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I am a high achieved fourth year Software-Engineering student who is enthusiastic and passionate about programming. Developing new and innovative software to facilitate people's lives is my goal and why I love software development.

My journey in Software Engineering has been fueled by a singular goal: creating software that's efficient and life-enhancing. The ICPC competition sharpened my algorithmic skills, while my internship at Volvo Car Corporation provided a deep dive into large-scale software development. One of my proudest achievements was developing an innovative object detection model for self-driving race cars. For me, software isn't just about coding; it's about solving challenges and making a lasting impact.

Virgil (Zhihao) Xing

402256886 [email protected]

Career Objective

High achieved fourth year Software-Engineering student seeking a back-end position where I can apply my knowledge of software developing and problem-solving skills. I aim to contribute to the team which focuses on developing adaptive and applicable software.

Education

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Mar 2020 - Nov 2023

Diploma in Professional Engineering Practice

University of Technology Sydney (UTS)

Major in Software-Engineering

Currently achieving a 6.04/7 GPA (Distinction average)

• High Distinction in Database Fundamentals
• High Distinction in Data structure & Algorithms
• High Distinction in Software Engineering Studio
• High Distinction in Deep Learning and Convolutional Neutral Network
• High Distinction in Software Design Studio
• High Distinction in Machine Learning
• High Distinction in Software Architecture

Skills

Languages

Mandarin (Chinese) – Fluent

English – Fluent

Programming and Software Developing

• Java Development: Proficient in Spring, SpringMVC, Mybatis, and web development.
• Python: Experience with Django and simple machine learning implementations.
• Frontend: Familiarity with HTML, ElementUI, VUE.js, and Axio.
• Web Development: Experience developing REST APIs and testing with tools like Postman.
• Data Structure & Algorithms: Completed 100+ questions on Leetcode.
• Database Management: Experience with MySQL and Workbench.
• Machine Learning: Knowledge in both Machine Learning and Deep Learning.

Transferable Skills

• Quick learner with a proactive approach.
• Proficient in internet research and information sourcing.
• Experienced in multicultural collaboration, showcasing leadership and innovative thinking.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY

Volvocars Software Engineering Internship Volvocars Asia-Pacific Headquarters Nov 2022 – Feb 2023

Role: Software Engineering Intern

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborated closely with the software development team to assist in building and optimizing functionalities for various in-house applications.
• Engaged in debugging sessions, successfully identifying and resolving coding errors that improved application performance and user experience.
• Participated in agile sprint planning, stand-ups, and retrospective meetings, providing insights and updates on assigned tasks.
• Assisted senior developers in code reviews and integration testing, ensuring the quality and reliability of software releases.
• Developed and enhanced software documentation, which involved updating user manuals and maintaining technical specifications for future reference.
• Conducted research on emerging technologies and best practices to keep the development process updated and efficient.
• Fostered strong relationships with cross-functional teams including QA, UX/UI designers, and product managers, ensuring smooth communication and timely delivery of tasks.

Capstone Project – UTS Motorsports Autonomous University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Mar 2023 – Dec 2023 (Expected)

Role : Computer Vision Engineer

Project Overview: Part of the UTS Motorsports software team with a primary focus on advancing computer vision techniques for autonomous vehicles. Key responsibilities revolve around the development and refinement of algorithms, primarily for cone detection and depth estimation.

Key Responsibilities:

Algorithm Development: Innovated and designed the cone detection algorithm. The algorithm's purpose was to identify and locate racing cones in diverse environments, ensuring the autonomous racing car navigated the course accurately.

Depth Estimation:

Took the lead in developing a depth estimation algorithm, essential for the car's safety and performance. This algorithm aids the vehicle in understanding and gauging its surroundings, vital for optimal speed and course navigation.

Research & Innovation:

Proposed and introduced a revamped network structure based on the yolov5s architecture. This innovative approach greatly improved the algorithm's accuracy and speed, making real-time processing more efficient.

Collaboration: Worked closely with software developers, machine learning specialists, and automotive engineers to integrate and test the algorithms on the actual racing car, ensuring seamless functionality.

