Avi Varma

Avi Varma

Software Engineer specializing in 3D Simulation, Modeling & Data Science

📍 Calgary, AB, Canada

📞 (780) 747-3319

✉️ HarshvardhanV98@gmail.com

avivarma.caLinkedInGitHub

Hi, I'm Avi Varma, a passionate Software Engineer with a background in Mechanical Engineering. With a love for blending engineering principles with cutting-edge technology, I've built expertise in 3D Simulation, Modeling, and Data Science.

My journey has taken me from working on VR/AR applications that create immersive experiences, to full-stack development projects that provide robust, real-world solutions. I launched my own VR game—Crazy Golf VR—which has reached over 18,000 installs, showing my dedication to innovative and impactful projects.

Currently, I'm focused on combining my experience in software engineering with data-driven insights to build scalable and intelligent systems. I’m particularly fascinated by leveraging AI and machine learning to solve complex, real-world problems.

I believe in constantly pushing boundaries and learning new skills. Whether it’s diving into advanced data science techniques or creating tools for interactive 3D environments, I strive to keep improving and making meaningful contributions to the industry.

Technical Skills

Programming Languages

C#, C++, Python, PowerShell, Java, MATLAB, SQL, JavaScript

Frameworks & Technologies

.NET, ASP.NET MVC, Django, Flask, Unity, CUDA, OpenMP, VHDL, RESTful APIs

Machine Learning & Data Science

TensorFlow, Keras, PyTorch, scikit-learn, NumPy, Pandas, Data Analysis

VR/AR Development

Unity, Unity XR Toolkit, Photon Engine, Meta XR SDKs, Gaussian Splatting

Web Development

ASP.NET MVC, Django, Flask, RESTful APIs, JavaScript, HTML, CSS

Databases

SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL

3D Modeling & Mechanical Engineering

SolidWorks, Blender, Abaqus, Kinematics, Dynamics, Material Selection, FEA

Cloud Technologies & DevOps

Azure, Docker, Kubernetes, Ansible Tower, GitLab CI/CD, Jenkins

Collaboration & Project Management Tools

Bitbucket, JIRA, Confluence, ConnectWise, Git, GitFlow

Hardware Design & Embedded Systems

PCB Design (Altium Designer), Microcontroller Programming (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Quartus), VHDL, Verilog

Highlighted Projects

Crazy Golf VR

Crazy Golf VR

A fun and immersive VR mini-golf game available on Meta’s App Lab. Players can explore challenging levels in a realistic and visually stunning environment, complete with physics-based mechanics for a lifelike golf experience.

Challenges: Designing realistic ball physics and integrating Oculus controls.
Outcome: Over 18,000 installs with a 4.5-star rating.
Role: Lead Developer, responsible for game mechanics, UI, and overall experience design.

Technologies: Unity, C#, Oculus Integration, XR Interaction Toolkit

View on App Lab

Malaria Detection Capstone

Malaria Detection Capstone

Developed a machine learning model capable of detecting malaria from red blood cell images with 99% accuracy. The model was integrated with a web-based interface for users to interactively classify cell images.

Challenges: Achieving high accuracy with limited labeled data.
Outcome: Delivered a web-based tool used by students and researchers for educational purposes.
Role: Full-Stack Developer, focusing on model training, frontend integration, and deployment.

Technologies: TensorFlow, Keras, React, Flask, Docker

View on GitHub

TheraConnect

TheraConnect Project

A virtual therapy platform designed to provide immersive therapeutic services. Users, especially those undergoing exposure therapy, can connect with therapists in a calming virtual space for guided sessions.

Challenges: Ensuring reliable real-time interactions between therapists and patients in VR.
Outcome: Successfully completed trials with positive feedback from mental health professionals.
Role: Lead Developer, responsible for VR implementation and real-time communication features.

