# Sanjeevani Lakshmivarahan > A robotics engineer on a path to empower others and change the world. Passionate | Earnest | Quick Learner || Embedded SWE@Wing. Ex-Zoox. Ex-Apple Special Projects Group. Ex-SLAM@Avidbots. OnDeck Catalyst Fellow Location: San Francisco Bay Area, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/sanjeevani Passionate about developing user-centric products with clean, elegant design. Experience Summary •In 18 months, delivered 18 projects and 6 P0 bugfixes used in 3000+ simulations daily, across 3 platforms, working cross-functionally with 14 teams, complete with user needs analysis, design, implementation, and regression tests (Embark) •OnDeck Catalyst (Cohort 2) Fellow. OnDeck Catalyst Scouts inaugural cohort Fellow. •Cofounded Tron Mentor Chats, first Mentorship program for Mechatronics, with 100% growth in only 10 months (300+ students overall) •Led design, implementation and validation of new software architecture for simulating cross-compilation, complex iterative algorithms (Anytime Algorithms) offline; prioritizing modularity, statelessness, performance tracking and adaptability (Apple Special Projects Group) •Led design, software architecture, and implementation of foundational framework for localization simulation, testing, quantification, and state-saving of autonomy's localization stack (Avidbots) •Led dev. of hardware and software for international deployment in critical security infrastructure (Synapse Technology) •Lead Developer for calibration process and software/firmware redesign (self-taught), reducing process time by 50-65% (Grobo) •Trained in Design Thinking, Lean and Sprint methodologies, leading 10+ projects and workshops for process training and implementation across management levels and functions. (General Motors) •Designed and coordinated manufacturing a 4-battery cabinet within 4 months used in $1.1M off-grid international telecom solution; set to become standard product. (Clear Blue Technologies) •Received 5-consecutive "Outstanding" co-op evaluations and graduating from Mechatronics with specialization in Artificial Intelligent with a 3.8 GPA •Completed Stanford University's Machine Learning Course with 100% in all coursework •Nominated for University of Waterloo Co-op Student of the Year (Grobo) Technical Skill Overview •Programming: Python (PEP8), C, C++, MATLab, Java, VBA; with exposure to: HTML/CSS, Javascript, Arduino •Software + Prototyping: MacOS, Linux (Ubuntu), ROS, Rviz, Docker, Ansible, Jenkins, Bazel, Jira, Git (Gerrit, Bitbucket, Github), Origami •Visual Modeling: AutoCAD, Fusion, Inventor, SolidWorks, OnShape and Photoshop. Well experienced in drafting complex, detailed designs, drawings and renders with exposure to GD&T principles •Machining experience - workshop tools (ex. bandsaw, drill press), machining and assembling metal plates, wooden structures in manufacturing, and experimental setups ## Work Experience ### Embedded Software Engineer - Flight Software @ Wing Jan 2026 – Present | Palo Alto, California, United States ### Software Engineer - Systems Design and Mission Assurance @ Zoox Jan 2023 – Jan 2026 | Foster City, California, United States • Promoted twice in 2 years; selected among top ~100/2600+ for advanced technical and leadership development • Technical lead for FPGA-based IMU SPI Bridge integration into HIL, enabling first-ever execution of production firmware in E2E simulation. Drove company-wide adoption and assumed ownership after senior departure --> Architected multi-IMU simulation-to-board communication and deterministic fault injection (C++/Python) --> Drove fault injection strategy from needs analysis through design, validation, and company-wide rollout • Refactored core test infrastructure: 60% runtime reduction (~9 hrs/day saved) and 75% codebase reduction, improving modularity and maintainability • Delivered 17 verifiers and 80+ tests in 3 weeks during milestone-critical crunch time • Designed and implemented 22+ sensor fault injection mechanisms across radar, lidar, and IMU emulators, including packet- and time-based activation/reset for high-precision system validation • Own health, execution, and release gating for 450+ HIL tests, supporting bi-weekly release candidates across log-based and simulated environments • Launched first end-to-end regression suites for perception and firmware features (e.g. impact detection, ultra-short-range detection, localization, environmental conditions, obstruction handling, fail-operational behaviours) • Built unified tooling to raise arbitrary faults on-vehicle and in HIL, validating fail-operational and safety-critical system responses (C++, Python) • Led team of 4 to migrate and simplify 60k lines of legacy code for new test infrastructure • Defined and implemented cross-team validation processes improving requirements-to-feature communication, hardware integration into HIL, test suite bring-up, regression validation, and milestone approval workflows • Co-developed MCP Server for Polarion, enabling AI-driven requirement summarization (including images) and automated code-reference discovery; delivered productionization strategy ### Software Engineer - Autonomous Vehicle Systems Team, Simulation @ Embark Trucks Jan 2021 – Jan 2023 | San Francisco Bay Area • Promoted to Intermediate Engineer within 1 year of joining Software Architecture and Development • Led development of robust, large scale map versioning system across Embark infrastructure (C++, Python) --> Balanced needs, workflows, and constraints from 7 teams, implementing changes to 5 repos at Embark over 8 months --> Results: used as standard for 3000+ of simulations run daily, across 3 platforms (local machine, cloud, CI/CD), and enabled rapid testing of new maps for autonomy at scale • Owned and maintained high-fidelity controls simulator at Embark, after Senior Engineer left --> Drove investigation for alternative simulators, ultimately designing migration to new controls simulator for improved maintainability, robustness, and long-term feature growth • Used C++ templates to refactor and expand internal rosbag reader libraries to unlock multibag-processing for multiple data sources --> Enabled ground truth bags to be integrated into simulation for the first time, allowing perception team to collect previously unavailable MOT metrics Product Management • Pitched 8 new projects which increased maintainability of stack, improved regression testing, improve readability of code • Led needs analysis for new non-technical users of simulation --> Identified biggest problems, sorted by problem area and proposed solutions for each problem with relative priorities --> Gained stakeholder and management approval for all 15+ solutions, all prioritized for Q1 2023 Technical Program Management • Completed 4-month mentorship under a Senior Program Manager • Was specially selected for 5-person strike team lasting 2-months, responsible for driving engineering efforts for first major customer milestone (Truck Transfer Program) --> Established team’s new workflows with 9 teams to prioritize rapid testing iteration --> Provided on-call support for trucks during round-the-clock efforts to accelerate truck testing and implementing or delegating bugfixes ### Robotics Software Design Intern - Special Projects Group @ Apple Jan 2020 – Jan 2020 | Santa Clara County, California, United States •Received "Outstanding" (highest level) on co-op evaluation Software Architecture and Development •Led design and implementation of new software architecture for modelling complex iterative algorithms (Anytime Algorithms) --> Enables deterministic offline simulation of cross-compilation production environments, navigating complex timing issues --> Key features: modularity, statelessness, performance tracking and adaptability --> Implementation: Developed in C, complete with CMocka unit tests --> Validation: Quantified extents of existing of platform via diagnostics collected using new framework, and made recommendations for further development --> Technologies: C, Bazel, CMocka, Jenkins, Bash + Python scripts •Self-taught new robotics software framework Product Management •Led and delivered new software architecture within 2 months --> Led design process and implementation (ie. explored problem space, identified requirements, designed multiple iterations, implemented design with unit tests) --> Earned approval from senior software engineers on design and results •Pitched concept for new cross-platform product feature •Updated and developed new documentation for smoother technical onboarding ### Software Developer - SLAM @ Avidbots Corp. Jan 2019 – Jan 2019 | Waterloo, Ontario •Received "Outstanding" (highest level) on co-op evaluation Software Architecture and Development •Independently led design, software architecture, and implementation to introduce a Localization Validation Framework to autonomy stack --> To be used as foundational localization simulation, testing, quantification, and state-saver for perception stack --> Created ROSBag database management system, identifying and categorizing into 16 localization incident types across 9 location types; became preferred resource manager for autonomy projects thereafter --> Key features: complete modularity via config. files + database, automation, consistency, and state-freezing --> Designed and implemented components: database (above), I/O data processing + aggregation, process management system (controls spawning + graceful termination of software elements), and simulator system --> Technologies: ROS, Python, C++, Rviz, Airtable •Contributed to modifications, discussions, analysis and testing for localization stack to improve robustness in field •Conducted on-site overnight testing representing localization team (both independently and in group) Product Management •Pitched initial project to introduce automation to data analysis pipeline, and developed into