Aidan Gonzales
Aidan Gonzales - Professional headshot

Aidan Gonzales

Electrical & Computer Engineering @ UT Austin

I design and build at the intersection of hardware and software — from embedded systems to full-stack web apps.

Embedded Systems
Computer Architecture
Full-Stack Development
Signal Processing

About

A bit about me

I'm an Electrical & Computer Engineering student at UT Austin with interests spanning embedded systems, computer architecture, and software engineering. This is placeholder copy — replace it with your own story.

When I'm not in the lab or writing code, you can find me [your hobbies here]. Based in Austin, TX.

Portfolio

Featured Projects

A selection of my technical projects spanning embedded systems, computer architecture, and hardware/software integration.

LiDAR-based Camera Autofocus System

A custom autofocus system for a Sony a6700 camera using a DToF LiDAR sensor, ESP32, and WiFi communication with FreeRTOS. Implemented advanced filtering techniques and reverse-engineered Sony's communication protocol to enable reliable autofocus. Employed RTOS-compliant practices for task management, synchronization, and resource optimization.

  • ESP32
  • FreeRTOS
  • C/C++
  • DToF LiDAR
  • WiFi
  • Real-Time Systems

Custom Flight Computer

Designed and tested a 4-layer STM32-based flight computer PCB in KiCad for a competition rocket. Responsible for microcontroller interfacing, sensor integration, and power management. Defined SPI, UART, and I2C communication protocols for data transfer between components and other subsystems.

  • STM32
  • KiCad
  • PCB Design
  • Microcontroller
  • SPI/UART/I2C
  • Power Management

Closed-Course Autonomous RC Car

An autonomous RC car that navigates walled courses and overtakes competitors without human intervention. Integrated TFLuna LiDAR and IR sensors for obstacle detection, implemented PD control loops for motor and steering actuation, and coordinated communication between dual microcontrollers via a custom CAN network.

  • MSPM0
  • TFLuna LiDAR
  • CAN Bus
  • PD Control
  • Custom RTOS
  • C

Fully-Pipelined LC-3 Processor Simulation

A 5-stage pipelined software simulation of the LC-3 microprocessor architecture, accurately modeling clock-cycle timing and state transitions. Implemented data and control hazard handling through data-forwarding and intelligent stalling to ensure correct instruction execution.

  • C
  • Computer Architecture
  • Pipeline Simulation
  • Processor Design

Microcontroller Video Game: Zelda Recreation

A recreation of The Legend of Zelda on a microcontroller-based system with 2700+ lines of custom C++ code. Designed and interfaced all hardware and software components including custom graphics drivers and PCB layout. Won 1st place in class-wide competition.

  • C++
  • Microcontroller
  • Custom Graphics
  • PCB Design
  • Hardware/Software Integration

Custom Electric Longboard

A fully custom-built electric longboard with integrated battery, electronic speed controller, and motor. Designed mechanical layout, ensured component compatibility, optimized solder joints, and 3D-modeled and printed a hardware enclosure. Performed rigorous testing to ensure efficiency, reliability, and safety.

  • Electronics
  • 3D Design
  • 3D Printing
  • Soldering
  • Motor Control
  • Battery Management

Education

Academic Background

My formal education in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TXFall 2024 - Spring 2028

Bachelor of Science in Electrical & Computer Engineering

GPA:3.984

Relevant Coursework

  • Computer Architecture
  • Real-Time Operating Systems
  • Embedded Systems
  • Digital Logic and Design

Planned Coursework

  • VLSI
  • Embedded Systems Lab

Experience

Work & Leadership

My professional experience and leadership roles in engineering teams.

  1. Electronics Team Member

    Longhorn Rocketry Association

    Fall 2025 - Present
    • Conducting component selection, schematic design, and layout review to meet all constraints
    • Working with the electronics team to establish efficient communication between the flight computer and the ground station
    • Working within the flight computer team to design, create, and fully test the flight computer prior to launch
  2. Embedded Software Development Intern

    Emerson Electric

    Summer 2026
    • Intern on the Controller scrum team that writes industry-standard software for Emerson's DeltaV controllers
    • Migrated controller build environment from Windows to Linux using containerization (Docker) in WSL
    • Improved controller build times by 82.5%, reducing build times from ~40 minutes to ~7 minutes
  3. Electronics Team Lead

    Longhorn Rocketry Association

    Summer 2026 - Present
    • Architecting the electronics bay and the ground station
    • Conducting schematic and PCB layout reviews, ensuring the team stays on track and complies with competition constraints
    • Working with the hardware design team to define physical constraints for the electronics bay
    • Managing task delegation, timelines, and budget for the team

Let's Connect

I'm always open to discussing new projects, opportunities, or just chatting about engineering. Feel free to reach out!