66 lines
4.0 KiB
Org Mode
66 lines
4.0 KiB
Org Mode
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:PROPERTIES:
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:ID: 6c349dbb-eb4a-4202-830b-b1881395d433
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:END:
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#+title: just-talking/user-profile
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#+filetags: :project: :knowledge: :user-profile:
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* just-talking/user-profile
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Profile of Aner Zakobar for context in future conversations.
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** Identity
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- Name: Aner Zakobar
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- Email: aner@zakobar.com
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- Based in Israel (salaries in NIS), lives in Meitar
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- Father of two
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** Current Job (as of 2026-08-31)
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- Company: Applied Materials
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- Role: ML / deep learning, research-oriented (Algorithm Team R&D)
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- Base salary: 39k NIS/month
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- RSUs: ~30k USD/year (locked in for at least 4 more years)
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- Feeling: stable, good job security, but not happy with day-to-day or org visibility
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- Self-perception: feels he is past "just developing"
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** Education
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- BSc + MSc, Ben-Gurion University, 2019–present
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- 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.
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** Work History
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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** Side Projects (proud of)
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- 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.
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- GNURadio military course: Built infra and guidelines from scratch — shaped how the intelligence corps does SDR/DSP development.
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- Autonomous spacecraft landing software in Kerbal Space Program
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- Custom NixOS+Emacs environment
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** Technical Strengths Pattern
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- **Rare domain breadth**: SDR/DSP → Cyber/Protocol Security → ML/DL research → LLM era. Almost nobody has all four.
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- **Research + engineering**: Can write novel ML loss functions AND ship production systems. Not just one or the other.
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- **Full ownership instinct**: Repeatedly takes end-to-end ownership (data → deployment, infra → curriculum). Not a component person.
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- **Teaching/training instinct**: Wrote the GNURadio curriculum for the military. This is a hidden leadership signal.
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- **Deep systems builder**: Doesn't just use tools — builds infrastructure (Homey, 8200 DSP infra) and documents it properly.
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- **Low-level + high-level**: From kernel DSP infrastructure to abstract ML loss function math. Rare combination.
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** Underutilized Assets
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- ROLL thesis: publishable novel ML research. If not yet at a venue, this is high-ROI.
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- SDR + ML intersection: almost no one has both. Huge niche in wireless security/RF anomaly detection.
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- Teaching background: not on the CV in a way that reflects its real scope.
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** Career Values / Tensions
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- Values: research depth, ML/DL work, feeling intellectually challenged
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- Wants engineering management — has informal experience but no formal title
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- Concern: both current job AND considered startup role feel like "just developing"
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- Decided (99%) not to take the startup offer — kids, pay cut, high effort for uncertain return
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** Startup Offer (as of 2026-08-31)
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- Cyber startup, early stage (first 5 employees)
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- Founder is a trusted friend (former VP). Seed: $10M, majority Index Ventures.
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- Offered role: "claude-first developer" — felt like a step down
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- Offered salary: 46k NIS/month base + 0.5% equity
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- Decision: almost certainly declining
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