets across networks.
+- Applied Materials (2022–present): ML/DL for classification and filtration in semiconductor manufacturing. Full ownership from data acquisition to deployment. Both DL and classical CV algorithms, real-time constraints.
+
+** Side Projects (proud of)
+- Homey: Production-quality self-hosted home server on NixOS/Raspberry Pi. SOPS secrets, Podman containers, LDAP+Authelia auth, Nextcloud, Gitea, Jellyfin, Backblaze B2 backups, ntfy push notifications, Uptime Kuma. Serious infrastructure project with full disaster recovery docs.
+- GNURadio military course: Built infra and guidelines from scratch — shaped how the intelligence corps does SDR/DSP development.
+- Autonomous spacecraft landing software in Kerbal Space Program
+- Custom NixOS+Emacs environment
+
+** Technical Strengths Pattern
+- **Rare domain breadth**: SDR/DSP → Cyber/Protocol Security → ML/DL research → LLM era. Almost nobody has all four.
+- **Research + engineering**: Can write novel ML loss functions AND ship production systems. Not just one or the other.
+- **Full ownership instinct**: Repeatedly takes end-to-end ownership (data → deployment, infra → curriculum). Not a component person.
+- **Teaching/training instinct**: Wrote the GNURadio curriculum for the military. This is a hidden leadership signal.
+- **Deep systems builder**: Doesn't just use tools — builds infrastructure (Homey, 8200 DSP infra) and documents it properly.
+- **Low-level + high-level**: From kernel DSP infrastructure to abstract ML loss function math. Rare combination.
+
+** Underutilized Assets
+- ROLL thesis: publishable novel ML research. If not yet at a venue, this is high-ROI.
+- SDR + ML intersection: almost no one has both. Huge niche in wireless security/RF anomaly detection.
+- Teaching background: not on the CV in a way that reflects its real scope.
+
+** Career Values / Tensions
+- Values: research depth, ML/DL work, feeling intellectually challenged
+- Wants engineering management — has informal experience but no formal title
+- Concern: both current job AND considered startup role feel like "just developing"
+- Decided (99%) not to take the startup offer — kids, pay cut, high effort for uncertain return
+
+** Startup Offer (as of 2026-08-31)
+- Cyber startup, early stage (first 5 employees)
+- Founder is a trusted friend (former VP). Seed: $10M, majority Index Ventures.
+- Offered role: "claude-first developer" — felt like a step down
+- Offered salary: 46k NIS/month base + 0.5% equity
+- Decision: almost certainly declining