multi-purpose simulation, testing and analysis framework (Localization Validation Framework) --> Ideated feature list, scoped project deliverables, managed timelines, and designed solution Sensors •Led testing (DoE), engineering and productionization of LiDAR level calibration method to 0.4° accuracy; robust to unit variation between LiDARs ### Hardware R&D Engineering @ Synapse Technology Corporation Jan 2019 – Jan 2019 | Palo Alto, California •Received "Outstanding" (highest level) on co-op evaluation Software Design, Dev. and Integration •Led dev. (FMEA, algorithm design/implementation, integration, optimization) of thread-safe module to add new hardware into data entry pipeline --> Improves capture quality in 98% of instances without slowing down critical path and improving ML model accuracy --> Deployed internationally in flagship 2.0 release for high-security infrastructure •Developed program to convert ML model training data into field-accurate images, running at operating at 4-8Hz for 150k images •Heavily refactored capture card module for increased robustness and transparency without compromising existing efficiency •Conducted FMEA (with Team Lead) to debug multi-consumer capture card access issues; resolved within 1 week to meet 2.x release timeline Linux Integration + Automation •Reduced total computer platform setup time by 50% (60 to 30 min) and active engineering time by 77% (45 to 10 min) by automating custom Debian installation/disk partitioning •Integrated capture card module into new Docker containerized platform, designing failure systems for prevention/graceful recovery •Developed ansible playbooks to integrate custom modules as Linux supervisord services with GPS as primary time source Leadership and Process Improvement •Independently led 9-projects spanning across, software development, mechanical design, hardware testing/debugging, business-engineering integration •Self-started + pitched project to streamline engineering deployment design, gaining senior mgt. approval --> Developed MVP and product roadmap for further integration across engineering and business functions Mechanical Design •Led design of V2 capture card enclosure module (DFM), aided with V1 design. Reduced cost by 23%, increased usability for quicker assembly and deployment •Led design of various 2.x hardware: capture card enclosure, splitter mount (turnaround in 1.5 days) and computer protective enclosure ### Systems Software Design & Prototyping Intern @ Grobo Inc. Jan 2018 – Jan 2018 | Waterloo, Ontario •Received "Outstanding" (highest level) on co-op evaluation •Nominated for University of Waterloo's "Co-op Student of the Year" Award Process Optimization • Lead developer for calibration process and software redesign --> Reduced time by 50-65%, with higher efficiencies for a greater number of units processed at once --> Increased productivity of active process time by consolidating wasted user time into usable segments --> Simplified UI: 82% less user input, 72% fewer screens --> Conducted user interviews, prototyped features during design process; implemented in C++ and Python • Redesigned overall process flow for manufacturing space, prioritizing tracking, automation, process validation, UX • Improved software integration between engineering and customer support teams • Created scripts to replace third-party software, providing increased flexibility, reliability and saving $25+ per month Embedded Systems • Lead dev. for calibration firmware optimization (self-taught) • Developed feature to allow multi-unit processing by encapsulating serial communication channels • Added features to synchronize steps between multiple units, automate software flashing, database entry, etc. • Adapted producer-consumer (multithreading) firmware communication for hardware constraints (Ubuntu, Intel NUC) • Introduced real-time logging systems for troubleshooting • Led FMEA into DHT sensor readings, implementing firmware fixes Product Management • Pitched long-term product roadmap for introducing Machine Learning to customer analytics pipeline, winning approval of CTO and other senior mgt. • Implemented lean and sprint methodologies to investigate, scope, prototype and implement for projects in: Manufacturing process flow, Calibration program optimization, Customer support process integration, Machine Learning ### Innovation Specialist (Associate Product Manager) @ General Motors Jan 2017 – Jan 2017 | 2908 Innovation Lab at Communitech •Received "Outstanding" (highest level) on co-op evaluation Prototyping & Design • Applied Sprint, Lean and Design Thinking methodologies to develop and rapidly prototype; establishing and validating product-market fit for 14 concepts • Independently developed first iteration of networking platform to be used across GM Canadian Technical Centers • Developed virtual reality vehicle simulation; and mobile and console screens to optimize UI and validate UX • Created a new system to improve