Samuel
Figueroa.
Computer Engineering student at UIC, originally from Maracaibo, Venezuela. I like building nice experiences.
Engineering with
passion & purpose.
Growing up, I always had an entrepreneurial spirit, from launching a clothing brand at 17 to building a vaping company across multiple cities.
At UIC, I've had the privilege of working on impactful projects, redesigning the Chemistry Department's website, pursuing a vision around autonomous drones and racing RC cars, and mentoring kids at summer STEAM camps.
I enjoy the overlap between software engineering, design thinking, and hardware. Simply, I just love building things that people would love.
Computer Engineer · UIC chicago
Things I've built & shipped.
A collection of projects spanning software, hardware, design, and entrepreneurship.
Parametric LEGO Sculpture
A parametric sculpture designed in Fusion 360 and brought to life through 3D printing.
ECE 454 RC Car
Built a fully functional RC car as part of ECE 454 at UIC, integrating hardware control systems with embedded firmware.
AUFFLINE
A fully custom, overengineered MP3 player built from scratch — because using a phone felt too easy.
Raspberry Pi Displays
Built a cloud-controlled featured content system for UIC's Chemistry Department using Raspberry Pis and automated scripts.
UIC Chemistry
Complete redesign of UIC's Chemistry Department website, improving usability and visual identity.
CTA Widget
Designed and built the first-ever iOS widget for the Chicago Transit Authority showing real-time ETA for train stations.
Maximilian
Materialization of a luxury brand packaging concept, bringing a premium identity from concept to physical reality.
MiningDose
2-rig setup with 20+ AMD RX GPUs for Ethereum proof-of-work mining during the crypto boom.
STEAMBassadors
Summer camp mentor inspiring kids to discover their passion for STEAM fields through hands-on projects.
VapedoseVE
Built a vaping company importing US market trends into Venezuela, expanding to three cities with delivery infrastructure.
OverdoseVE
Founded a clothing brand at 17 inspired by floral fabrics that weren't yet locally available in Maracaibo.
Recognition & credentials.
Certificates and letters earned along the way.
Certificates
Recognized as an Apple Teacher for demonstrating proficiency in using Apple products and apps to enhance teaching and learning.
My toolkit.
From low-level hardware to high-level design, I work across the full stack.
Pursuing a B.S. in Computer Engineering. GPA: 3.70/4.0
Complete redesign of the Chemistry Department website. Implemented WordPress with custom workarounds to modernize a 10-year-old site.
Lab coordinator role. Managed hardware, digital signage systems (Raspberry Pi), and tech support.
Internship at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering. On-site in Chicago, Illinois.
Mentored kids in STEAM disciplines: Sphero robotics, 3D printing, TinkerCAD.
Founded and scaled a vaping company to three cities in Venezuela. Managed product, delivery logistics, and social media.
Co-founded a streetwear brand from scratch: branding, manufacturing, photoshoots, and sales.
Let's build something
together.
Whether you have a project idea, want to collaborate on the CTA widget, or just want to say hi. My inbox is open.