# Peter Duerst

> Software Engineer and Theater Maker moving to Vienna, Austria, in July 2026

Location: Somerville, Massachusetts, United States
Profile: https://flows.cv/peterduerst

I'm Peter Duerst, a software engineer and theater maker in the Boston area.

I love to build things, from robots to theater sets. I also enjoy playing Dungeons & Dragons, acting in community theater, and trying new vegetarian/vegan recipes.

To read more about my work in theater and engineering, check out my portfolio at https://peter.duerst.me

## Work Experience
### Software Test Engineer II - Surgical Robotics @ Medtronic
Jan 2024 – Present | Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Developed automated tests in C++ and Python for the Hugo robotic-assisted surgery platform: a distributed system of QNX and Windows compute nodes across 1–4 robot arms piloted by a surgeon.

Ran formal tests to support our U.S. regulatory approval and product launch.

Performed system-in-the-loop integration testing, including different hardware configurations, arm hot-swap scenarios, and reproducing field-reported issues on returned hardware.

Automated previously manual test cases, including programmatic control of 3D display hardware via serial commands in C++.

### Senior Embedded Software Developer @ 10Beauty
Jan 2023 – Jan 2023 | Burlington, Massachusetts, United States

### Embedded Software Developer @ 10Beauty
Jan 2020 – Jan 2023 | Burlington, Massachusetts, United States
Joined as 5th full-time employee to develop the world's first complete manicure machine, including polish removal, cuticle management, nail shaping, and polish application.

Led development for 2 of the robot’s 4 major features (polish removal and cuticle management) while collaborating closely with the mechanical engineering team to improve their end-effector designs.

Co-inventor on patent: Shashou et al. Automated total nail care systems, devices and methods, U.S. Patent No. 11,058,204 B2, issued July 2021.

Ran key system demonstrations for investors and as part of Agile sprints.

Co-architected the transition of our system from Python/Arduino to C/C++ on a Raspberry Pi Compute Module and an STM32.

Worked on all levels of our system: from low-level sensor reading and motor control to higher-level machine state management and path planning.

Consistently given positive feedback on my communication skills and code reviews.

Founding member of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. Co-wrote 10Beauty’s DEI statement and improved our performance review process by adding questions to track DEI issues.

### Associate Mechanical Engineer @ iRobot
Jan 2019 – Jan 2020 | Bedford, MA
Took ownership of the Python codebase running an electromechanical test fixture that provided decision-critical information for rapid R&D of new technologies. Developed and ran novel tests and redesigned the user interface to reduce operator errors.

Decreased testing times by 30% with new, equally accurate procedures by using more sensor data.

### Electrical Engineering Intern @ iRobot
Jan 2018 – Jan 2018 | Bedford, MA
Developed sensor debugging tools using Python and Bash for a robot running embedded Linux.

Redesigned a previously non-functioning line-follow sensor by making multi-disciplinary changes: electrical (a low-pass filter for the LED’s power signal), mechanical (walls to restrict light reaching the phototransistors), and software (a custom brightness calibration script that ran on startup).

### Engineering Intern @ Tecomet, Inc
Jan 2017 – Jan 2017 | Woburn, MA
Created inventory of biomedical manufacturing fixtures used in production of spinal repair devices, allowing for efficiently replacing broken or worn out fixtures.

Updated the engineering drawings for each fixture in SolidWorks, improving 32 in total.

### Undergraduate Researcher: MIT Mechatronics Research Laboratory @ MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechE)
Jan 2016 – Jan 2016 | Cambridge, Massachusetts
Tested designs for a soft robotic system that autonomously detects water pipe leaks.

Independently developed a waterproof data recovery system using SolidWorks.

Project went on to become a new company: Watchtower Robotics founded by You Wu.

### Engineering Intern @ 3M
Jan 2015 – Jan 2015 | Menomonie, WI
Improved test processes for manufacturing phone screens in a chemical-engineering wet lab.

Automated a copper-plating analysis pipeline using new Metrohm equipment.

Quantified surface characteristics of samples using confocal microscopy and S-parameters.


## Education
### Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Mechanical Engineering (Medical Devices Concentration) and Theater Arts
Massachusetts Institute of Technology


## Contact & Social
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/peterduerst
- Portfolio: http://peter.duerst.me

---
Source: https://flows.cv/peterduerst
JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/peterduerst/resume.json
Last updated: 2026-03-31