visibility of rising talent; unrolled to senior management across company for adoption • Technologies: Origami, InVision, Balsamiq Project Leadership • Product Coach for seven 1- to 3-day Design Sprints across multiple levels of management with teams across engineering, manufacturing, human resources, marketing and sales. • Project leader for infotainment integration feature, owning roadmap (vision, scope, implementation) and executing consumer, business and technical facets ### Electromechanical Design Engineering @ Clear Blue Technologies Inc. Jan 2017 – Jan 2017 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada •Received "Excellent" (second highest level) on co-op evaluation Design & Research • Designed a 4-battery cabinet within 4 months, considering safety, international standards and cost. Used in $1.1M off-grid international telecom solution; set to become standard product. • Designed and rendered concepts for IoT advertising battery cabinets; strong asset for several competitive international sales pitches • Initiated formal research process through the development, implementation, and analyses of long-term projects into flexible and shaded solar panels; and buried battery cabinets • Drafted extensively with Autodesk Fusion, Inventor and Adobe Photoshop to create system models, design parts, illustrate detailed drawings and diagrams, and render marketing aids • Developed electrical and wiring diagrams, mechanical placement designs and detailed wire-specification tables to tailor engineered solutions to specific clients Prototyping & Manufacturing • Machined, built, assembled, verified and modified early-stage products vs. drawings, experimental setup tools and equipment • Applied DFM principles in designing battery cabinet • Coordinated design development (cost, preciseness to design drawings, delivery, regulations, etc.) with multiple international manufacturers for battery cabinet Process Efficiency Improvement • Spearheaded new documentation strategies for long-term project management efficiency, improving cross-functional communication between Business and Engineering (ex. status and task spreadsheets) • Independently developed telecom pricing tool for emerging product line, bridging Sales and Engineering gaps ### Vice President of Education; Competitor @ DECA Jan 2012 – Jan 2016 | Turner Fenton Secondary School, Brampton, Ontario • Piloted execution of Education team initiative, training teachers, creating notes and guidebooks for chapter of 180+ students in fields of Marketing, Finance, Hospitality and Tourism and Business Administration • Mentored and motivated dedicated chapter members to learn from DECA as a tool to gain business experience and personal growth rather than just a competition • Represented Canada at International Competition (ICDC), placing Top 10 Overall in Marketing Management Series Individual Event • Awarded First Place Overall provincially and regionally, earning a combined total of 10 medals and 1 plaque over 4 years ### Chairperson; Head Organizer for Peel Planet Day 2015 @ Volunteering Peel Jan 2014 – Jan 2016 | Mississauga, Ontario • Managed team for one of largest youth-led service organizations in Ontario, coordinating services to award 30,000+ volunteer hours annually; personally contributing 400 hours • Facilitated teamwork exercises and active discussion, implemented new systems to improve synergy and communication, redefined executive responsibilities to more efficiently execute tasks and improved crisis management and training systems • Nurtured potential of new executive members to identify areas growth both within organization and individually, maintaining an open-door policy for personal and/or organizational feedback • Collaborated with Co-Head Organizer and team to organize successful 2015 Peel Planet Day – helped garner Youth In Action Grant from United Way Region of Peel, grew event from 200 to 300 volunteers and added new workshops for the practice and awareness of the environmentally safe procedures • Represented organization on Rogers TV flagship show, Cable 10 Live, for National Volunteer Week 2015 ### Private Tutor @ Self-Employed Jan 2012 – Jan 2013 | Brampton, Ontario • Created lesson plans and resources to supplement the education of the students • Advised at a one-on-one level on study habits, techniques to let them better understand their method of education retention • Raised their academic standing in English, French and Math ## Education ### Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) in Mechatronics, Artificial Intelligence Specialization University of Waterloo Jan 2016 – Jan 2021 ### International Baccaleaureate Diploma; Ontario Secondary School Diploma Turner Fenton Secondary School Jan 2012 – Jan 2016 ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sanjlakshmi --- Source: https://flows.cv/sanjeevani JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/sanjeevani/resume.json Last updated: 2026-03-25