Ethan Phillips
Software Engineer
Fargo, ND · Open to Relocating
View ResumeI'm a Computer Science student at North Dakota State University, graduating December 2026. I'm drawn to problems I don't fully understand yet. There's something satisfying about starting confused and slowly building understanding until everything clicks. That drive is what pulled me toward embedded systems and backend work, where I get to understand how things work at every level.
Currently, I'm a Software Engineering Intern at Dynon Avionics where I work to help develop features for the SkyView HDX. Prior to Dynon, I worked as a Digital Fabrication Lab Technician at NDSU and an IT Intern for Bismarck Public Schools, both providing me with collaborative work experience and opportunities to develop my technical skills.
Outside of work, you can usually find me climbing, longboarding, playing guitar, or learning Esperanto. I also serve as the treasurer for the NDSU Travel And Adventure Club, where I help organize trips and events for students.
Education
August 2022 — December 2026
B.S. Computer Science · North Dakota State University
Fargo, ND · GPA: 4.0 · Dean's List 3/3 Semesters
Relevant Coursework: Data Structures & Algorithms, Computer Organization & Architecture, Probability & Statistics, Algorithm Analysis, Theoretical Computer Science, Database Systems
Experience
March 2025 — Present
Software Engineering Intern · Dynon Avionics
Develop and maintain safety-critical avionics features for the SkyView HDX flight display in C++ on Linux. Built a Qt-based instrument simulator to enable hardware-independent testing, and contribute to containerized build and deployment workflows in an Agile environment.
September 2024 - March 2025
Digital Fabrication Lab Technician · North Dakota State University
Supported students and faculty in operating 3D printers, resin printers, and laser engravers, troubleshooting hardware and software issues to minimize equipment downtime.
September 2024 - March 2025
Information Technology Intern · Bismarck Public Schools
Deployed and configured AV equipment across classrooms at Century High School, including projectors and ceiling speakers. Diagnosed and repaired laptops district-wide, providing hardware and software support for students and staff across the Century feeder schools.
Projects
2025 — Present
InkSlate · E-Ink Smart Notification Device In Progress
Designing and building a low-power IoT notification device from the ground up — including custom PCB layout in KiCad, embedded firmware in C, and wireless data syncing to an ESP32 microcontroller.
2026 - Present
AI Power Grid Design Tool · NDSU Capstone Project In Progress
Architecting the database layer and backend services for an AI-powered electrical grid modeling tool. Implemented a RAG pipeline using LangGraph and the Claude API with pgvector for semantic search, enabling engineers to query infrastructure data in natural language.
2025
StudyBuddies · Study Partner Matching Web Application
Built a full-stack study partner matching platform with Angular, Django, and Firebase. Designed the matching algorithm based on course schedules and study habits, with real-time data sync and user authentication.