Computer Science @ UT Austin
Carlos Cantu
UT Austin Computer Science student engineering performant, reliable software — from low-level algorithms to scalable systems.
About
About Me
I am a Computer Science student at UT Austin with a deep interest in software engineering, systems programming, and algorithmic design. For me, writing code is about diving into the mechanics of a problem and putting in the focused effort required to build something robust. I enjoy the process of taking complex, open-ended challenges and translating them into clean, maintainable architecture.
My work ethic was heavily shaped by my time in competitive robotics. That experience taught me the value of relentless iteration and grit. It meant long hours testing edge cases, debugging on the fly, and pushing through failures until the software successfully bridged the gap between a theoretical idea and a functioning machine. I learned that good engineering isn't just about having a clever concept on a whiteboard; it requires the persistence to keep digging into a problem until it is fully solved.
I apply that same strategic mindset to everything I build, including my recent work programming a custom chess engine. Chess requires anticipating massive decision trees and making smart architectural trade-offs—skills that translate directly to designing scalable software. Whether I am exploring low-level systems, architecting new applications, or tackling a difficult bug, I am driven by a love for problem-solving and the hard work it takes to build reliable software.
Education
University of Texas at Austin
B.S. Computer Science
Expected May 2029
Relevant Coursework
Experience
Robotics leadership, in the pit and in code
Four years captaining two competitive robotics teams, writing the autonomous and vision code that actually has to work on the field.
FRC Team 8625 — MHS Eagles
Captain & Lead Programmer
Led a cross-functional engineering team through four competitive build seasons, directing both the strategic vision and the software architecture for a robot that achieved three State qualifications and a district championship.
- Software Architecture & Control: Architected a modular Java codebase using a command-based programming paradigm, implementing advanced control systems including PID-driven odometry, LimelightLib vision tracking, and PathPlanner trajectory execution.
- Autonomy & Simulation: Engineered deterministic autonomous routines utilizing motion profiling and closed-loop sensor feedback to maximize scoring during the critical 15-second autonomous windows. Managed the software lifecycle using Git, validating complex kinematic logic in simulation environments weeks before the physical chassis was assembled.
- Systems Integration & Telemetry: Bridged the gap between software and mechanical teams by managing CAN bus network traffic and defining sensor requirements. Engineered real-time diagnostic dashboards to stream high-frequency sensor data and vision targeting metrics for rapid, data-driven debugging.
- Agile Leadership & Outreach: Directed technical triage during competitions, deploying code hotfixes under strict 10-to-15 minute match turnarounds. Mentored a sub-team of 3-4 student developers on version control and subsystem ownership, while organizing district-wide STEM outreach events — including Trunk-or-Treat booths and presentations across the Rio Grande Valley — that doubled the organization's membership.
FTC Team 18734 — Eclipse
Captain & Lead Programmer
Directed the technical development and competitive execution for a FIRST Tech Challenge team across seasons from Freight Frenzy through Decode, securing a regional tournament victory and a State qualification.
- Developed a real-time computer vision pipeline using OpenCV to detect and localize randomized game elements, dynamically feeding coordinate data into the robot's autonomous scoring sequences.
- Implemented reliable, encoder-driven odometry and automated alignment protocols to ensure high repeatability during unassisted operation.
- Managed the end-to-end engineering lifecycle of the robot, guiding a small cross-functional team through rapid iterative prototyping, testing, and system integration between tournament stages.
Target
Sept 2025 – PresentSmall Format Team Member
- Maintain an organized, well-stocked sales floor to provide a positive shopping experience for customers.
- Coordinate with the team to efficiently complete tasks.
- Deliver friendly, attentive customer service through direct guest engagement.
Whataburger
July 2023 – Aug 2025Certified Restaurant Trainer
- Began as a team member providing customer service and kitchen support.
- Promoted to Restaurant Trainer after one year, responsible for onboarding, coaching, and mentoring new employees.
Projects
Featured work
A UCI chess engine written from scratch in Rust, running live in your browser.
OTEngine
A UCI chess engine written from scratch in Rust — play it live, right here.
A traditional (non-neural) chess engine built from bitboard board representation up through search and evaluation: magic bitboards for O(1) sliding-piece move generation, negamax with alpha-beta pruning, iterative deepening, principal variation search, a Zobrist-hash-keyed transposition table, null-move pruning, late move reduction, and quiescence search with static exchange evaluation. Compiled to WebAssembly and running live in a browser Web Worker so the UI never freezes mid-search.
Skills
Tools I reach for
Languages
Developer Tools
Systems & Platforms
Robotics & Vision