Open to opportunities

Joseph Rusnak

@josephrusnak

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Human-centered engineering and computer science student building data-driven hardware solutions.

United States

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What I'm looking for

I seek hands-on roles building hardware and software products that prioritize user-centered design, iterative prototyping, and collaboration with cross-functional teams.

I am a human-centered engineering and computer science student focused on designing pragmatic, data-driven hardware and software solutions. I combine strong technical coursework with hands-on design work—using tools like SOLIDWORKS, Playwright, and Python—to move projects from stakeholder research to functioning prototypes.

My achievements include leading suspension design efforts for Boston College's inaugural Baja SAE car and serving as technical lead for a campus-wide digital bus signage project that integrated live transit data and an LED matrix. I prioritize iterative design, measurable user feedback, and cross-team coordination to deliver tangible results.

I bring proven teamwork from extracurricular leadership and customer-facing roles, a 3.896 GPA, and experience interfacing with industry partners and campus authorities. I am eager to contribute to engineering teams focused on product development, embedded systems, or full-stack solutions that emphasize usability and real-world impact.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Executive Board Representative

Current

MakeBC

Oct 2025 - Present (5 months)

Designed and executed interactive events (e.g., Arduino workshops, pumpkin trebuchets) and cultivated partnerships with sponsors like General Electric to secure event funding.

Event Planning Stakeholder Engagement Arduino Fundraising Community Outreach Workshop Facilitation

Current

Technical Lead, Project Head

Current

Digital Signs for Boston College Bus Stops

Oct 2025 - Present (5 months)

Led a team of 6 to gather stakeholder requirements, obtained live TransLoc data access, and engineered a Python controller using Playwright to power LED-matrix displays with real-time bus arrivals; prototype received 98.8% positive feedback from 165+ survey responses.

Python Playwright LED Matrix Integration API Integration Team Leadership Prototyping

Current

Suspension Engineer

Current

MechaEagles Baja SAE

Aug 2025 - Present (7 months)

Led analysis of 10+ past Baja SAE suspension systems and designed suspension geometry in SOLIDWORKS for Boston College's inaugural car, prioritizing flexibility and rapid iteration.

Solidworks CAD Mechanical Analysis Prototyping Team Leadership

Lifeguard

Kings Island

May 2025 - Aug 2025 (3 months)

Maintained safety for hundreds of guests across diverse aquatic environments during 10+ hour shifts through vigilant monitoring and emergency response.

Lifeguarding Emergency Response Surveillance Communication

Host / Busser

Red Robin

May 2024 - Nov 2024 (6 months)

Managed seating for 30+ tables and supported servers with bussing and sanitation to maintain fast, clean service during peak periods.

Customer Service Teamwork Time Management POS Familiarity

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Boston College

Bachelor of Science, Human-Centered Engineering; Computer Science

Grade: GPA 3.896

Activities and societies: MechaEagles Baja SAE (Suspension Engineer); MakeBC Executive Board Freshman Representative; Digital Signs for Boston College Bus Stops (Technical Lead)

Pursuing dual B.S. degrees in Human-Centered Engineering and Computer Science with coursework in calculus, linear algebra, C++, and MATLAB; member of Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program.