Professional Profile
I am a computer systems engineer with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and current M.S. studies in Computer Science (Georgia Tech OMSCS, expected Fall 2026). This cross-disciplinary background means I work at the intersection of hardware and software, designing integrated embedded solutions. I specialize in real-time firmware development on microcontrollers (AVR, ARM Cortex-M), using bare-metal C/C++ and RTOS concepts to build efficient, deterministic sensor systems.
I’m proficient in C, C++, Python and familiar with tools like Qt, CMake, and Boost. My hands-on projects include a full-stack investment app (with a C++ backend) and a custom low-power IoT sensor node with tailored firmware and drivers. In fact, one career guide highlights that being “expert in C/C++, RTOS, and hardware-software integration” distinguishes a top embedded engineer, reflecting exactly the skills I apply in practice.
- Name: Yonathan (Yoni) Desta
- YOE: 4 years
- School: Georgia Institute of Technology
- Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Location: Longmont, Colorado
- Former Company: Medtronic
I also contribute to open-source embedded projects. Notably, I’ve improved perception and control modules in comma.ai’s openpilot – an open-source advanced driver assistance system. Employers value such contributions as concrete proof of practical skills and initiative. This blend of rigorous hardware-software expertise and proactive innovation positions me as a strong candidate for embedded systems engineering roles.
Skills
Computer Systems
Experience in computer systems engineering, including embedded systems, firmware development, and Linux-based platforms. Proficient in bare-metal C programming, low-level hardware interfacing, memory management, and optimization for resource-constrained environments
C
Proficient in C programming with expertise in writing efficient, maintainable, and portable code. Experienced in low-level programming, memory management, and implementing data structures and algorithms for performance-critical applications
Self-Starter
Autodidact, who takes initiative to learn new skills and independently drive projects forward
C++
Proficiency in C++ with experience using the Standard Library (STL), implementing common data structures and algorithms, and applying Object-Oriented Design principles to develop readable, portable, and maintainable code
Unit Testing
Proficient in developing and automating test cases to validate functionality, detect edge cases, and maintain quality, readable code
Web Applications
Built full-stack web applications with a focus on efficient performance and being user-friendly. Leveraged frameworks to design intuitive interfaces, and backends that meet user demands
Portfolio
Investing Web Application
The DiligentInvestor is a personal finance tool for quality investors
Single-Cycle Processor
RISC-V single-cycle processor design and implementation for Digital Hardware Design
Contact Me
Favorite Books
Fiction
- Any book by Fyodor Dostoevsky
- The Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan
- The Chronicles of Narnia - C.S Lewis
- The Hobbit, or There and Back Again - J.R.R Tolkien
Investing
- Intelligent Investor - Benjamin Graham
- One Up on Wallstreet - Peter Lynch
- Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits - Phillip Fisher
- Margin of Safety - Seth Klarman
History
- Axum - Yuri Mikhailovich Kobishchanov
- Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire - Lars Brownworth
- Defenders of the West - Raymond Ibrahim
Theology
- The Way of the Pilgrim - Anonymous
- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers - Various
- The Life of Moses - Saint Gregory of Nyssa
- Confessions - Saint Augustine of Hippo