Developing Projects That Create a Significant Impact
Ujjawal Shrivastava, MS’25, software engineering systems, had multiple years of industry experience before pursuing a master’s degree. His passion for creating projects that make a significant impact, mixed with his ambition for taking on leadership roles, led him to the software engineering systems program.
Ujjawal Shrivastava, before coming to Northeastern University, worked in the software industry for seven years. He specialized in backend systems and cloud infrastructure and found fulfillment working on projects that solved real-world problems. Ujjawal additionally enjoyed having the opportunity to mentor others while working. As the tech industry evolved, Ujjawal’s career ambitions started to evolve as well. He wanted to build and sharpen his existing skills, expand his knowledge of emerging technologies and prepare himself to take on leadership roles in the future – which is why Ujjawal decided to pursue a master’s degree in software engineering systems. He chose Northeastern specifically because of experiential learning and the vast career development opportunities the program offers.
Endless Possibilities in the Classroom
One course in particular has been helpful to Ujjawal in his career endeavors. “Program Structure and Algorithms”, taught by Teaching Professor Yusuf Ozbek, changed Ujjawal’s approach to tackling system design for the better. He said Professor Ozbek explained complex problems by breaking them down, which helped immensely in grasping the content. The class helped Ujjawal build a solid foundation in system design, and that has given him a competitive edge in the job market.
During the “Program Structure and Algorithms” course, Ujjawal completed two projects that sparked his enthusiasm for practical problem solving. The first project entailed building an emergency evacuation system that could be applicable to the City of Boston. For the project, Ujjawal developed backend logic, wrote custom algorithms, and adapted existing ones to model optimized evacuation routes. This opportunity allowed Ujjawal to apply his classroom learning to a scenario with real-world stakes.
The second project was an event share application for Northeastern students. This application allowed users to view upcoming campus events along with details like time, location, and a direct Google Maps link for easy navigation. The project focused on improving student engagement through accessible information.
Ujjawal and his classmates with Co-op Advisor Gail Schwartz.
Additionally, Ujjawal attributes Associate Co-op Coordinator Gail Schwartz as a key to his success during co-op. He thanked her for her help during the co-op preparation course, where she offered resume reviews, interview preparation, and one-on-one support. All of these tools helped Ujjawal immensely during his co-op search and while he is currently on co-op.
Co-op at TriStar AI
Ujjawal is currently completing his co-op at TriStar AI as a computer monitoring and software intern. TriStar AI is an industrial software company specializing in advanced computer vision and AI solutions that empower manufacturers to monitor their production lines in real time. By automating visual inspection and detecting defects early in the process, TriStar AI helps reduce waste, improve product quality and enhance workplace safety. In this role, he monitors manufacturing data, builds monitoring systems and analyzes video frames to detect defects in production. Ujjawal has appreciated the opportunity to work in a role that he is passionate about and in an environment that motivates its employees to flourish.
Ujjawal and his co-workers at TriStar AI at a work outing.
One of the rewarding aspects of this co-op for Ujjawal has been stepping into the role of a mentor for other interns. At TriStar AI, he had the opportunity to mentor new interns and help them navigate through the company’s tools and workflows. He said, “It gave me a sense of responsibility and leadership, which was the experience I was looking for.”
Reflections
Ujjawal is preparing to graduate in December of 2025. He said the software engineering systems program has taught him to think more strategically and collaboratively. The courses have taught him how to think beyond writing code and have deepened his knowledge of design in the engineering industry. While his co-op experience taught him how to apply the knowledge he has gained from the classroom to the real world. He has additionally discovered his interest in automation and cloud-native development while at Northeastern and aims to pursue a career after graduation that incorporates these interests.
He believes being a part of the software engineering systems program has led to both development in his career and in himself. Ujjawal said, “A huge part of why I chose Northeastern was because this program felt like a place where I wouldn’t just study, I’d grow too.”