Neha Saji Jacob
Full Stack Software Engineer
MS Computer Science student at NYU with 3+ years of experience building scalable cloud-native applications. Passionate about creating elegant solutions to complex problems.
About Me
M.S. Computer Science
New York University
3 Years Experience
Target Corporation
I'm a software engineer passionate about building robust, scalable systems that make a real impact. I combine strong theoretical foundations with practical engineering expertise.
My work spans from developing cloud-native backend services that handle millions of events daily, to building AI-powered tools that enhance developer productivity. I thrive at the intersection of systems design, distributed computing, and machine learning.
When I'm not coding, you'll find me exploring photography, contributing to accessibility research, or mentoring the next generation of computer scientists.
Technical Expertise
Languages
Backend & APIs
Frontend & UI
Cloud & DevOps
AI & Machine Learning
Work Experience
Software Engineer
TargetDeveloped scalable, cloud-native backend services using Java, Spring Boot, and microservices architecture. Built fault-tolerant data pipelines with Kafka and Redis, supporting real-time synchronization across 1,900+ stores.
- Supported 40+ internal APIs and millions of store events
- Expanded monitoring coverage by 60% across 20 critical microservices
- Reduced potential vulnerabilities by 80% through security best practices
- Top 3 and Award for Originality at Target's annual hackathon
Graduate Teaching Assistant
NYU Computer Science DepartmentAssisting with instruction, grading, and mentorship for graduate-level Data Structures and Algorithms course.
Graduate Researcher - Machine Learning
NYU Sixth SenseDeveloped ML and computer-vision algorithms for a wearable navigation system supporting accessibility and safe mobility for visually impaired users.
Selected Projects
Virtual Store Checkout Management System
Top 3 & Award for Originality - Target Hackathon
Spearheaded design and prototyping of an innovative checkout management system projected to reduce in-store wait times and improve customer satisfaction.
LLM-Based Support Chatbot
Developed an AI-powered internal tool for automating engineering service triage, enhancing developer productivity through intelligent query routing and response generation.
Wearable Navigation System
Machine learning and computer-vision algorithms for a wearable device supporting accessibility and safe mobility for visually impaired users.
Real-time Data Pipeline Architecture
Fault-tolerant, low-latency message-based data pipelines using Apache Kafka and Redis, supporting real-time synchronization across 1,900+ retail stores.
Telemetry Monitoring Platform
Built comprehensive telemetry pipelines using Elasticsearch and Grafana, expanding monitoring coverage by 60% across 20 critical microservices.
Microservices Migration
Led migration of legacy location data management systems from monolithic architecture to distributed microservices, enhancing scalability and operational efficiency.
Blogs & Interviews
Beyond the code, I spent my student years documenting the milestones and 'human stories' of the campus community. As a journalist for Pulse NITK, the campus student media body, I had the privilege of writing articles and interviewing inspiring individuals - from tech innovators and scholars to championship athletes.
Here are some of the stories I had the chance to capture.
Images courtesy of Pulse NITK
Through the Lens
When I step away from the keyboard, I love capturing moments through my camera. Photography helps me see the world with fresh eyes and find beauty in unexpected places.