Nicholas Patel

Purdue Computer Science Student (Graduating May 2027)

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Hello and Welcome!

I'm Nicholas, a highly driven Computer Science student at Purdue University focused on Software Engineering and Machine Learning. As I look toward my graduation in May 2027, I am actively seeking full-time software engineering roles where I can apply my passion for problem-solving to impactful, enterprise-scale platforms. My expertise spans everything from designing scalable backend architecture and optimizing system performance to creating seamless user experiences across the full development lifecycle. My experiences range from architecting automated enterprise CI/CD pipelines in Go at PNC Financial Services and tackling global supply chain software challenges at U.S. Steel, to launching my own iOS application, Food Flip, emphasizing architectural excellence and proven methodologies like microservices, REST APIs, and MVVM. This portfolio provides my digitized resume, previous work experience, project showcases, and insights into who I am away from the keyboard. Feel free to explore, and I look forward to the chance to connect and discuss full-time opportunities!

Professional Experience

PNC Financial Services

June 2026 – Aug 2026

Software Engineering Intern

  • Reduced vendor container image onboarding time from 1-2 business days to 3-4 minutes and consolidated a 4-team manual workflow by architecting a Go Jira intake microservice and CI/CD pipeline.
  • Engineered a backend microservice that continuously polls Jira boards using JQL, parses intake form data via Jira APIs, and utilizes GitHub APIs to trigger workflow dispatch events.
  • Developed concurrent GitHub Actions pipelines capable of synchronously processing lists of over 100 images by downloading third-party containers, executing Sysdig security scans, and pushing to a local Artifactory.
  • Established a fully auditable and governable record of all CI/CD events for previously untracked vendor images by integrating the automated onboarding pipeline with enterprise Policy-as-Code.
  • Accelerated microservice development and optimized Go system architecture by integrating GitHub Copilot for AI-assisted code generation and test creation.

U.S. Steel Corporation

Jan 2025 – Dec 2025

Software Engineering Intern

  • Improved global supply chain visibility and inventory workflow efficiency for enterprise stakeholders by developing and maintaining a Java web application deployed on Apache Tomcat.
  • Executed the full Software Development Lifecycle within a cross-functional Agile environment, managing SQL database configurations, testing, and production deployments.
  • Resolved production bugs and deployed feature enhancements in coordination with international teams, ensuring long-term system reliability.

RedCupNews (Purdue Branch)

Aug 2024 – Present

Graphic Designer | Video Editor & Visuals Creator

  • Drove community engagement by creating and editing sports-centric, humorous digital content that amplified Purdue gameday culture and fan identity.
  • Designed high-impact gameday graphics and diverse visual assets (e.g., social media banners, promotional artwork, gameday graphics) for Purdue using the Adobe Creative Suite.
  • Maintained brand consistency and high quality across all platforms, effectively translating the Purdue community and athletic excitement into widely shared, high-impact visuals.

Simcoach Games

Jun 2022 - Jul 2022

Apprentice Developer / Lead Developer

  • Led development of Harmony Hall, an interactive 3D therapeutic game (Unity/C#), serving as the Lead Developer for all player movements and special effects.
  • Collaborated in a four-member team through conceptualization, design, and development, culminating in a public presentation to over 50 business leaders.

Signature Projects

Food Flip

SwiftUI / MVVM

Independently developed iOS app that gamifies restaurant decision-making using a tournament-based pairing system with the Google Places API.

  • Achieved rank 2 in the App Store Food & Drink category with over 1000 downloads.
  • Implemented a modular MVVM architecture using Combine for reactive state management and integrated CoreData for persistent storage.
View on App Store

RepairFlow

Django / React / PostgreSQL

Full-stack autoshop management platform serving as the capstone project for CS 307.

  • Managed project velocity and alignment for a 4-person Scrum team, utilizing generative AI tools to accelerate code optimization and test generation.
  • Engineered a full-stack platform featuring a dynamic React frontend and scalable Django REST backend, implementing Google OAuth 2.0 and JWTs for Role-Based Access Control.
View Repository

C Heap Memory Allocator

C / Systems Programming

High-performance custom implementation of malloc, free, calloc, and realloc.

  • Achieved O(1) coalescing of free blocks and mitigated external fragmentation by engineering a custom C memory allocator using a Segregated Free List and Boundary Tags.
  • Enforced strict memory block alignment and manipulated low-level pointer arithmetic within a custom Linux environment to optimize memory utilization.

UNIX Custom Shell

C / Flex / Bison

Feature-rich, custom shell interpreter in C/C++ combining functionality similar to bash and csh.

