Computer Engineering · UTSA · Class of 2025
Edward Serna
Embedded systems engineer with a research background in autonomous drones, on-device machine learning, and full-stack IoT development.
Embedded Systems
Register-level firmware, real-time control loops, and bare-metal C/C++ across MSP430, ESP32, ARM Cortex-M, and custom PCBs.
Machine Learning
On-device inference from scratch — fixed-point arithmetic, STFT feature extraction, and neural networks on microcontrollers with kilobytes of RAM.
Full-Stack & Systems
End-to-end applications from ESP32 firmware to Next.js dashboards, with real-time data pipelines, REST APIs, and cloud deployment.
About
Background
I'm a Computer Engineering graduate from UTSA where I spent 3.5 years as a research assistant in the Unmanned Systems Lab building the ModiFly autonomous drone platform. My work lives at the intersection of hardware and software, writing firmware that talks to real sensors, designing systems that make decisions in real time, and building the tooling that makes complex systems observable and controllable.
Outside of embedded work I enjoy building full-stack applications that close the loop between hardware data and human interfaces. I'm currently seeking full-time roles in embedded firmware, hardware-software integration, or systems engineering.
Experience
Professional Foundations
Undergraduate Research Assistant
UTSA Unmanned Systems Lab
- Led development of the ModiFly autonomous drone platform using C++, MAVLink, and ArduPilot over 3.5 years
- Built modular node-based architecture with ImGui visualization and real-time SITL simulation support
- Integrated OpenGL 3D viewer with orbit camera controls and live telemetry rendering
B.S. Computer Engineering
University of Texas at San Antonio
- VLSI design flow — Cadence Innovus, static timing analysis, CMOS transistor sizing
- Embedded systems coursework — MSP430 register-level GPIO, UART, interrupts, and IEEE 754 arithmetic
- Completed capstone-level projects in embedded ML, autonomous vehicles, and IoT systems
Work
Featured Projects
Deep Neural Network on MSP430
784-32-10 neural network implemented from scratch in C for handwritten digit recognition on a resource-constrained embedded microcontroller.
PlanterBox
Full-stack IoT hydroponic system with ESP32, Next.js, and MongoDB for real-time plant monitoring and automated nutrient dosing.
ModiFly Drone Platform
Modular C++ drone control software using MAVLink protocols with real-time OpenGL visualization and autonomous flight planning.
Autonomous Cup Car
PID-controlled autonomous vehicle with line camera vision system — fastest track time in class competition.
Music Glove Controller
Gesture-based MIDI interface using flex sensors and accelerometers on MSP430 — 3rd place in class showcase.
This Portfolio
Built with Next.js 15, Three.js, and deployed on Vercel with custom animations and dynamic project routing.
Gallery
Photos & Videos
Contact
Get In Touch
Open to full-time roles in embedded firmware, hardware-software integration, and systems engineering.
sernaedward1@gmail.com