# Grace Kwak > Robotics SWE @ Intrinsic Location: San Francisco Bay Area, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/gracekwak https://gracekwak.me/ ## Work Experience ### Robotics Software Engineer @ Intrinsic Jan 2025 – Present | Mountain View, California, United States ### Machine Learning Intern @ Robust.AI Jan 2025 – Jan 2025 ### Recurser @ Recurse Center Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 | Brooklyn, New York, United States -Designed and built Open When, a letter-writing web app using React frontend and Supabase backend -Developed Gratie, a stack-based esoteric programming language interpreter using Rust -Courses: Deep Reinforcement Learning (in progress), The Missing Semester of Your CS Education (completed) ### Guidance, Navigation, and Controls (GNC) Intern @ Zipline Jan 2024 – Jan 2024 | South San Francisco, California, United States -Developed a Julia-Rust software tool that enables seamless model-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop simulation between the P2 drone’s Julia plant model and its onboard Rust controller; eliminated over 80% of code iteration overhead and saves the team >15 hours/week -Built model validation tool in Julia to quantify and visualize model mismatch in drone actuation forces and passive aerodynamic forces from flight test data; tool is being integrated into team's model development workflow as a key validation step ### Undergraduate Research Assistant @ UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science Jan 2023 – Jan 2024 -Developing deep learning approach to predict solution cases for optimization-based trajectory generation in C++ -Implemented deep imitation learning neural network in Python using PyTorch for efficient motion primitive sampling in time-optimal long-range planner using ROS; created dataset, designed architecture, tuned hyperparameters -Built greedy algorithm that performed 200x faster with only a 5% longer trajectory time for high-acceleration vehicles -Implemented jump-point search algorithm and ran ablation studies in order to compare performance to A* in planner ### Digital Signal Processing Lead - Wireless RF Amplifier Project (WRAP) @ IEEE Student Branch at UCLA Jan 2023 – Jan 2024 Project website with lecture recordings and assignments: https://wrap.simple.ink/ -Co-led a student team building a wireless RF digital communication system between microcontrollers -Redesigned project curriculum toward iterative prototyping process in order to increase engagement and hands-on learning -Implemented rigorous unit testing and document function-level performance in order to characterize overall system -Curriculum includes: Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK), channel non-idealities & noise, embedded C programming ### Analog Design Engineer @ IEEE Student Branch at UCLA Jan 2022 – Jan 2023 -Designed and implemented a wireless RF digital communication system consisting of transmitter and receiver modules which interface with STM32-based microcontrollers -Simulated circuits using LTspice and designed analog RF hardware PCBs using Autodesk EAGLE -Utilized MATLAB to implement Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) to encode digital signals onto analog carrier wave -Assembled, debugged, and tuned modules using lab tools including signal generators, oscilloscopes, and vector network analyzers ### Controls Engineering Intern @ BLUE ORIGIN Jan 2023 – Jan 2023 | Greater Seattle Area -Determined root cause of unexpected, out-of-spec thrust oscillations on engine model by characterizing system in MATLAB; performed in-depth analysis of linearized state-space system, including impact of numerical interpolation -Discovered significant nonlinear distortion in Bode magnitude and phase plots in implemented model vs. intended model; confirmed theory by generating evidence from Simulink simulation runs with different parameter inputs -Accelerated return to flight of New Shepard rocket and provided impetus for comprehensive model overhaul ### Actuator Project Engineer @ Bruin Racing Jan 2022 – Jan 2023 -Used Solidworks to design linear actuator subsystem which controls gear ratio of car's continuously-variable transmission -Performed calculations and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to ensure sufficient shift speed, load capacity, and reliability -Planned, conducted, and documented actuator testing to validate functional prototype for collegiate competition -Manufactured and assembled subsystem by ordering parts and machining using mill and lathe ### Controls and Electronics Subteam Member @ Bruin Racing Jan 2022 – Jan 2022 ### Advocacy Director @ Society of Women Engineers @ UCLA Jan 2022 – Jan 2023 -Led 5-person team to establish lasting partnerships between SWE and technical clubs such as IEEE, Bruin Racing, and AIAA -Spearheaded flagship Engineers for Professional Inclusion Conference, sparking honest conversations about inclusion and actionable ways to become a better ally; increased overall attendance by 4x and men's attendance by 30x ### Advocacy Committee Member @ Society of Women Engineers @ UCLA Jan 2020 – Jan 2022 ### Test Engineering Intern @ Texas Instruments Jan 2022 – Jan 2022 | Dallas, Texas, United States -Created Python script to flag errors in any Device Interface Board (DIB) Cadence schematic for Automatic Testing Equipment (ATE), saving up to $200,000 per test project -Added C++ quality control test program flows to battery gauge device on ATE in electrical characterization lab -Implemented software debugging and troubleshooting skills to prepare test program for production ### FPGA Design Engineer @ IEEE Student Branch at UCLA Jan 2021 – Jan 2022 -Collaborated in 3-person team to build FPGA-controlled device that calculates frequencies of audio signals and visualizes them onto VGA display in real-time -Applied building blocks of combinational and sequential logic to build microphone translator, radix-2 Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) processor, and VGA generator modules -Programmed Intel Altera FPGA in SystemVerilog RTL, performed testbench simulation and verification using ModelSim, and synthesis and physical design implementation using Quartus IDE ### Author @ New Degree Press Jan 2021 – Jan 2022 The Glitch, my debut sci-fi novel, follows an engineer's journey from a techno-utopia into a chaotic reality. Available at the link below in paperback and e-book formats! -Raised over $5,500 from 124 backers in 30-day fundraising campaign for community-backed publishing -Wrote first-draft manuscript and revised into full-length novel published in December 2021 -Amazon Kindle eBooks #1 New Release in Human-Computer Interaction, Social Aspects of the Internet, Internet Culture ### Undergraduate Research Assistant @ University of California, Los Angeles Jan 2021 – Jan 2021 | Laboratory for Embedded Machines and Ubiquitous Robots (LEMUR) -Engineered propeller, paddle-wheel, and rudder actuation capabilities for foldable robotic boats -Designed modular and parameterizable component mounts, enabling users to easily add sensors and actuators to boats -Integrated boats with React-based web dashboard, Arduino painlessMesh communication network, and OpenMV camera -Published findings in 2021 UCLA Summer Undergraduate Research Program Journal ### Software Engineer Intern @ Healing Grove Health Center Jan 2020 – Jan 2020 -Developed HIPAA-compliant Python application using Google Sheets API and AthenaHealth API to automate administrative processes for COVID-19 testing; decreased processing time by over 80% -Led 10-person team to secure over $18,000/year from new sponsors through email campaign ### Youth Community Researcher @ IDEO CoLab Jan 2019 – Jan 2019 -Implemented human-centered design research methods to recruit, screen, and interview 12 Spanish-speaking residents of a marginalized neighborhood about their transportation needs and views on autonomous vehicles to inform city policy making -Synthesized qualitative and quantitative insights into recommendations to San José Department of Transportation and IDEO headquarters; featured in local newspaper ## Education ### Bachelor of Science - BS in Electrical Engineering UCLA ### Pioneer High School ### San Jose City College ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/grace-j-kwak - Portfolio: https://gracekwak.me --- Source: https://flows.cv/gracekwak JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/gracekwak/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-11