Alp Karalar
Software Engineer
Recent Computer Engineering graduate from Penn State University with a passion for building scalable systems and innovative solutions. Experienced in DevOps, Machine Learning, and fullstack Development, I thrive on solving complex technical challenges and delivering high-quality software.
Featured Projects
A showcase of my technical work across different domains
Automated CI/CD Portfolio Deployment
Enterprise-grade DevOps pipeline with Docker, GitHub Actions, and zero-downtime deployments
Load Balancer & Reverse Proxy in Rust
High-performance http load balancer built from scratch in rust with advanced traffic management and zero-downtime failover
Classical Music Generation with RNNs
Deep learning system for AI-powered classical piano composition using PyTorch and the MAESTRO dataset
Multi-Layer Perceptron from Scratch
Pure Python implementation of a neural network with backpropagation, built without ML frameworks
Skills & Technologies
A comprehensive toolkit built through hands-on experience and continuous learning
Languages
Frontend Development
Backend Development
DevOps & Cloud
Machine Learning & AI
Tools & Other
Experience & Education
My professional journey and academic background
Software Engineer
CurrentDementiAnalytics
- Engineered full-stack mobile application using React and Expo, integrating a 5-stage ML pipeline that analyzes audio, text, and behavioral data to provide dementia risk assessments
- Designed and implemented RESTful APIs connecting frontend mobile experience to Python-based ML algorithms trained on validated clinical research methodologies including the Boston Cookie Theft Test
- Collaborated directly with PhD researchers and clinical experts to translate complex algorithmic outputs into user-friendly mobile interfaces while maintaining medical accuracy
- Ensured HIPAA compliance and data security standards by architecting solutions on Microsoft Azure's healthcare-certified infrastructure for handling Protected Health Information (PHI)
Founder & Developer
CurrentCydoniaTech
- Founded specialized hardware-software company delivering professional-grade guitar amplification solutions at consumer prices
- Engineered custom embedded Linux system (RT Kernel Armbian) on Orange Pi Zero achieving <5ms audio latency—matching performance of professional amplification hardware costing 10-20x more
- Developed automated boot and launch sequences integrating JACK Audio Connection Kit and Guitarix for seamless, production-ready guitar processing
- Reduced barrier to entry for high-quality guitar amplification by 90% compared to traditional dedicated hardware solutions
Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
Pennsylvania State University
- Senior Capstone: Advanced Vehicle Team (AVT) Perception Department - Developed real-time computer vision models for autonomous vehicle navigation, achieving 3rd place overall in SAE AutoDrive Challenge II Competition (Year 3)
- Executive Board Member: Pi Delta Psi Fraternity & Turkish Student Association
- Relevant Coursework: Data Structures, Algorithms, Operating Systems, Computer Networks, Machine Learning, Database Systems
Lead Learning Assistant
PSU Computer Science & Engineering Department
- Led instructional operations for Computer Engineering 270: Digital Design, supporting 250+ students per semester
- Managed team of learning assistants while overseeing complete course operations including exam/lab/homework creation, grading infrastructure, and quality assurance
- Delivered lectures and created supplementary video content when primary instructor was unavailable, receiving consistent feedback for clarity and approachability
- Developed and implemented assessment materials for digital logic design and circuit analysis, ensuring alignment with course learning objectives
Software Engineering Intern & Co-op
Bakkal
- Led quality assurance initiatives by developing automated testing frameworks for multi-platform application suite (customer, driver, and merchant interfaces)
- Implemented frontend features using React and JavaScript across three distinct user-facing applications
- Collaborated with small, agile development team to rapidly iterate on features and resolve critical bugs in production environment
Get In Touch
Have a project in mind or want to discuss opportunities? Feel free to reach out!