# Janakan  Chandrakumar

> Software Engineer at Zoox

Location: San Francisco Bay Area, United States
Profile: https://flows.cv/janakan

I am a software engineer with a background in mechatronics engineering. I have a strong interest in software for robotics, embedded systems, and AI. I have a diverse set of work experiences building software for applications in autonomous driving, embedded AI, web backends, and more. 

I am passionate about creating real-world impact through software-based solutions. 

Take a look at my experience, skills, and projects below and feel free to reach out with opportunities or just to chat!

## Work Experience
### Software Engineer @ Zoox
Jan 2022 – Present | San Francisco Bay Area
System Design & Mission Assurance - Sensors and Compute Functional Safety Verification Team

### Software and Controls Developer @ General Motors
Jan 2021 – Jan 2021 | Greater Toronto Area, Canada
TRACK New Grad Engineering Rotation Program

### Software Engineer Intern, Backend @ Lifion by ADP
Jan 2020 – Jan 2020 | New York City Metropolitan Area
Tech: TypeScript, Node.js, MySQL, Amazon Kinesis, Git, Jenkins

• Developed a Node.js service which when triggered, automatically seeds all client MySQL databases with the most recently released internally-built stored procedures, reducing a multi-day process to minutes

• Built a listener service which recognizes events off Amazon Kinesis and forwards details to the appropriate service using Node.js

• Modified a Node.js service to inject queries into pre-built MySQL stored procedures for use by other services

• Wrote all unit and integration tests for developed software leveraging Mocha and Sinon.js

### Perception & Controls Engineer, SAE Autonomous Car Student Team @ WATonomous
Jan 2018 – Jan 2020 | Waterloo, Canada Area
Tech: C++, Python, ROS

• Developed multi-object tracking, dense-depth map image production, and feedback controller software

• Performed literature reviews on state-of-the-art LiDAR-camera sensor fusion methods and object prediction methods

• Configured and characterized vehicle’s LiDAR, camera, and radar sensor stack

### Software Engineer Intern, Machine Learning @ Groq
Jan 2019 – Jan 2019 | Mountain View, California
Tech: Python, TensorFlow, C++, NumPy, Pandas, Git

• Built a configurable recurrent neural network (RNN) optimized to execute on Groq’s machine learning chip (demoed on multivariate time-series weather data) saving days spent creating custom models for clients

• Developed a model testing and benchmarking harness allowing for automatic model execution, evaluation, and dataset loading

• Evaluated the performance and analyzed the structure of state-of-the-art deep learning models

### Software Developer Intern, Deep Learning & Embedded Vision @ NXP Semiconductors
Jan 2019 – Jan 2019 | Ottawa, Canada Area
Tech: C++, Python, TensorFlow, OpenCV, NumPy, Git

• Implemented the DeepLab semantic image segmentation model within NXP's embedded C++ framework to run on a dedicated vision processor in both a floating-point and quantized, fixed-point state

• Developed an analysis tool providing layer-by-layer metrics and sequence reports of state-of-the-art deep learning networks

• Improved implementation performance of Faster R-CNN within NXP's embedded framework through TF-Lite acceleration

• Tested variations of the MobileNet model within NXP's embedded framework for accuracy and speed benchmarking

### Mechatronics Engineer Intern, Autonomous Driving Controls @ General Motors
Jan 2018 – Jan 2018 | Markham, Canada Area
Tech: MATLAB, C, Simulink, C++, Vehicle Spy, INCA

• Conceptualized new, patented safety feature regarding collision mitigation; credited as co-inventor (US 10347132)

• Developed a test bench for an Arduino HUD using an ARM-based microcontroller to simulate CAN messages sent from a vehicle

• Created a program to auto baseline and troubleshoot GM’s Lane Keep Assist feature making this process 70% faster

• Instrumented a Cadillac CT6 and used Vehicle Spy and INCA diagnostics to resolve a customer facing Super Cruise issue

### Software Developer Intern @ General Motors
Jan 2017 – Jan 2017 | Markham, Canada Area
Tech: Python, JavaScript

• Lead development of a new hardware inventory management tool, saving over 20+ hours of work a week

• Tool is used by 240+ employees, manages 1000+ assets, and was presented to GM senior leadership for cross-company deployment

### Cloud Concierge Support Specialist Intern @ IBM
Jan 2017 – Jan 2017 | Ottawa, Canada Area
• Supported and performed quality assurance on IBM’s Cloud Concierge web platform used by 3000+ worldwide


## Education
### Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) in Mechatronics Engineering
University of Waterloo

### International Baccalaureate Diploma
Colonel By Secondary School


## Contact & Social
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/janakanchandra

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Source: https://flows.cv/janakan
JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/janakan/resume.json
Last updated: 2026-03-29