ZACH RUSSELL

Projects and Passions

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Work History (Eligible to work in the U.S. with no restrictions)

April 2024 - Present

Outlier AI – Austin, Texas

Developed and optimized prompt submissions to enhance AI model performance and accuracy.
Conducted thorough testing and debugging of prompt submissions, ensuring functionality and originality.
Analyzed user feedback and data to continuously improve the prompt submission process.
Utilized Python, Java and JavaScript to build a wide variety of unique code samples for training.

July 2022 - Present

R&R Data Consulting LLC, Lead Software Engineer – Austin, Texas

Designed and developed agenda monitoring software and search tools. Built robust web scraper using Python BeautifulSoup and Requests library with fully integrated AWS database. Designed and implemented React front-end with date filtering and keyword search capabilities using NoSQL
Led meetings with potential clients. Prepared project demonstrations to sell project

May 2022 - August 2023

Unity Game Platform Development Intern, Aristocrat Technologies – Austin, Texas

Developed scalable UI and Unity software in C# within an Agile environment
Conducted heterogeneous computing research, identified ways to implement CUDA/OpenCL on internal software
Created data collection tools and visualizations in Python to create comprehensive benchmarks for RTP analysis

May. 2022 - Aug. 2022

Blockchain Technology Research and Development Intern, Aristocrat Technologies - Austin, TX

Used Solidity to develop smart contracts, digital tokens, NFTs, and full stack cryptocurrency wallets for company demos
Researched all domains of blockchain technology and how it can be applied to business models, presented findings to executives
Collaborated with other R&D teams : exposure to development of Pytorch-based Live Dealer Computer Vision model, Gaming Behavior detection research, NFC/RFID communications, Finite State Machine generator
Utilized Kanban framework and provided extensive documentation through Confluence. Reported research and development progress to other teams through daily meetings

August 2021 - May 2022

TEACHING ASSISTANT, UT AUSTIN

Lead weekly discussion sections reinforcing recent course material. Focused on
finding different approaches to portraying discrete math principles.
Conducted weekly office hours and answered questions on a class discussion board

November 2018, January 2021

ANIMATION AND APP DEVELOPMENT, COOLMAN COFFEEDAN

Developed IOS application using Xcode/Swift to share artists animations over IMessage
Created WhatsApp sticker extension application in Android Studio using Java for sending artists animations through messages
Remotely managed app code signing, acquired Apple Developer publishing certificate and maintained/pushed new versions of app to Google Play store and IOS App Store

November 2018, Decmber 2020

FREELANCE ANIMATION/VIDEOGRAPHY, VARIOUS CLIENTS

Used expertise in animation and video production to create commercials, music videos and social media content for a wide range of companies and individuals. Developed and utilized soft skills used for collaboration and communicating ideas to clientele.

Personal Projects

Github Link

Tekken Replay Analyzer

Video Demonstration

Trained YOLOV5 model to detect player inputs on screen through a custom dataset
Utilized Pytesseract OCR model to read frame information
OpenCV to pre-process frames, significantly improving model accuracy
Pandas to localize frame information and MoviePy to return gameplay errors to user

Door Biometric System

Optimized facial recognition computer vision model to detect differences between faces in a custom dataset using OpenCV. Unlocked door deadbolt through Raspberry Pi GPIO using servo and 3d printed parts
Developed custom greetings through text-to-speech API. Created remote door controls and monitoring interface on Flask server
Provided internet access by passing traffic through a reverse ssh tunnel on a VPS using autoSSH and HAProxy

Wireless Mailbox System

Setup OVH server to run flask application handling message submission/scheduling, stored data with SQAlchemy
Created user page with HTML/CSS/Javascript to submit and format customized messages
Utilized microcontroller and ESP8266 to receive messages through HTTP GET. Displayed through IL9341
Hosted web server on microcontroller to configure mailbox WLAN settings. Communicates with HTTP POST

Unity Multiplayer Chase Game (Avoid Dad 3)

Created a 3d world where players can participate in a 3v1 chase with complex movement options
Implemented LAN connectivity and game hosting that supports team selection and match configuration
Implemented Netcode client side prediction to reduce latency in gameplay

AI Video Generator

OpenAI’s api to create a narrative, segmented text with NLTK, and generated images with dalle-2 from segments
TTS API audio is merged with Dalle images using a video editing Python module
Updated Tik Tok selenium library to allow for automatic uploads, utilized Instagram and Youtube API to complete
a completely independent content creating/uploading program

Ethereum GoFundMe

Created an ethereum smart contract using Solidity that allows users to send funds to a project that can be collected by an administrator. Fund withdrawal is restricted to the wallet address that initially deployed the contract through a Python script utilizing the Brownie framework.

National Park Pollutant Data Tool

Designed and developed a HTML web scraper application using Python and Crontab to automatically collect air quality index, pollutant concentrations and weather data from Mount Rainier national park. Added an additional visualization tool that allows a user to observe the relationship between pollutants and weather conditions.

Unity HighScore Game (Avoid Dad)

Designed and developed a multi screen 3d high score game handling complex physics bodies and dynamic light/audio interactions. Added variable movement conditions for player and enemies for engaging gameplay and encouraging replayability. Created in-game assets using blender
Created a global leaderboard using a Dreamlo REST API that allows players to compete within the game

IOS Platformer App (Rooftop Tax Evaders)

Designed and developed an endless runner IOS platformer app using Swift, Spritekit and Xcode. Focused on optimizations for improving runtime and streamlining physics simulations for a variety of characters and obstacles
Acquired certificates and implemented Push Notifications and In-App Purchases using Apple Storekit
Created multiple audio streams for music and sound effects to create an engaging auditory experience as well as a custom made notification sound to keep users playing