PETER CAO

Software Engineer

I build robust, scalable, and beautiful web applications with a focus on clean code and great user experiences.

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ABOUT

// Get to know me

I'm a software engineer who enjoys turning complex problems into clean, reliable web experiences. I recently graduated from Virginia Tech, where I worked on system optimization, automation tools, and user-interface development.

// Quick stats

Projects built5+
Internships2
Degree earnedB.S.

Currently pursuing

M.S. Computer Science

// Profile

Washington, DC

United States

Open to relocation

Work style

Remote
Hybrid
On-site

Languages

EnglishFluent
VietnameseNative
React.js
JavaScript
TypeScript
Python
MySQL
Node.js
Docker
Java
Git
JUnit

The Odd One

Personal project · Latest release · Aug 2026

I recently created The Odd One, the newest addition to my growing collection of software projects.

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// Hobbies

PROJECTS

// Things I've built

A collection of personal projects and experiments. Each one taught me something new and pushed me to grow as a developer.

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// Explore more

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// All projects

01 / 02
01

The Odd One

A real-time multiplayer party game where players answer prompts and try to find the imposter.

Vue 3TypeScriptNode.jsWebSocketsTailwind

2026

Web application

Private / pending
02

Web Portfolio

A responsive portfolio built to showcase projects, experience, and research through a focused interactive interface.

React.jsTypeScriptNext.jsTailwindMotion

2025

Web application

GitHub
03

Traffic Dashboard

An interactive traffic visualization dashboard with authentication, data uploads, and dynamic environment displays.

React.jsNode.jsExpressMySQLChart.js

2025

Web application

GitHub

// Project archive

(04)

Earlier work / kept for the record

01

eCommerce Website

Web application202402

Todo List

Web application202303

Predict Bullying Model

Machine learning202304

Food Swipe

Experiment2022

EXPERIENCE

// Work + academics

Professional roles, research, teaching, and academic milestones.

// Filter experience

2026

03 entries

Jan 2026 - Present

M.S. in Computer Science

George Mason University/Fairfax, VA
Education

// Contributions

  • +Pursuing a Master of Science in Computer Science with interests in artificial intelligence, computer vision, graphics, and machine learning.
Computer ScienceArtificial IntelligenceComputer VisionMachine LearningSystems

May 2026 - Aug 2026

AI Technical Contributor

Handshake AI Fellowship/Remote
Contract

// Contributions

  • +Developed Python solutions for data processing, database recovery, validation, and automation tasks using SQLite, JSON, and structured datasets.
  • +Evaluated multimodal AI model outputs across image, video, document, and reasoning tasks, identifying instruction-following failures, reasoning errors, and data quality issues.
  • +Designed and executed tests to verify solution correctness, edge cases, and expected outputs before submission.
  • +Applied detailed evaluation rubrics to compare model responses and produce technical justifications for AI model benchmarking and quality assurance.
PythonSQLiteJSONAI EvaluationData ProcessingTesting

Jan 2026 - Apr 2026

Accounting Assistant

Eden Financial & Accounting Services/Falls Church, VA
Part-time

// Contributions

  • +Prepared monthly and annual expense reports for individual and business clients, organizing financial information into clear and accurate records.
  • +Entered, categorized, and maintained 50+ financial transactions and records each month using Microsoft Excel.
  • +Reviewed financial records for missing, incorrect, or inconsistent information before reports were finalized.
  • +Organized and validated client expense data to maintain accurate and consistent financial records.
Microsoft ExcelData EntryFinancial ReportingQuality Assurance

2025

02 entries

May 2023 - May 2025

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

Virginia Tech · CS Department/Blacksburg, VA
Part-time

// Contributions

  • +Mentored more than 100 students across Computer Organization, Computer Systems, and Comparative Languages courses.
  • +Hosted office hours and provided one-on-one debugging support for programming assignments involving C, x86 assembly, RISC-V, Rust, and Haskell.
  • +Helped students troubleshoot low-level programming, memory, assembly, systems, and programming-language concepts.
  • +Facilitated online course discussions and answered technical questions to reinforce concepts outside the classroom.
Cx86RISC-VRustHaskellDebuggingMentoring

