Ibtehaz Utsay

About Me

I’m drawn to complex systems, human behavior, and the uncomfortable gap between how things are designed and how they’re actually used. I’ve worked across large platforms and small teams, and taught coding to students from communities historically excluded from tech. It keeps me honest about what actually matters, and skeptical of conclusions that arrive too easily.

A computer would deserve to be called intelligent if it could deceive a human into believing that it was human. - Alan Turing

Technical Skills

Languages

Python JavaScript / TypeScript Java C++ C# SQL

ML & Data

TensorFlow PyTorch Scikit-learn Pandas NumPy ETL Pipelines

Cloud & DevOps

AWS (EC2, S3, Lambda) Docker Kubernetes

Web

React Next.js Node.js WordPress

Tools

Git Jira Tableau Unity Figma Canvas LMS

Projects

JAMMY

Built and evaluated a real-time music recommendation system to study how algorithmic transparency shapes user perception.

HCI Research React User Studies

Kinetic Arena

Physics-based combat game in Unity focused on control responsiveness and player perception, featuring custom magnetokinesis mechanics and behavior-driven enemy AI.

Unity 3D C# Game Design

PlayPy

Built a browser-based Python execution environment in vanilla JavaScript to support interactive lessons on OOP, data structures, and algorithms.

JavaScript Ed-Tech Web APIs

Instagram Profile Redesign

High-fidelity prototype investigating user control and reversibility in profile customization, focusing on mental models and error recovery.

Figma HCI Research UX Design

J2C: Java to C Compiler

Implemented a source-to-source compiler translating a subset of Java into C, with an emphasis on parsing, abstract syntax trees, and low-level code generation.

C Compilers Parsing

The Jedi Council

Developed a Star Wars–themed blog using Laravel and Tailwind with a clean MVC structure and responsive layout.

Laravel Tailwind CSS MySQL

Crypto Tracker

React-based web application for real-time cryptocurrency tracking, integrating live APIs and interactive data visualizations.

React REST APIs Data Viz

Experience

Associate Technical Project Manager @ Internet Brands

Apr 2021 – Jan 2023 | Los Angeles, CA
  • Led technical requirements, sprint planning, and design reviews for analytics and ad-tech platforms across WebMD, ApartmentRatings, and Avvo, serving 80M+ monthly users.
  • Defined SQL/NoSQL data contracts and ETL validation rules for 100M+ daily events, improving reliability and reducing latency.
  • Deployed tracking pixels, server-to-server conversions, and header bidding integrations that increased attribution accuracy by 40%.

Curriculum Developer @ edX

Feb 2023 – Aug 2023 | Remote
  • Authored full-stack web development modules (JavaScript, Node.js, SQL) for university bootcamps and integrated content with Canvas LMS.
  • Defined requirements for AI-assisted grading tools using NLP/ML concepts, reducing manual grading time by 30%.

Software Engineer Intern @ GameStar+

Sep 2020 – Feb 2021 | Remote
  • Built and optimized RESTful API endpoints, reducing response times by 15%.
  • Analyzed telemetry and bug patterns to verify critical patches and enhance product stability.

Senior Coding Instructor @ Job Corps (U.S. Department of Labor)

Feb 2025 – Present | Los Angeles, CA
  • Built interactive Python and front-end code playgrounds rolled out to three Job Corps centers; mentored student hackathon teams building API-driven projects using Git workflows.
  • Delivered curriculum in web development, data science, and AI readiness; automated weekly performance analytics using Pandas/Matplotlib for data-informed interventions.

STEM Educator @ Los Angeles Unified School District

Sep 2023 – Jan 2025 | Los Angeles, CA
  • Founded a robotics lab, securing $8K in grants and delivering C++ and robotics curriculum aligned with NGSS for 50+ students.
  • Implemented data-informed instruction practices that increased first-generation student college acceptance to 72% (vs. 47% district baseline).

z/OS Mainframe Apprentice @ IBM

Jan 2023 – Apr 2023 | Remote
  • Gained hands-on experience with z/OS, JCL, and mainframe operations in an enterprise environment.
  • Assisted in system monitoring, batch job scheduling, and troubleshooting legacy infrastructure.

Education

Master of Science in Computer Science

Georgia Institute of Technology | December 2026

Relevant Coursework: Machine Learning for Trading (ML4T), Robotics: AI Techniques, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Video Game Design (VGD)

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

California State University, Northridge | May 2022

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