Technologies: Unity, C#, Photon Engine, Azure Cognitive Services

Learn More

Virtual Realty 360

Virtual Realty 360

A VR platform that revolutionizes the real estate experience by providing users with immersive 360-degree virtual tours of properties. It enhances user engagement and reduces the need for in-person visits.

Challenges: Implementing 360-degree views and ensuring smooth transitions between rooms.
Outcome: Increased engagement rates for real estate listings by 30% on partner websites.
Role: Lead Developer, focusing on 360-degree view implementation and user interaction.

Technologies: Unity, Photon Engine, Meta XR SDKs

Learn More

Professional Experience

Software Engineer | Canadian National Railway (CN Rail)

April 2022 - Present

As a Software Engineer at CN Rail, I contribute to building scalable applications and automation solutions for enterprise needs. Key responsibilities include:

  • Developed modules in C# and ASP.NET MVC for automating business workflows and integrating legacy systems.
  • Worked on SSIS (SQL Server Integration Services) to streamline data processing and migration tasks, resulting in a 30% improvement in efficiency.
  • Built OAuth 2.0 integrations for secure system interoperability, utilizing Microsoft Graph API.
  • Implemented and maintained TFS pipelines for CI/CD deployments, enhancing software delivery timelines.

Technologies: C#, ASP.NET MVC, SSIS, TFS, OAuth 2.0, SQL Server

IT Admin/Systems Engineer | Corporate Networks

June 2020 - June 2021

Managed IT infrastructure and provided client support across various industries. Key achievements include:

  • Designed and developed an Inventory Management System using SQL Server and Microsoft PowerApps, leading to improved asset tracking efficiency.
  • Engineered automated software deployment scripts using PowerShell, reducing deployment times by 50%.
  • Provided technical support and managed service requests using ConnectWise and other client management tools.

Technologies: SQL Server, PowerShell, Microsoft PowerApps, ConnectWise

Education

Westwood Community High School

High School Diploma | 2013 - 2016

Visit School Website

Courses/Activities:

  • Model UN
  • Project Kenya
  • Student Council
  • Junior Achievement (JA)

Projects/Involvements:

  • Model UN: Participated in national assemblies, promoted globally focused discussions within the school.
  • Project Kenya: Worked on raising funds to build schools in Kenya.
  • Student Council: Actively involved in leadership roles to represent student voices.
  • Junior Achievement (JA): Co-founded "Clarity," a company that developed and sold a screen cleaning solution.

University of British Columbia

B.A.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering, Minor in Computer Science

Courses/Activities:

  • Multiple Linkage System Design
  • Material Selection and Synthesis
  • Kinematics and Dynamics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Control Systems
  • Heat Transfer Analysis and Simulation
  • Computational Methods in Engineering (MATLAB, FEM)
  • Embedded System Design using VHDL and Verilog
  • Parallel Processing with CUDA and OpenMP
  • Software Design and Data Structures

Projects/Involvements:

  • Autonomous Grow Chamber Capstone Project: Designed and developed a controlled microclimate chamber for Limitless Potential Technologies Inc. This project involved custom PCB design with power regulation, LED arrays for optimized growth, real-time monitoring using microcontroller programming (C/C++), and integration of solenoids and sensors to regulate environmental conditions. Implemented PID control loops for optimal environmental parameters.
    Skills: PCB Design, Microcontroller Programming, Control Systems, Sensors Integration, PID Control
  • Material Synthesis Project: Assisted in developing a new form of concrete with enhanced durability. Conducted experiments on composite materials to evaluate tensile strength, compressive strength, and fatigue resistance, ensuring the new composite materials met desired mechanical properties.
    Skills: Material Synthesis, Mechanical Testing, Composite Materials, Experimental Analysis
  • Agricultural Robotics Club Founder - FarmBot Project: Led the implementation of FarmBot, an open-source CNC farming system. Coordinated assembly and configuration of hardware and software components, automating agricultural tasks like seed planting and watering. Conducted workshops to promote sustainable agricultural technologies.
    Skills: Automation, Mechanical Design, Sustainable Agriculture, Team Leadership, CNC Systems

