Karim Abou El Kheir

Six things I designed, built, and got working on real hardware.

Computer engineering senior at Cal Poly SLO — firmware, analog circuits, digital logic, and mechanical design. Most recently at Ouster, writing hardware-in-the-loop tests for lidar sensors.

Highlight Six projects across four disciplines

Work

Full history on the resume

Embedded Software Engineer Intern

OusterSummer 2026
  • Built a Python hardware-in-the-loop test suite that simulates GPS signals over UART to validate lidar I/O timing, internal clock synchronization, and pulse output across all configurable modes.
  • Eliminated 20% pulse loss in frequency readings by engineering a pull-up circuit and implementing high-rate sampling with custom Python edge detection.
  • Automated deployment to the CI rack using Dockerized Jenkins jobs triggered on merge requests, static network routing, and a custom 3D-printed hardware mount.

Low Voltage Engineer

Cal Poly Prototype Vehicles Laboratory2025 – Present
  • Designed and implemented a low-latency, browser-accessible video feed using a Raspberry Pi, camera module, and Flask server for real-time remote operation.
  • Developing a real-time UDP file-transfer and video-streaming system that segments large data into custom-headered packets and reassembles them at the receiver.

Co-Founder

Hive Parking2025 – 2026
  • Built an online marketplace connecting students with local driveway owners, covering the listing, booking, and payment flows end to end.
  • Ran market research and partnered with Cal Poly transportation services to position the platform as an alternative to parking permits.

CAD Team Lead

FIRST Robotics, Spartatroniks 35122019 – 2022
  • Led a design team in 3D modeling a competition-ready robot in SolidWorks, ranking in the top 1% of FIRST teams worldwide.
  • Oversaw the full design process from initial sketch to final assemblies, ensuring manufacturability and compliance with FRC guidelines.
← All projects