Strong Software Development Skills Lead to Position at Amazon Web Services
Through a successful co-op at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and project-based courses, Soumya Hukkeri, MS’25, information systems, developed such a solid software engineering skill set that AWS hired her for a full-time position.
As a graduate student at the Northeastern University Arlington campus, Soumya Hukkeri, MS’25, information systems, secured a competitive co-op at Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Seattle where she performed so well that she was offered a full-time job as a software design engineer.
The co-op experience, along with the project-based courses and the faculty support she received while at Northeastern gave her the skills she needs to excel in her new role. But there may have been a bit of destiny at work as well. Hukkeri grew up in a family of software engineers where dinner table conversation was often about software innovations. She earned her undergraduate degree in computer science at the KLS Gogte Institute of Technology in Karnatake, India before attending Northeastern.
The MS in information systems program offered the right blend of technical depth and practical relevance. Additionally, the Arlington campus was particularly appealing to Hukkeri because of its close proximity to the technology industry adjacent to Washington, D. C.
At Northeastern, she tailored her coursework to software development, which aligned with her career goals. Hukkeri combined core coding classes with subjects like business analysis, which helped her understand the full lifecycle of software systems from ideation to deployment. Courses such as Application Engineering and Development, Software Engineering, Database Management, and Prompt Engineering prepared her for real-world industry experiences by offering case studies and methodologies that closely mirrored industry practices.
The co-op program at Northeastern was one of the most transformative experiences in Hukkeri’s academic journey. With the support of Laura Meyer, associate co-op advisor, she secured the highly competitive software development engineer internship at AWS. Meyer’s practical advice and consistent encouragement helped Hukkeri stay grounded and confident throughout the demanding application process, which included preparing for technical interviews while balancing coursework demands.
At AWS, Hukkeri was part of the EC2 Load Balancing team, working on a project that focused on optimizing and automating internal processes. She had the opportunity to build a full-scale tool from scratch using Java that included designing, developing, and deploying it independently. She found it both humbling and empowering to be entrusted with that level of responsibility.
During her time at AWS, she had the incredible opportunity to work alongside some of the brightest minds in the industry. The learning went far beyond just technical skills. She attended several workshops, live tech talks, and internal sessions that featured senior engineers, product leaders, and visionaries from across AWS. One of the highlights was meeting AWS CEO Matt Garman, who shared how his journey at Amazon began as an internship.
Hukkeri feels fortunate for the support of mentors throughout her time at Northeastern, including Daniel Peters and Mengistu Tessema, adjunct faculty members. She served as an instructional assistant for both.
One of the most fulfilling aspects of Hukkeri’s time at Northeastern was the opportunity to work on a variety of innovative projects, both individually and as part of a team. A project particularly close to her heart focused on a career mentorship platform for students, which she developed on her own as part of her business analysis course. She conceptualized the platform from the ground up, exploring product vision, strategy, market fit, pricing, and UI/UX design. The goal was to create a tool to help students connect with mentors to navigate their careers more effectively. Working independently allowed her to apply both creative and analytical thinking in a holistic way.
She also collaborated with peers on Culinary Vertex, a comprehensive AI-powered, multi-agent platform designed to improve efficiencies in the restaurant industry. The team integrated generative AI and prompt engineering to automate tasks such as order processing and customer engagement. This project was highlighted at the Northeastern Arlington Project Showcase.
Hukkeri says the projects helped her learned key skills such as time management. It was common to work under tight deadlines while learning new tools. To manage this, her teams focused on clear communication, regular check-ins, and effective division of responsibilities with faculty guidance. These experiences also taught her how to adapt and persevere.
She says she benefited from the deep sense of community and belonging at Northeastern, particularly for international students. The cultural events, student organizations, and collaborative environment made her feel included, supported, and inspired.
Hukkeri was honored to represent the graduating class as a student speaker at Commencement and to have received the Outstanding Student Teaching, Service, and Leadership Award from the College of Engineering and the Information Systems Award.
Looking ahead, Hukkeri aspires to build a career that blends software engineering and product development, with a strong focus on solving real-world problems through thoughtful, scalable solutions.
See Related News: Arlington Graduate Turns Co-op Into Dream Job at Amazon