Aug 2021 - May 2025

B.S. in Computer Science

Virginia Tech/Blacksburg, VA
Education

// Contributions

  • +Completed coursework in data structures and algorithms, artificial intelligence, databases, web development, computer graphics, networks, and computer systems.
  • +Earned Dean's List recognition across multiple semesters while completing research, teaching, internship, and software engineering experiences.
AlgorithmsArtificial IntelligenceDatabasesComputer SystemsSoftware Engineering

2024

02 entries

Aug 2024 - Dec 2024

Software Engineer Co-op

Peraton/Blacksburg, VA
Internship

// Contributions

  • +Contributed to the development and maintenance of a cyber-threat intelligence platform using Java and containerized services.
  • +Diagnosed and resolved CI/CD build failures involving Maven and JUnit, improving build reliability and reducing deployment friction.
  • +Resolved more than 100 dependency vulnerabilities by identifying outdated packages and upgrading affected dependencies.
  • +Supported the migration of Apache Kafka from ZooKeeper-based coordination to KRaft, removing legacy configuration and validating the updated deployment.
  • +Worked with Docker and Docker Compose to configure, test, and troubleshoot services across the development environment.
JavaMavenJUnitDockerDocker ComposeApache KafkaGitLab CI/CD

Jan 2024 - Dec 2024

Rural Trash Collection

Virginia Tech · IDPro/Blacksburg, VA
Research

// Contributions

  • +Developed a robotic system designed to automate trash collection in rural environments.
  • +Built Python and ROS components for robot control, sensor integration, and autonomous operation.
  • +Integrated computer vision and hardware components using OpenCV and Raspberry Pi for environmental perception and remote monitoring.
  • +Researched navigation, obstacle avoidance, and path-planning approaches to improve autonomous operation and reliability.
PythonROSOpenCVRaspberry PiRoboticsComputer Vision

2023

02 entries

Sep 2023 - Dec 2023

SMART Research

Virginia Tech · IDPro/Blacksburg, VA
Research

// Contributions

  • +Developed a low-cost smart-home research toolkit using Raspberry Pi, Arduino, and connected sensors.
  • +Integrated RFID-based components for identifying and interacting with objects in the smart-home environment.
  • +Built a Swift mobile application for remote device control and real-time monitoring.
  • +Connected physical hardware with the mobile interface to support experimentation with accessible smart-home technologies.
SwiftArduinoRaspberry PiRFIDXcodeIoT

Sep 2023 - Nov 2023

Frontend Developer Intern

Card Isle/Blacksburg, VA
Internship

// Contributions

  • +Developed and improved production-facing web interfaces using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Alpine.js.
  • +Modernized existing Alpine.js components and fixed front-end issues across existing pages.
  • +Improved search, button, layout, and page interactions to create a more consistent user experience.
  • +Built Playwright automated tests to verify important user flows and prevent regressions after interface changes.
HTMLCSSJavaScriptAlpine.jsPlaywrightFrontend Development

2021

02 entries

Jun 2021 - Aug 2021

Team Member

Taco Bell/Chantilly, VA
Part-time

// Contributions

  • +Served more than 100 customers per day while meeting a two-minute drive-through service target in a fast-paced environment.
  • +Collaborated with team members to maintain efficient service during high-volume periods.
  • +Developed early experience in customer service, communication, teamwork, and working under time constraints.
Customer ServiceCommunicationTeamwork

Aug 2017 - Jun 2021

Advanced Studies Diploma

Centreville High School/Clifton, VA
Education

// Contributions

  • +Participated in Math Honor Society, Computer Science Honor Society, and Centreville Esports.
MathematicsComputer ScienceEsports

CONTACT

// Let's build something great together

I'm always open to discussing new opportunities, collaborations, or ideas involving software and technology.

// Get in touch

// Send a message

// Currently available for

Full-time roles

Open to new opportunities

Internships

Spring & Summer 2027

Freelance projects

Open to contributions

Collaborations

Open to ideas

Response time

Usually within 24–48 hours

Design & build by Peter Cao / 2026