Continuous Testing: Regularly performed rigorous testing and validation of algorithms in simulated environments and on the physical racing car. Analyzed results and iterated improvements to ensure optimal performance.

Reflection 1:

During my internship, a department that has nothing to do with me came to me, hoping that I could develop a script for them to process Excel files. At the time, I had major work tasks unfinished, but they seemed eager for me to help them. After some thought and evaluation, I predict that developing such a script will take me a lot of time. In the end, I decided to deny their request.

I was flattered when they first contacted me because I felt considered capable and qualified to do this. However, when I realized I was running out of time, I felt a little anxious. I don't want to disappoint them, but I also know I have other responsibilities. In the end, I decided to turn them down with some guilt and concern that they might misunderstand me.

On the positive side, I realized my time management and task evaluation abilities. Rather than accepting assignments blindly, I chose to assess my abilities and current workload. On the negative side, I may have lost opportunities to work with other departments, as well as opportunities to showcase my skills.

From this experience, I realized the importance of open communication. It might be easier for them to understand my decision-making if I could communicate my work schedule and time constraints to them more clearly. Also, I also recognize the limitations of being an intern and that more time and experience may be needed to handle situations like this.

This experience made me realize my strengths and limitations. In the future, I will pay more attention to communication with other departments in order to better coordinate and balance the work. At the same time, I also need to learn how to better assess the difficulty and time required for tasks.

In order to avoid similar situations from happening again, I plan to improve my communication skills, especially when evaluating and accepting tasks. And update my work progress regularly so that other departments can understand my work load. Finally learning more time management and task evaluation skills to help me balance work better.

All in all, while I declined their request, the experience provided me with an opportunity to learn and grow.

Reflection 2:

During my internship, I took over a project with the goal of optimizing a multi-terminal control system for the company's test vehicle parking lot. However, one of the major problems I faced was that most of the developers who were responsible for the project had left and the documentation of the program was severely lacking.

After the initial introduction to the project, I felt very anxious and restless. The lack of adequate documentation cost me a lot of time in understanding and continuing to develop the project. At the same time, I was also feeling a little frustrated as I realized that this project could have gone much smoother with full documentation.

On the positive side, this experience taught me the importance of project documentation and the value of communication between teams. On the negative side, I encountered a lot of unnecessary roadblocks on the project due to lack of effective documentation and handoffs.

The continuity and stability of the project depends heavily on good documentation and effective task handover. This experience underscores how important it is to maintain complete and updated documentation when there is regular turnover in the team.

This experience made it even more clear to me that regardless of the size of the project, it is important to maintain detailed and complete documentation and ensure adequate task handover when team members change. This way, new members can more easily integrate into the project and continue to advance the work.

In order to avoid similar problems in future work, I plan to always ensure that detailed documentation is maintained and updated in any project. And promote and emphasize the importance of documentation in the team. When team members change, create a detailed handover plan that ensures new members understand their responsibilities and the ins and outs of the project. Although this challenge brought short-term troubles, it also provided me with valuable experience and profound lessons.

Cover Letter

Dear Sir or Madam,

I came across your enticing graduate program tailored for fresh software engineering graduates.

As a recent graduate from UTS, I've had the privilege of get myself in 12 weeks of hands-on experience in software engineering. This exposure honed my skills, particularly in backend development for enterprise-scale software projects. I'm confident that this background equips me to maximize the benefits of your program. I've elaborated on my qualifications in relation to your selection criteria below.

A commitment to ethical conduct and the highest standards of professional accountability

During my internship at the software department of Volvo Car Company, I was initially tasked with reviewing and understanding the existing codebase. While going through it, I identified a segment of code that seemed to consume excessive memory and operate at a reduced speed. Recognizing the potential improvement, I approached my leader with an optimization proposal. Being a newcomer, I was apprehensive, thinking my observations might be overlooked or deemed inconsequential. However, to my surprise, my leader acknowledged the merit in my suggestion. He agreed that the method I proposed would optimize the system but also expressed concerns about modifying the source code of such a large-scale project. Although it was a daunting task to bring up the issue, I believe prioritizing efficiency and the product's performance was the right call. This experience reinforced my commitment to ethical conduct and maintaining the highest standards of professional accountability.

