Hi, I'm
SaloniShah.
A
Computer Engineering student at the University of Minnesota. I build across the stack — from embedded hardware and systems programming to AI tooling and full-stack applications.
Building at the intersection of hardware and software.
I'm a Computer Engineering student at the University of Minnesota. I've shipped a 9x performance improvement in production networking systems at Arrcus, built an AI scheduling startup with real users, and I love working across the stack, from bare-metal C to full-stack AI applications.
At Arrcus, I achieved a 9x runtime improvement by replacing a Python decoder with a C Babeltrace 2 plugin, and extended routing protocol observability in ArcOS. I also built an AR productivity app that won a $1,000 development grant at a hackathon.
Outside of code I TA electrical engineering labs, build STEM curriculum for K-8 students at Moonpreneur, and stay active in IEEE, SWE, the AI & Competitive Programming clubs, and Startup Club on campus.
University
U of Minnesota
Major
Computer Engineering
Graduation
Expected May 2028
Location
Twin Cities, MN
Activities
Where I've worked.
Software Engineering Intern
Arrcus Networking Systems
June 2025 – August 2025
San Jose, CA
- ▹Reduced trace decoding runtime by 9x by replacing a Python decoder with a C Babeltrace 2 plugin for inline IPv4/IPv6/MAC address decoding, accelerating large-scale networking debugging workflows.
- ▹Enhanced IS-IS, RIB, and FIB modules by adding last-update-time and failure reason attributes, standardizing YANG models and improving root-cause analysis of routing delays.
- ▹Designed, tested, and shipped enhancements across ArcOS, reducing CPU overhead and strengthening reliability in large-scale enterprise deployments.
Teaching Assistant
University of Minnesota
September 2025 – Present
Minneapolis, MN
- ▹Led weekly lab sessions for 14 students across core electrical and computer engineering courses (EE 1301 & EE 2301), supporting hands-on experimentation and problem-solving.
- ▹Guided students through circuit concepts, debugging techniques, and lab instrumentation while reinforcing lecture material.
- ▹Held regular office hours providing one-on-one support for homework, lab reports, and exam preparation.
Student Partner
Moonpreneur
April 2025 – Present
Minneapolis, MN
- ▹Architected comprehensive programming curriculum teaching software development fundamentals to K-8 students.
- ▹Created hands-on project modules covering debugging techniques and computational problem-solving.
Mechanical / Machining Director
FRC Robotics Team 1072
September 2020 – April 2024
San Jose, CA
- ▹Orchestrated a team of 20 members in designing and fabricating competition-ready robot parts using Fusion 360 and CNC tools.
- ▹Collaborated on control algorithms and hardware-software integration for autonomous operations.
Things I've built.
A selection of projects spanning systems programming, AI tooling, AR, and web development.
An AI-powered scheduling app that turns a natural language "brain dump" into optimized Google Calendar events. Uses LLM parsing to extract tasks, estimate durations, and auto-schedule into free time slots, solving the gap between knowing what to do and deciding when to do it. Currently in active beta testing with real users.
A prototype built for Meta smart glasses at the Google DeepMind x YC Hackathon. Integrates Google Gemini multimodal models for real-time vision and audio context processing, implementing a multimodal inference pipeline that combines computer vision, speech analysis, and LLM reasoning to identify individuals, extract conversational updates, and generate post-interaction artifacts.
A Model Context Protocol server that bridges AI assistants with the Google Classroom API. It facilitates automated educational workflows, including real-time course management, assignment distribution, and submission tracking via a robust TypeScript-based OAuth2 architecture.
An augmented reality mobile application designed to gamify task management. Developed using Unity and C#, the app features interactive 3D environments to enhance user engagement. Secured a $1,000 development grant after winning a 48-hour hackathon.
Other Noteworthy Projects
AI Job Application Assistant
An automation engine that leverages OpenAI and Selenium to streamline the job application process. It extracts startup data from VC portfolios and generates highly personalized outreach emails, significantly increasing response rates.
PASCAL to MIPS Compiler
A complete multi-stage compiler built in Java that translates PASCAL source code into MIPS assembly. Implements complex lexical analysis, recursive descent parsing, and optimized code generation for efficient execution.
Robotic Arm Control System
Software for a multi-axis robotic arm utilizing inverse kinematics for high-precision spatial positioning. Features a real-time closed-loop feedback system using sensor data to ensure smooth and accurate movement.
Neural Network from Scratch
An N-layer neural network implementation in Java focused on hand gesture recognition. Built without high-level ML libraries to demonstrate backpropagation, gradient descent, and activation function tuning from first principles.
Smart Plant Monitor
An IoT embedded system powered by a PIC24 microcontroller. Monitors environmental metrics like soil moisture and light intensity to compute a 'Plant Comfort Index', displayed via real-time RGB LED indicators and an OLED screen.
4-bit Computer Architecture
A ground-up simulation of a 4-bit computer architecture, including a custom ALU, registers, and control unit. Designed and verified using digital logic principles to execute fundamental machine instructions.
What I work with.
Technologies, tools, and concepts I've used in production or studied deeply.
Languages
Frameworks & Tools
Systems & Protocols
Specialized
AI & ML
Education
B.S. Computer Engineering — University of Minnesota
College of Science and Engineering · Minneapolis, MN · Expected May 2028
Let's connect.
I'm always open to new opportunities, collaborations, or just a good conversation about systems, software, or STEM education. My inbox is open!