Rashaad Meyer
Rashaad Meyer
Software Engineer @ South African Radio Astronomy Observatory | MScEng in Machine Learning
Get In TouchAbout Me
I am Rashaad, a Junior Software Engineer at the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) with a Master's in Machine Learning. My goal is to drive innovation and excellence in AI and software systems, applying my skills and knowledge to diverse and challenging problems.
At SARAO, I work with Python and backend microservices, contributing to the integration and frontend development of the Correlator Beam Former (CBF+) web application for controlling and monitoring radio telescopes. I also play a crucial role in the Machine Learning team, where I train image segmentation models on radio astronomy data, conduct research on various ML applications, and lead the development of the MLOps pipeline.
Previously, I interned as a Machine Learning Engineer at Sybrin, where I fine-tuned large language models using HuggingFace and PyTorch, developed custom training and inferencing pipelines, and containerized ML models with Docker for cloud deployment. I also have experience as a Software Development Engineer at Peralex Electronics, where I implemented Role-Based Access Control using Java for their Radio Spectrum Monitoring Software.
I am always eager to connect with fellow professionals, collaborate on exciting projects, and engage in discussions about AI, ML, and software development. Feel free to reach out to me for a chat or potential collaborations. Let's learn and grow together!
Work Experience
Machine Learning and Software Engineer
South African Radio Astronomy Observatory
Jul 2023 - Present · 2 yr 0 mos | Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa · Hybrid
- Enhanced user experience for telescope operators through addition of new features which required both backend (Python) and frontend development (Angular).
- Played a vital role in the development Correlator Beam Former (CBF+) MeerKAT extension, leveraging expertise in Python in device proxies and backend microservices to support the additions of Antennas to the MeerKAT telescope.
- Dockerized CAM (Control and monitoring) software for simulation and development use so that software engineers could develop while the company was moving their servers.
- Researched and prototyped machine learning algorithms for automatic observation scheduler and predictive maintenance on Radio Telescopes.
Machine Learning Engineer - Intern
Sybrin
Apr 2023 - Jul 2023 · 4 mos | Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa · Remote
- Fine-tuned large language models, utilizing the HuggingFace API and PyTorch, to increase model accuracy for specific NLP tasks.
- Developed and implemented custom training and inferencing pipelines from scratch.
- Containerized machine learning models using Docker for API deployment in the cloud.
- Contributed to the creation of a maintainable, efficient, and robust codebase by following coding standards and writing clean, modular code.
Software Development Engineer
Peralex Electronics
Apr 2021 - Apr 2022 · 1 yr 1 mo | Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa · On-site
- Worked as part of a close-knit team responsible for maintaining and enhancing Peralex's Radio Spectrum Monitoring Software, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.
- Implemented Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) within Peralex's Radio Spectrum Monitoring software using Java, effectively managing user permissions and improving system security.
- Assisted in troubleshooting and resolving any issues encountered during the development process, ensuring timely delivery and high-quality software.
- Contributed to the creation of a maintainable, efficient, and robust codebase by adhering to coding standards and writing clean, modular code.
Mechatronics Engineer - Internship
FlightScope
Jun 2019 - Dec 2019 · 7 mos | Cape Town Area, South Africa
- Developed Python scripts to analyze the club path of a golf club swing.
- Investigated limitations of Pyboard's in terms of multiple digital to analogue conversion.