Victor Santana's Portfolio

Hi and welcome to my website! I'm Victor Santana, a junior Computer Engineering student at Brigham Young University–Idaho, originally from Santo Domingo Este in the Dominican Republic. As a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident fully authorized to work in the United States, I am actively building a foundation to tackle complex engineering challenges. My ultimate goal is to contribute to space exploration as a NASA astronaut, a dream that drives my deep interest in aerospace, nuclear power, embedded systems, firmware, and control systems. I am dedicated to engineering highly reliable hardware and software solutions, whether that means developing critical systems for extreme environments or building practical tools to solve everyday infrastructure challenges in my home country.

Want to learn more about my background? View my resume for a detailed overview of my experience and qualifications.

I’ve always believed that hard work, respect, and humility open doors. That belief has shaped my journey from helping people as a missionary during the pandemic, to leading a team of over 20 student employees at BYU–I’s Faculty Technology Center. In my role, I’ve helped support over 300 online courses per semester, led training programs, managed custom automation tools, and coordinated with multiple departments.

My commitment to leadership also extends into professional engineering communities. As the Vice Chair of the IEEE student branch at BYU-Idaho, I actively work to bridge the gap between academic theory and industry practice. By organizing events and facility tours, such as our visit to Curtiss-Wright, I help connect my peers directly with professionals in the nuclear and aerospace sectors. Whether I am mentoring coworkers or creating networking opportunities for fellow engineers, I am driven by a desire to uplift my community and learn something new every day.

I am skilled in C, C++, C#, Java, Python, and Rust, and I enjoy applying these languages to build reliable and innovative applications. Recently, I collaborated on an AI-driven project integrating the Gemini API via Google AI Studio. Built with a Supabase backend, this project heavily utilized professional team workflows in GitHub, including strict version control, pull requests (PRs), and collaborative code reviews. My other software projects, like the Java Orbit Mission Planner and C++ Expense Tracker, have further strengthened my foundation in object-oriented programming, data structures, and algorithm design.

I love working with microcontrollers like STM32 and Arduino to connect software with the physical world. I recently developed "TinacoSmart," an ultrasonic water level monitor designed to solve practical residential water tracking challenges in the Dominican Republic. I have also gained hands-on experience in circuit design, ADC, and I2C communication through projects like my STM32-based battery voltage meter.

To continually improve my development process, I leverage modern AI tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot integrated into VS Code to enhance my workflow, optimize code quality, and accelerate debugging. As a bilingual (Spanish and English) full-year scholarship recipient, I am committed to learning by doing, collaborating effectively, and growing every day as an engineer.

Want to see my work in action? Check out my projects section to explore detailed descriptions, GitHub repositories, and upcoming demo videos.

Outside of school and work, I am a husband to my amazing wife, Nora. I cherish spending quality time with my family and friends, whether we are playing video games together, sharing everyday experiences, or exploring the outdoors on camping trips.

When I need to step away from coding and engineering coursework, I enjoy bringing aging hardware back to life. You can often find me refurbishing old computers to give them a second purpose or tinkering with retro consoles, like my Nintendo GameCube.

I believe in helping others rise right now, which is why I actively donate to animal shelters and charities that support the sick and those in need in the Dominican Republic. My ultimate dream is to one day retire in the DR, living a simple, happy life while continuing to uplift my community. Until then, I am focused on becoming the best engineer and person I can be.