Dominic Stefani's Resume

Projects

Retrieval-Augmented Personal AI Chatbot (FastAPI + Sentence Transformers) Try it here

• Architected a RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) pipeline using sentence-transformers to vectorize a curated dataset of professional and technical Q&A pairs, enabling grounding for an AI assistant
• Engineered a semantic retrieval engine utilizing scikit-learn cosine similarity to perform real-time vector searches against precomputed embeddings for high-accuracy context injection
• Optimized LLM performance by injecting retrieved context into OpenAI prompt templates, ensuring responses remained factually grounded in personal experience while mitigating hallucinations
• Developed a resilient FastAPI backend featuring asynchronous request handling, CORS configuration, and custom IP-based rate limiting to manage API costs and prevent automated abuse
• Built a responsive vanilla JavaScript frontend with custom error handling for HTTP 429 (Rate Limit) and 500 status codes, providing a seamless, chat-like user experience

Real-Time CV-to-Game Control Pipeline (MediaPipe + UDP + Pygame) See on Github

• Developed a real-time obstacle-avoidance game using Python and Pygame, controlled entirely through hand gestures instead of a keyboard
• Implemented MediaPipe hand-tracking to detect open/closed hands, relative hand height, and directional gestures for player movement
• Built a UDP socket communication layer to stream gesture commands from the computer-vision module to the game loop with minimal latency
• Designed a responsive gesture-mapping system supporting walking, sprinting, strafing, and directional control through intuitive hand motions
• Engineered the overall architecture as two decoupled processes (vision + game), enabling modularity, smooth performance, and real-time interaction

Full-Stack Secure Password Manager See on Github

• Designed and developed a full-stack password manager with a Flask backend and a responsive front-end using modern HTML, CSS, and vanilla JavaScript, integrating CryptoJS for client-side cryptography
• Architected a relational SQLite database with multiple tables to efficiently store user and password metadata while maintaining strict data integrity
• Implemented robust user authentication and validation workflows, including salted password hashing, encryption keys, and secure key management
• Applied best-practice cryptography methods: all sensitive data (passwords, secrets, keys) encrypted/decrypted client-side; no sensitive information stored in plaintext on the server
• Ensured secure client-server interactions and mitigated common web vulnerabilities

Experience

BS, Computer Science, BYU-Idaho, Expected Grad: Apr. 2026

Combined software engineering principles with AI/ML techniques in academic and personal projects, creating functional applications grounded in real-world problem-solving, rather than purely academic exercise.

K-12 Math Tutor, Mathnasium, Oct. 2025 - Jan. 2026

• Provided one-on-one and group tutoring for K–12 students, covering k-12 math
• Monitored student progress, identified areas of weakness, and implemented targeted strategies

Sales Representative, Zeo Energy, Summer 2021, 2022, 2023

• Generated over $1.1M in revenue through direct residential solar sales across three summer seasons
• Trained new and experienced sales representatives and led individual and group meetings, reinforcing sales strategies and improving team effectiveness

Volunteer Representative, Church of Jesus Chist of Latter-day Saints, July 2019 – July 2021

• Navigated sensitive, faith-based conversations with people from diverse backgrounds, using strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Set, tracked, and achieved personal and team goals while working within a highly structured global organization

Skills

• Programming Languages: Python, C#, Kotlin, JavaScript, SQL
• Frameworks & Libraries: PyTorch, TensorFlow, FastAPI, Flask, Cryptography, Unsloth, PyGame
• Platforms & Tools: Windows, Linux, MacOS, Microsoft Office, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, Cinema 4D, SolidWorks, GIMP, Adobe Photoshop
• Interests & Projects: AI/ML applications, full-stack development, embedded systems, video games, fitness