Available · MSc CS (AI), Leiden University

Nithin Raju

Embedded Systems/Networking/AI

Building intelligent infrastructure systems through low-level engineering and machine learning — from kernel-space debugging on enterprise WLAN stacks to transformer-based generative recommenders.

Focus
Embedded × AI
Stack
C / Linux / PyTorch
Based
Leiden, NL
Status
Open to roles 2026
/ About

An engineer working across the systems–AI boundary.

I'm a software engineer with a background in embedded Linux, enterprise networking, and low-level firmware. I previously worked at embedUR Systems on enterprise WLAN platforms — debugging kernel panics, memory leaks, multicast instability, VLAN edge cases, MTK driver integrations and SmartCast packet delivery on Ruckus enterprise access points running OpenWrt.

I'm now pursuing an MSc in Computer Science with an AI specialization at Leiden University, where my work spans transformer-based generative recommenders, reinforcement learning, and LLM evaluation for high-stakes domains.

The thread connecting all of it: building software that is fast, correct, and observable — whether it lives in kernel space or in a training loop.

Current interests
  • Embedded Linux
  • Enterprise WLAN systems
  • Networking & distributed systems
  • Reinforcement Learning
  • Generative recommender systems
  • LLM evaluation
  • Intelligent infrastructure
  • High-performance software
/ Selected work

Projects across systems, ML and infrastructure.

A subset of work spanning generative recommenders, reinforcement learning, LLM evaluation, embedded vision and on-chain infrastructure.

id_01Generative Recommenders

TIGER

Transformer-based generative recommender system using RQ-VAE semantic tokenization for sequential recommendation on Amazon review datasets.

  • Implemented RQ-VAE semantic ID tokenization end-to-end
  • Trained transformer for sequential next-item generation
  • Built ablation studies and evaluation pipelines
PyTorchTransformersRQ-VAEAmazon Reviews
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id_02RL Research

PPO Reinforcement Learning

Proximal Policy Optimization implementation with detailed analysis of training dynamics, reward convergence, and stability on classic control benchmarks.

  • From-scratch PPO implementation
  • CartPole training and reward convergence analysis
  • Visualization of policy and value-function dynamics
PyTorchGymnasiumNumPy
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id_03LLM Research

LLM Evaluation — Medical Plain-Language Rewriting

Evaluation framework comparing GPT-4 with open-source LLMs on rewriting medical text into plain language while preserving clinical meaning.

  • Semantic retention scoring across model families
  • Hallucination detection and severity tagging
  • Readability metrics on patient-facing rewrites
GPT-4Open-source LLMsPython
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id_04AI Product

Round

AI-powered bill splitting application with receipt OCR, voice command parsing and direct bunq banking integration.

  • Receipt OCR pipeline and itemized parsing
  • Voice command intent parsing for splits
  • bunq API integration for real settlements
PythonOCRbunq API
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id_05Blockchain Infra

E-Waste Recycling Incentives

Blockchain-based incentive platform on the Solana ecosystem that tokenizes verified e-waste recycling actions.

  • Token issuance against verified recycling events
  • Backend infrastructure and program integration
  • On-chain reward accounting
SolanaRustBackend
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id_06Web3 Civic

Crowdsourced Incident Reporting

Crowd-sourced incident reporting portal with on-chain verification on Avalanche / XDC.

  • On-chain anchoring of report integrity
  • Crowd verification and reputation flow
  • Web3 wallet integration
AvalancheXDCSolidity
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id_07Embedded × CV

Smart Vehicle Monitoring

Real-time accident-prevention system combining OpenCV-based hazard detection with Arduino sensor input.

  • ML-based hazard detection on live video
  • Arduino sensor fusion and alerting
  • Embedded real-time processing loop
OpenCVArduinoPython
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/ Trajectory

Engineering and research timeline.

  1. 2024 — Present

    MSc Computer Science · AI Specialization

    Leiden University

    Graduate research and coursework focused on generative recommenders, reinforcement learning and LLM evaluation methodologies.

    • TIGER — RQ-VAE + transformer recommenders
    • PPO experiments and reward convergence analysis
    • LLM evaluation for medical plain-language rewriting
  2. 2022 — 2024

    Software Engineer

    embedUR Systems · Ruckus enterprise WLAN

    Worked on enterprise access point firmware and OpenWrt-based platforms.

    • Debugged kernel panics, memory leaks and firmware crashes
    • MTK driver integration and VLAN edge cases
    • SmartCast packet delivery and multicast stability
  3. 2020 — 2024

    Bachelor of Engineering · Computer Science

    Mepco Schlenk Engineering College

    Graduated with 83.5% and awarded Best Outstanding Student of CSE — 2024.

    • Best Outstanding Student of CSE — 2024
    • Hackathons, blockchain systems and IoT projects
    • Leadership roles in NSS and Institute of Engineers — CSE
  4. Highlights

    Hackathons & Recognition

    Selected achievements
    • Best Outstanding Student of CSE — 2024
    • RHCSA Certified
    • PLI Blockathon 2022 — 6th place
    • PSG iTech National Hackathon — 7th place
    • bunq 7.0 Hackathon — participant
    • Solana Superteam NL Ideathon — participant
/ Toolkit

Technical surface area.

Systems
  • C01
  • C++02
  • OpenWrt03
  • Linux04
  • Networking05
  • GDB06
  • Wireshark07
  • Bash08
AI / ML
  • PyTorch01
  • Transformers02
  • Reinforcement Learning03
  • scikit-learn04
Development
  • Python01
  • Git02
  • Docker03
  • JavaScript04
/ Notebook

Engineering and research notes.

A working notebook of debugging journeys, paper reproductions and systems deep-dives.

  • SystemsDebugging kernel panics in OpenWrt
  • RLPPO convergence: when the policy stalls
  • MLRQ-VAE tokenization for sequential recommenders
  • DriversMTK Wi-Fi driver debugging notes
  • NetworkingEnterprise multicast traffic handling
  • RLReproducibility in RL experiments
/ Contact

Open to systems, infrastructure and applied AI roles.

Reach out for research collaboration, engineering roles or technical conversation.