# Ussama Naal > Sr. Staff Software Engineer @ Ouster | C++, Python, ROS Location: San Francisco Bay Area, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/ussamanaal I have over 15 years of experience as a software engineer, specializing in robotics, simulation, and computer graphics. I am passionate about developing innovative solutions that leverage cutting-edge technologies, such as deep learning, computer vision, and cloud computing. I am currently a senior software engineer at Ouster, a leading provider of high-resolution lidar sensors and software for autonomous vehicles and robotics. ## Work Experience ### Sr .Staff Software Engineer @ Ouster Jan 2025 – Present | San Francisco Bay Area ### Sr. Software Engineer @ Ouster Jan 2022 – Jan 2025 ### Robotics & Simulation Engineer @ KBR Space & Mission Solutions / NASA Ames (Intelligent Robotics Group) Jan 2020 – Jan 2022 | San Francisco Bay Area * Developing robotics simulation for upcoming NASA missions (OceanWATERS, VIPER) using ROS and Gazebo environment * Authored a deformable terrain plugin for Gazebo (using C++, python, and ROS messaging) * Generate synthetic test sites for upcoming missions to the moon / VIPER mission (utilizing C++, GDAL, .netcore) * Implemented Arm Control using ros_control and MoveIT packages * Simulated sensors, faults for a Lander Robot * Maintaining the build system of the OceanWATERS project using Github Actions, performing quality checks, generating prebuilt docker images through CI/CD ### Technical Lead & Cloud Admin @ SySSR الجمعية السورية للبحث العلمي Jan 2018 – Jan 2020 * Managing a team of 6+ to build and customize NMT models from English to Arabic to make educa- tional and scientific content readily available in Arabic. * Developing tools and pipelines to process the training datasets. * Research and adapt the latest trends in Machine Translation. * Technologies used: Deep Learning (Supervised/Unsupervised), Seq2Seq, OpenNMT, Python, NLTK, PySide/QT, Git, Azure, MS Custom Translator. Manage SySSR to G Suite, Manage SySSR infrastructures using Google Cloud Platform, Terraform, GCP Compute Engine, GitLab, Jira. ### VP of Engineering @ Optecks Jan 2018 – Jan 2018 | Tulsa, Oklahoma Area • Managed the company cloud infrastructure using AWS. • Managed team activities using agile development. • Improved the company OttoFly API for controlling drones. API developed in C++, Boost and using MAVLink protocol. Used CMake for cross-platform development on Windows and Unix. • Worked with Intel Aero RTF drones, Established an environment for indoor drones testing. • Built an augmented reality app to demo OttoFly to sponsors. The demo runs on HoloLens and was developed using C#, Unity along with the HoloLens SDK. ### Data Visualization and Cloud Engineer @ Siemens Jan 2016 – Jan 2017 | Greater Atlanta Area • Created interactive visualizations that best describe collected data using Angular2, Typscript, chart.js and e- charts. • Prototyped a Front-End website for a dashboard in NodeJS and Angular 2. • Made an automated deployment pipeline of the website with zero down time. Tools used Jenkins, terraform, ECS and Docker. • Created web analytics for the website to track usage patterns of end customers based on Piwik. ### Computer Vision Engineer and Video Analyst @ Siemens Jan 2015 – Jan 2016 | Greater Atlanta Area • Developed and maintained Siemens proprietary surveillance products using C++, C# and .NET. • Developed computer vision algorithms for object detection, tracking and classification for video surveillance. Used “R programming” for data analysis, Python and OpenCV for fast prototyping of vision algorithms, C++ for complete implementation. • Trained and used a deep learning network using CNTK and H2O to classify objects based on their generated trajectory information. • Made a distributed stable environment for evaluating algorithms performance on multiple independent nodes/PCs running in parallel. ### Software Engineer @ Siemens Jan 2012 – Jan 2015 | Atlanta, GA • Developed and maintained a visualization component that is used in Siemens surveillance and control systems. The component features real-time 3D graphics and supports the viewing and manipulation of geo-referenced objects in the scene. Technologies used C++, Boost, C# and OpenGL • Developed and maintained Siemens proprietary video player used in its surveillance products using C++, Boost libraries, FFMpeg, Live555 rtsp streaming library. ### Graduate Research Assistant @ University of Oklahoma Jan 2010 – Jan 2011 | Tulsa, OK • Created “Light Animator®”, A software designed for manipulating structured light processing chips such as Texas Instruments DLP™. Software built using C++, STL, C++/ CLI and C# • Aided the development of CSpace® Volumetric 3D Display and implemented experimental 3D applications and games to run on it. Applications built using C++, OpenGL, GLUT and OpenAL. • Built an emulation of the CSpace® display for testing purposes using DirectX and volumetric rendering techniques. • Researched the requirements and difficulties facing the design and implementation of High Resolution Interactive Volumetric Display using CSpace® Display as showcase (Thesis subject). ### Software Engineer @ Joy Box Co. for Media Technology Jan 2008 – Jan 2008 | Damascus, Syria • Built automation for “Think and Play” interactive games channel. The channel allows players to participate in live video games through telephony network. • Maintained the connection between the multiple servers that run the automation through RakNet networking library. • Implemented a sub-system for Interactive Voice Response (IVR). • Integrated the system with an “SQL Server” database that holds the profiles of registered players to automatically update player scores and achievements and query highest scores. • Saved company time and resources by implementing an emulation of the telephony hardware allowing most of the system tests be carried out on a single PC. • Technologies used C++, Win32, MFC, SQL Server and RakNet. ### Team Lead and Game Engine Developer @ Joy Box Co. for Media Technology Jan 2005 – Jan 2007 | Damascus, Syria • Managed a team of 6-9 programmers. • Supervised multiple 2D and 3D game titles built using Torque Game Engine. • Worked as the Lead Developer of the company’s proprietary game engine which was used to build the Gulf Rally (a 3D car racing game) and other games. Engine developed using C++, Win32, DirectX. Features included Indoor/Outdooer scene managment, dynamic lighting, integration with ODE and Newton Dynamics for game physics. ## Education ### M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Oklahoma ### B.S. in Software Engineering and Information Systems Aleppo University ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ussamanaal - Website: https://github.com/Samahu - Website: https://sites.google.com/site/ussamanaal --- Source: https://flows.cv/ussamanaal JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/ussamanaal/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-01