Kent Orthner
About Kent Orthner
Kent Orthner serves as the Vice President of Architecture at Achronix Semiconductor Corporation, where he has worked since 2021. He specializes in the architecture and development of FPGA tiles and has an extensive background in engineering, holding degrees from the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.
Work at Achronix
Kent Orthner has been serving as the Vice President of Architecture at Achronix Semiconductor Corporation since 2021. In this role, he is responsible for the architecture and development of specialized FPGA tiles, which include Block RAMs (BRAMs), Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), and the Network on Chip (NoC). Prior to his current position, he held various roles at Achronix, including Systems Architect and Sr. Director of Systems. His contributions include leading the development and software modeling of Machine Learning Processor blocks within the FPGA fabric and introducing a differentiated FPGA design paradigm and software flow.
Education and Expertise
Kent Orthner earned a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) in Computer Engineering from the University of Ottawa, where he studied from 1994 to 1997. He later pursued a Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) in Electrical Engineering at Carleton University, completing his studies from 2004 to 2009. His educational background provides a strong foundation for his expertise in architecture and development within the semiconductor industry.
Background
Kent Orthner began his career as a Design Engineer at Furukawa in Hiratsuka, Japan, where he worked from 1999 to 2001. He then transitioned to Achronix Semiconductor Corporation, where he initially served as a Systems Architect from 2016 to 2018. Before returning to Achronix, he held multiple leadership roles at Arteris, including Director of Development and Vice President of Engineering, from 2014 to 2016 in Campbell, CA. His diverse experience spans various aspects of semiconductor design and engineering.
Achievements
During his tenure at Achronix, Kent Orthner has led significant initiatives, including high-speed circuit board design and silicon bring-up activities for the company's flagship silicon, achieving speeds of 112 Gbps PAM4. His leadership in developing specialized FPGA tiles and introducing innovative design paradigms has positioned Achronix as a competitive player in the semiconductor market.