The ability to engage with a creative, innovative and proactive environment

During my internship, I was once delegated to assist the financial department. There, I encountered a challenging Excel task that involved intricate merging and modifications. The conventional methods of handling it would have been time-consuming and laborious. Recognizing the tedious nature of the task, I saw an opportunity to innovate. Drawing upon my programming skills, I realized that Python was an optimal solution for file processing challenges like this. With the requirements in mind, I developed a Python script tailored to the task at hand. Not only did this drastically expedite the process, but the script also served as a reusable tool for similar future assignments. The time-saving potential of my solution was evident, and my leader lauded my proactive approach. This experience epitomizes my capability to engage and thrive in a creative and innovative environment, constantly seeking opportunities to streamline processes and add value.

Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate both with other engineers and with stakeholders from different fields.

During my internship, I took charge of an outsourced project concerning a parking lot management system. Upon reviewing the code, I discerned that the development framework in use was outdated, posing high maintenance costs. Additionally, several logical issues were apparent. My leader, recognizing the importance of addressing these concerns, scheduled a meeting with the IT department responsible for the outsourced project. They wanted me to share my insights. In the meeting, I articulated the challenges within the project, emphasizing the high maintenance costs due to the old framework and pinpointing the logical issues that could lead to potential problems. Additionally, I stressed the lack of adequate testing before project completion. I didn't just highlight the problems; I also offered my suggestions on how they might be addressed. This direct interaction with a different department underscored my capacity to communicate efficiently, not just with fellow engineers but also with stakeholders from various fields. While the feedback might have been tough for some to digest, my clear and honest communication paved the way for potential improvements and collaborations.

Demonstrated ability to use and manage information

During my internship, I was tasked with developing a download functionality for a website. Initially, I found myself at a loss, and my colleagues, preoccupied with their assignments, couldn't spare the time to assist. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, I turned to online resources for guidance. I diligently scoured Google for relevant information and began to deep-dive into GitHub, seeking projects with similar functionalities to learn from. By analyzing the code and understanding the nuances from various repositories, I managed to piece together the required knowledge. This self-sourced information became instrumental in implementing the download feature for our website. Not only did I successfully complete the task, but I also demonstrated an adeptness at effectively using and managing information, particularly when faced with challenges. This experience stands as testament to my ability to harness information from diverse sources and apply it constructively to solve problems.

The ability to manage your own performance in a professional environment.

When I embarked on my internship journey, initial feelings of apprehension engulfed me. Being an in-school intern, doubts regarding my capability to fulfill company assignments weighed heavily on my mind. However, my leader swiftly noticed my trepidation and acted to dispel it. With his unwavering support, he steered me through the complexities of enterprise-level development, emphasizing the importance of a growth mindset and continual learning. With his guidance, I realized the value of embracing challenges and seeking assistance when needed. This changed perspective led me to be more proactive in approaching tasks, asking pertinent questions, and seeking feedback to improve continuously. Over time, I became adept at managing my performance, ensuring that I met professional standards while continuing to learn and grow. I understand now that while initial fears are natural, effectively managing one's performance and progress in a professional setting is crucial to personal development and success.

A demonstrated ability to work as part of a team and to show leadership when required.

During my time at the company, the department made a decision to re-outsource a project due to the plethora of issues encountered with the previous one. Given my familiarity with the initial project, I was entrusted with the responsibility to architect the new version. Drawing upon my knowledge and experience, I meticulously drafted the software architecture, incorporating class diagrams and other structural outlines. Recognizing the importance of ensuring this new project avoided the pitfalls of the previous one, I proactively convened a meeting with the team. In the session, I presented the new architecture and underscored the need for adopting the latest frameworks in our design. I also emphasized the significance of a decoupled front-end and back-end structure to facilitate easier maintenance down the line. This proactive approach, coupled with clear communication, showcased not only my ability to work seamlessly within a team but also to step up and lead when the situation demanded. My actions exemplified that while collaboration is essential, there are moments when taking initiative and showing leadership is paramount to ensuring project success.

If you would like me to attend an interview, please contact me on this address or call me on 0402256886.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Virgil