# Axel Jacobsen

> Software Engineer

Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Profile: https://flows.cv/axeljacobsen

## Work Experience
### Software Engineer, Robotics @ Neuralink
Jan 2024 – Present | Fremont, California, United States

### Research And Development Engineer @ Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network
Jan 2024 – Jan 2024 | San Francisco, California, United States

### Associate R&D Engineer @ Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network
Jan 2022 – Jan 2024 | San Francisco Bay Area
I am designing, training, and deploying neural networks on an new low-cost instrument to diagnose malaria. Specifically, a object detection network responsible for the diagnosis, and an "autofocus" network to keep the instrument's microscope in focus. Along with this, I contribute to software controlling the instrument.

### R&D Engineer Intern @ Chan Zuckerberg Biohub
Jan 2020 – Jan 2020 | San Francisco, California, United States
- Owned the Biohub's reprogramming project of the Opentrons OT-2, an open-source pipetting robot
- Doubled the speed of certain frequent operations (e.g. picking up / dropping pipette tips)
- Reduced codebase size by ~ 75% while maintaining previous functionality, simplifying code for future maintenance / development
- Designed and implemented architecture of robot / software so any software-controlled instrument can be used during protocols (e.g. cameras, GPUs, thermocyclers)
- Designed and implemented tests to measure the accuracy of the OT-2 using cross-correlation techniques, accurate to the µm range over the robot's movement range of 1 meter

### Engineering Intern @ Wildlife Computers
Jan 2019 – Jan 2019 | Redmond, Washington
Wildlife Computers is the leading provider of advanced wildlife telemetry solutions.

- Wrote C++ firmware to test new PCB's that arrive from fabrication. It quickly tests for the correct placement of components which allows for fast identification of faulty boards.
- Designed and created a digital isolator PCB to isolate the company's hardware from measurement devices, allowing for low-noise and accurate voltage measurements.
- Redesigned assembly fixtures for the product assemblers; from the redesign and extensive consultation with the assemblers, the new assembly fixtures are easier to use and produce consistent builds
- Created software to simultaneously test the properties of multiple batteries using an array of battery testers; designed to be highly reliable, robust, and accurate.
- Wrote highly efficient post-processing software for a Joulescope (high precision DC energy analyzer). Wrote fast code to calculate the Cumulative Distribution Function, Histogram, and "Max Window" of a set of data. See http://github.com/jetperch/pyjoulescope_ui/

### Sensor Team Lead @ UBC Subbots
Jan 2018 – Jan 2019 | Vancouver, Canada Area
Constructing an autonomous robotic submarine to compete in the 22nd International RoboSub Competition

- Used Matlab to calibrate fisheye cameras for a computer vision algorithm used to navigate the course
- Designed the motor controlling system for 6 independently controlled thrusters to minimize cost and power consumption
- Lead and taught two junior engineering students in best practices, design methodologies, leadership

### Data Science Co-op @ Control
Jan 2018 – Jan 2018 | Vancouver, Canada Area
Control Mobile aggregated and displayed transaction data for over 100 companies that used Stripe/Square/Paypal

- Wrote Python scripts to analyze and rank order over 300 individual SQL queries by their runtime in order  to systematically optimize the SQL database; reduced the runtime to fetch and display customer data by 65 %
- Worked with the agile backend team to fix existing bugs, write new code, and to refactor current code
- Fixed security issues that would leave the website vulnerable to SQL injection attacks

### Junior Software Developer @ The Ubyssey Publications Society
Jan 2017 – Jan 2017 | Vancouver, Canada Area
- Wrote Python/Javascript code for Dispatch, the publishing platform for The Ubyssey
- Created Django and Reach UI for Dispatch that allows content to be written and uploaded to the website by non-technical users such as editors, writers
- Refactored old Django code to current best practices for security, readability and reliability

### Aerial Tramway Operator @ Grouse Mountain
Jan 2016 – Jan 2016 | Vancouver, Canada Area
- Responsible for guest safety and pleasure while on the Grouse Mountain Tram
- Ensured that the tram operated on schedule during operation


## Education
### Bachelor of Applied Science - BASc in Engineering Physics
The University of British Columbia


## Contact & Social
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/axel-jacobsen
- Portfolio: https://axel-jacobsen.github.io

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Source: https://flows.cv/axeljacobsen
JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/axeljacobsen/resume.json
Last updated: 2026-04-11