  • Built a custom C and C++ shell interpreter supporting complex I/O redirection, piping, and background processes using Flex and Bison.
  • Managed OS-level process execution utilizing fork() and execvp(), implementing custom signal handlers to gracefully terminate child processes and prevent zombie states.

Education & Technical Depth

Purdue University

B.S. in Computer Science

GPA: 3.3/4.0 | Expected Graduation: May 2027

Concentrations: Software Engineering Machine Learning

Leadership & Athletic Involvement

  • Officer, Purdue Boxing (Recruitment): Maintained a rigorous 6–7 AM group training regimen while leading recruitment initiatives, demonstrating discipline, leadership, and strong time management.
  • USAPL National Competitor, Purdue Powerlifting: Applied data-driven training and goal-setting to compete nationally, showcasing perseverance, precision, and focus.

Relevant Coursework

Core CS & Systems

Object-Oriented Programming (CS180) Programming in C (CS240) Computer Architecture (CS250) Data Structures & Algorithms (CS251) Systems Programming (CS252) Software Engineering (CS307) Compilers (CS352) Intro to AI (CS471) Analysis of Algorithms (CS381) Software Testing (CS408) Data Mining / Machine Learning (CS373)

Mathematics & Advanced Topics

Calculus III (MA261) Linear Algebra (MA351) Statistics (STAT351) Probability (MA416) Discrete Maths (CS182)

Customer-Facing & Transferable Roles

Don's Appliances

May 2024 – Aug 2024

Delivery Installation Technician

  • Managed logistics and performed precise technical installations at client locations, emphasizing attention to detail.
  • Maintained high customer satisfaction through clear communication and professional problem-solving on-site.
Visit Website

Portman's Farm Market

May 2021 – Feb 2023

Baker

  • Executed time-sensitive food production schedules, demonstrating a reliable and strong work ethic in a fast-paced environment.
  • Managed inventory and adhered to strict quality control standards for baked goods.
Visit Website

NRGize Cafe

Feb 2023 – Aug 2023

Barista

  • Provided friendly, efficient service to a high volume of customers, managing cash and processing orders accurately.
  • Quickly learned new processes and trained junior staff on customer service and product preparation.
Visit Website

Technical Skills

Core & Systems

C/C++SwiftPythonJavaJavaScriptGo Linux/UNIXMalloc/FreeFlex/BisonDockerDevOps/CloudBash

Frameworks & App Dev

SwiftUIReact.jsDjangoUnityMVVMiOS Development REST APIsNode.jsSpring Boot

Data & Tools

SQL/PostgreSQLCoreDataGit/GitHubAgile/Scrum GitHub ActionsKubernetes/OpenShiftArtifactory

Design & Soft Skills

DaVinci ResolveAdobe Creative SuiteProject ManagementUX/UI DesignPublic Speaking TeamworkGraphic DesignVideo Editing

Interests

Outside of my work in software and design, I’m driven by creativity, discipline, and community. Whether it’s pushing limits in the gym, building something tangible from LEGO bricks, or cheering on Pittsburgh sports, I’m constantly seeking growth and experiences that challenge me both mentally and physically.

Weightlifting

I weightlift both as a hobby and a competitive pursuit. As a USAPL powerlifter, I’ve learned the value of discipline, consistency, and setting measurable goals. The focus and confidence I’ve built in the gym carry over into my work and projects, helping me tackle challenges with persistence and a growth mindset.

Boxing

As an officer in the Purdue Boxing Club, I use boxing to build strength, discipline, and cardio, while motivating others to stay consistent and push their limits.

Sports & Pittsburgh

Die-hard Pittsburgh sports fan, no shame about it. Whether it’s yelling at the Steelers, cheering on the Penguins, or defending the Pirates, I love the city’s energy, resilience, and pride. Always up for chatting about college or pro sports!

Snowboarding

I love the slopes and exploring new mountains. I’ve always been a snowboarder first… but I suppose I can tolerate skiers.

LEGO Collecting

I recently got into LEGO collecting and love the creativity, display, and puzzle-like aspect of building. It's been a great way to de-stress and enjoy a relaxing hands-on hobby.

Traveling

Exploring new places fuels my curiousity. I thrive on the thrill of engaging with different cities, diving into new cultures, and tasting every cuisine the world offers.

Video Editing

I enjoy turning stories into visuals—editing workout and sports content that blends music, movement, and creativity.

Let's Connect

I'm always open to meeting new people and expanding my network! I welcome connecting to discuss tech, collaborate on fun projects, or just share ideas. Feel free to reach out directly!

pate1919@purdue.edu

412-874-6095