Hello, I'm Eric Ortiz

An Electrical & Computer Engineer dedicated to turning ambitious ideas into engineered systems.


About Me

Eric Ortiz

I didn’t grow up taking apart radios or dreaming in ones and zeroes. What I did know was that I liked solving problems, and somewhere along the way, that led me to Electrical and Computer Engineering.

I challenged myself throughout my five years at university, pushing to learn as much as I could. I graduated at the top of my department, earning the highest GPA in Computer Engineering and receiving the department’s top academic award. I also had the opportunity to lead the largest student-led ECE project the university had seen at the time, which pushed me to grow as both an engineer and a collaborator.

I’m a hands-on learner who likes solving real problems, and I take pride in doing things right, not just getting them done. Whether it’s a finicky circuit or a weird bug in the code, I welcome the challenge and bring focus, patience, and a genuine curiosity for how things work and how to make them better.

I didn’t begin this path with a clear plan, but I’ve grown into a field that challenges me, inspires me, and gives me the chance to build meaningful things.

Oh, and if you somehow missed the big shiny text at the top of this page: once again, hello, I’m Eric Ortiz, your potential next best hire.

Education

Master of Science in Electrical & Computer Engineering

Lewis University

Graduated: May 2025

Concentration in Smart Grids and Power Systems. Focused on integrating embedded systems with AI and real-time power control. Completed masters project focused on implementing an AI control system for an autonomous EV. (GPA: 4.0)

Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering

Lewis University

Graduated: May 2024

Minors in Mathematics and Mathematical Modeling. Developed strong foundation in embedded systems, computer architecture, and digital design. Graduated magna cum laude (GPA: 3.8).

My Engineering Philosophy

I believe the best engineers are system-level thinkers : people who can see both the nuts and bolts and the big picture. For me, great engineering isn’t just about solving a problem; it’s about solving the right problem.

Featured Projects

D.A.V.I.D. (Dynamic All Electric Vehicle with Intelligent Devices)

An AI-powered electric go-kart with real-time obstacle detection, built from the ground up. Led a 5-person team through development, then evolved the system into a graduate-level smart vehicle platform featuring depth-camera processing and multi-object tracking.

About This Project

Autonomous Drone Integration Collaboration

A crossdisciplinarity volunteer project exploring whether autonomous drone programming could fit into Lewis University’s Computer Science curriculum. Built and simulated autonomous missions using DroneKit in Python on a custom quadcopter platform.

About This Project
Resistor Sorter – Computer Vision Hardware Prototype

Resistor Sorter – Computer Vision Hardware Prototype

A Raspberry Pi–powered system designed to automatically sort resistors using computer vision and OpenCV. Built for fun, functionality, and frustration-reduction as lab assistants, the project gained traction and placed 2nd at the IEEE EIT 2023 Poster Competition.

About This Project

My Skills

C++ C Python Embedded Systems Control Systems Analog/Digital Circuit Design PCB Schematic Capture Power Systems Sensor Integration Oscilloscope and Testing Equipment Use Electronic Systems Testing Agile Workflows GitHub STM32CubeIDE Verilog VHDL ArmV8 x86 Assembly

Experience

Engineering Graduate Assistant

Lewis University – ECEN Department

Jan 2022 – May 2025

  • Maintained and calibrated 3D printers, CNC milling machines, and PCB mills for student and faculty projects.
  • Led hands-on project demonstrations and lab tours during outreach events to promote ECEN programs to prospective students and industry visitors.
  • Assisted students in troubleshooting embedded systems, PCB prototypes, and microcontroller programming for class and capstone projects.
  • Served as a department-appointed tutor, offering guidance in digital systems, circuit analysis, and programming logic.
  • Maintained and updated ECEN lab hardware, including oscilloscopes, power supplies, and programmable logic controllers (PLCs).
  • Managed lab inventory and assisted faculty in maintaining documentation for student access, equipment logs, and hardware checkout protocols.

Research Assistant

Lewis University – ECEN Department

Jan 2023 – May 2025

  • Developed a real-time Smart Lab Monitoring System using Raspberry Pi and I2C sensors to track current and device status across multiple lab stations.
  • Engineered facial recognition pipelines with OpenCV and Docker for secure, automated student identification and lab access control.
  • Built a Django-based local server to aggregate data from sensors, cameras, and compliance systems using real-time JSON communication protocols.
  • Integrated programmable multimeters and safety-band compliance systems for live grounding and voltage monitoring across lab equipment.
  • Implemented a multi-camera setup per station to track student presence, motion, and equipment interaction in real time.
  • Synchronized data streams between Raspberry Pis, lab laptops, and centralized servers to create a unified, responsive monitoring dashboard.

I Could Be Your Next Great Hire

Ready to bring my skills and experience to your team.

Let's Connect

Got a question, collaboration, or opportunity? Drop me a line below.