University of Toronto

XR/VR Software Development with Unity

Courses/Activities:

  • Introduction to XR Development
  • Unity Fundamentals for AR/VR
  • C# Scripting for Interactive Experiences
  • Spatial Mapping and Gesture Recognition
  • Advanced XR Interaction with Unity
  • ARKit and ARCore for Augmented Reality Development

Projects/Involvements:

  • AR Application Development with ARKit: Developed an AR application using Unity and ARKit, allowing users to visualize 3D objects in real-world environments. Focused on accurate tracking, object placement, and realistic scaling for an immersive augmented experience.
    Skills: AR Development, Unity, ARKit, 3D Modeling
  • Interactive VR Experience for Learning: Built an interactive VR learning environment using Unity XR Toolkit, designed to teach users about basic physics concepts in an engaging way. Implemented user interactions with hand tracking and gaze-based selection.
    Skills: VR Development, Unity XR Toolkit, Physics Simulations, Interaction Design
  • Spatial Mapping with Meta XR SDK: Explored spatial mapping capabilities in VR by creating virtual worlds that respond to real-world surroundings. Used Unity and Meta XR SDKs to develop adaptive environments that adjust to physical obstacles and features in the room.
    Skills: Spatial Mapping, Unity, Meta XR SDK, Environmental Interaction
  • Gesture-Based Control in Virtual Reality: Implemented gesture recognition using Unity's XR Interaction Toolkit to create an intuitive interface for controlling objects in a virtual space. Designed and programmed multiple gestures to interact with objects, enhancing user engagement.
    Skills: Gesture Recognition, XR Interaction Toolkit, User Interface Design, C# Scripting

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Applied Data Science and Machine Learning

Courses/Activities:

  • Introduction to Data Science and AI
  • Python and Statistics Foundations
  • Data Analysis and Visualization (EDA, PCA)
  • Machine Learning (Supervised and Unsupervised Learning)
  • Practical Data Science (Decision Trees, Random Forests, Time Series)
  • Deep Learning (CNN, Transformers)
  • Recommendation Systems (Collaborative Filtering, Tensor-based Systems)
  • Generative AI (LLMs, ChatGPT)
  • TensorFlow and Keras for Deep Learning
  • Advanced Data Science Capstone Project

Projects/Involvements:

  • Malaria Detection Using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN): Developed a deep learning model using TensorFlow and Keras to accurately detect malaria-infected red blood cells from images. Achieved an accuracy of 99% through model optimization, data augmentation, and hyperparameter tuning. Emphasized in the capstone project as a practical solution for healthcare.
    Skills: TensorFlow, Keras, CNN, Deep Learning, Data Preprocessing, Model Optimization
  • SVHN Digit Recognition Enhancement: Enhanced digit recognition accuracy using the Street View House Numbers (SVHN) dataset. Utilized CNN architectures in TensorFlow and Keras, applying data augmentation techniques to improve model performance. Implemented k-fold cross-validation to validate the model effectively.
    Skills: TensorFlow, Keras, Image Processing, CNN, Model Validation
  • Recommendation System for E-Commerce: Built a recommendation engine using collaborative filtering and deep learning to predict product preferences. Employed Python libraries such as scikit-learn and TensorFlow to train and evaluate the model, optimizing for accuracy and user satisfaction.
    Skills: Recommendation System, Collaborative Filtering, Deep Learning, scikit-learn, Python
  • ChatGPT Integration for AI-Based Customer Service: Integrated an AI-based customer service chatbot using OpenAI's GPT-3 to assist in real-time customer interactions. Focused on natural language understanding and response generation to provide quick, automated support for common customer inquiries.
    Skills: OpenAI API, Natural Language Processing, ChatGPT, API Integration, Python

Contact Me

Email: HarshvardhanV98@gmail.com

Phone: (780) 747-3319

Location: Calgary, AB, Canada

GitHub

LinkedIn