Anissh Guruprasad

Candidate Summary:
Anissh is a strong candidate for software, hardware, and embedded roles that combines low-level programming with practical hardware design. He builds, measures, debugs, and iterates across the hardware/software boundary, with experience leading teams and developing reliable systems under physical and timing constraints.

Education:
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
B.S. Computer Engineering, minor in Data Science
Expected graduation: May 2027

Experience:
Programming Team Lead, Illini VEX Robotics, Aug 2023 - Present
- Led software development for 4+ robots and mentored a programming team of 10+ students.
- Developed autonomous navigation using odometry, PID control, Pure Pursuit, spline paths, and motion planning.
- Supported 6+ regional robotics tournaments with 30+ teams and 50+ volunteers.
- Self-taught PCB and embedded systems hardware design, creating custom boards, writing firmware, and developing interfaces across hardware and software.

Technical Skills:
- Software development: C, C++, Python, Java, JavaScript, HTML/CSS, SystemVerilog, SQL, shell scripting, Git/GitHub
- Embedded platforms: RP2350, ESP32-C3, MicroBlaze soft processor, Spartan-7 FPGA
- FPGA and HDL: Vivado/Vitis HLS, SystemVerilog, AXI interconnect, testbenches and simulation
- PCB and hardware design: KiCad, high-speed digital design, power distribution, decoupling, oscilloscope debugging
- Communication interfaces: SPI, QSPI, UART, I2C, RS-485, USB HID
- Robotics and control: odometry, PID control loops, Pure Pursuit, path following, spline generation, motion planning
- Mechanical and fabrication: 3D printing, laser cutting, CNC milling, Fusion 360
- Leadership and operations: team leadership, cross-functional collaboration, event operations, volunteer coordination, logistics, finance management

Featured Projects:
- Embedded Pac-Man on Xilinx Spartan-7: final project for ECE 385, a hardware/software co-design using MicroBlaze, SystemVerilog, custom video rendering, and AXI-based memory access to build a playable Pac-Man game on a Spartan-7 FPGA.
- RP2350 TFT Display Driver: developing a dual-RP2350 TFT display system for a custom keyboard project, with future applications in robotics and embedded systems.
- ESP32 Smart Garage Door Controller: building a smart garage door controller with remote access, status monitoring, and Google Home Matter integration using an ESP32.

Engineering Strengths:
- Comfortable learning unfamiliar technical domains independently.
- Uses datasheets, calculations, simulation, measurement, and debugging to make engineering decisions.
- Thinks in systems, including timing, power, communication, failure modes, modularity, and real-world behavior.
- Communicates technical ideas, mentors teammates, and coordinates complex engineering events.
- Ready to work across both hardware and software, with a focus on bridging the gap between the two and building reliable systems.