Hello, I'm

Ulises
Chavarria

▋

Building at the intersection of hardware and AI, from embedded motor firmware on ESP32 to distributed ML pipelines and multi-agent LLM systems.

GitHub LinkedIn Resume ↗
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01. About

I'm a mechatronics and robotics systems engineer with an M.S. in Computer Science from Santa Clara University and B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from San José State University. From an early age, I've been taking apart things to see how they work phones, consoles, computers, etc., and putting them back together better. That instinct never left.

My work sits at an uncommon intersection: I can architect a distributed ML training run and then flash the BLDC motor firmware that feeds it data. At Shifamed, I joined Laza Medical as the 5th engineering hire for a medtech robot, leading motor control stack feasibility from a blank slate. I thrive in early-stage environments where the hardware and software problem spaces are still being defined.

M.S.
Computer Science & Engineering Santa Clara University
B.S.
Mechanical Engineering San José State University
A.A.
Japanese Foothill College
Ulises Chavarria

02. Skills

⚙ Robotics & Embedded

ESP32 PID / BLDC Control IMU (BNO055) Kalman Filtering ROS2 Sensor Benchmarking Real-time Systems

◈ Software & ML

C++ Python JavaScript / Node TensorFlow YOLOv11 SQLite Linux CI/CD Distributed Training

◻ Hardware & Design

SolidWorks Fusion 360 300V Power Systems Additive Manufacturing Materials Characterization Wiring Harness

03. Projects

01

Knee Osteoarthritis Classifier

Multi-class CNN achieving F1: 87.57 classifying knee X-ray severity stages. Benchmarked EfficientNetV2, Xception, ResNet, and Vision Transformer architectures. Distributed training across heterogeneous compute, RTX 3070 + M4 Mac Mini.

Python TensorFlow CNN Distributed Training Medical Imaging
02

KELE: Socratic Teaching LLM

Reproduction and extension of KELE (EMNLP 2025), a multi-agent framework for structured Socratic teaching with LLMs. Fine-tuned and hosted SocratTeachLLM on HuggingFace; ran distributed evaluations on SCU WAVE GPU cluster nodes.

Python LLMs Multi-Agent HuggingFace NLP EMNLP 2025
03

Automatic Wire Cutter

Mechatronics capstone (ME106, SJSU) with the Spartan Racing team. An automated machine that cuts and strips wires to spec for Formula SAE wiring harness production, reducing manual prep time and improving repeatability. Software lead.

Arduino C++ Mechatronics Hardware Formula SAE
04

Migo Marketplace

Full-stack local services platform, Yelp + Google Maps + AI assistant in one. Map-based vendor discovery, an AI chat agent (AskMigo) for personalized recommendations, direct vendor messaging, and a listings management dashboard.

JavaScript Node.js AI Full-Stack Maps API
05

Photo Organizer Suite

Python desktop toolkit for photographers and archivists. Organizes Sony/GoPro/Epson media by date and camera model; batch converts TIFF→HEIC with full EXIF preservation; handles multi-scanner workflows via a unified GUI launcher.

Python Tkinter EXIF macOS CLI Tool

04. Experience

Shifamed, Laza Medical

2022 – Present

Associate R&D Robotics Engineer / Intern

Campbell, CA

  • Led BLDC motor control stack feasibility as the 5th engineering hire, dual-loop PID firmware on ESP32 targeting 2 N-m torque.
  • Benchmarked custom solutions vs. OTS (Maxon/Ingenia); findings drove a strategic product pivot.
  • Implemented BNO055 IMU tracking with Kalman filtering; built gear ratio and torque characterization test stations.
  • Developed C++/Python drivers for magnetic tracking; integrated real-time USB sensor streaming pipelines.
  • Contributed to ROS2-compatible middleware; modernized legacy codebase.

Shifamed, Myra Vision

2022

R&D Engineering Intern

Campbell, CA

  • Supported first-in-human glaucoma device trials via fixture design and regulatory documentation.
  • Developed PID thermal control systems for device characterization.

Spartan Racing Electric

2021 – 2023

Electric Powertrain Engineer

San Jose, CA

  • Contributed to a 300V, 60 kW Formula SAE electric powertrain.
  • System owner for dual-purpose power bus and passive fuse structures (SRE-6).
  • Designed PDU enclosure, penthouse assembly, and battery fuse-links for SRE-6 vehicle.
  • Optimized battery interconnects via thermal-electrical simulation; team placed 2nd overall.

05. Get to Know Me

📷

Photography

I shoot both film and digital, there's something about the deliberate pace of film that makes you think harder about each frame. Gear of choice includes Sony Alpha bodies and whatever 35mm camera I'm currently running a roll through.

🏔

Outdoors

Hiking and biking are my reset buttons. Growing up between Nicaragua and the Bay Area gave me an appreciation for both jungle trails and coastal roads, I'll take either.

🖥

Building Things

I've been building and repairing PCs, phones, and consoles since high school, not just as a hobby but because I genuinely like understanding how things come apart and go back together. I also run a 3D printer for prototyping and one-off designs.

🎲

Games

Board games and video games both scratch the same itch: systems with rules worth understanding deeply. Favorites tend toward strategy and co-op, the kind where talking through a bad decision is half the fun.

🗣

Languages

Fluent in English, Spanish, and Japanese, each one a different way of thinking. Spanish is home, English is work, and Japanese has been the most rewarding challenge: an A.A., a study abroad semester in Japan, and a perspective shift that rewired how I approach learning anything new.

06. Contact

Open to robotics, embedded systems, and applied AI roles.
Let's build something real.

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