About Me

Hi! I am Arnav Kansal. I am passionate about Machine Learning, high-performance systems, and their applications in technology and finance. In the past, I have worked on the Linux Kernel, Low-Level HFT software, x86 Simulators, recommendation systems, NLP, Economics of a small cafe, etc. In general, I like to solve challenging, real-life problems.

I am a software engineer at Google. I am currently working on various parts of an Operating System being build and maintained at Google Cloud. Learn more about it here. Previously I spent about 2 years at a startup (Uber Freight within Uber).

I have done a couple of internships as a software engineer working at the relatively lower level of abstractions in software and that is where my interest lies. I like exploring under the hood.

Interning at Citadel Securities in their Low Latency Technologies team I tasted modern C++(11/14/17) learning memory models, parallel programming, profiling applications/ functions at a very fine level of granularity using Linux perf, and other hardware level time stamp counters. It was over here that I was exposed to the high-frequency trading world where people measure code in CPU cycles (nanoseconds).

I have also worked on the scheduler subsystem of the Linux kernel (Operating System) for the Andriod smartphone Samsung C7 at Samsung Electronics.

I did my graduate schooling at NYU, Courant School of Mathematical Sciences, where I pursued a Masters in Computer Science, working with Professor Zahran on developing a self-learning AI support for architecture that optimizes tuneables in the HW at runtime for any application. Read more about it here and here.

Before this, I graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi in Electrical Engineering. Back in IIT, I worked with Prof. Jayadeva on various aspects of machine learning(ranking systems) and recommendation systems. My thesis from IITD.

More information on my projects can be found on my GitHub Page.

My really old resume can be found here and the current version is available on request.

My hobbies

I like to cook in my spare time. I am also learning to play an electric guitar. Currently, I am listening to Tame Impala, Khruangbin, Jungle, and a lot of new artists on KEXP. I like to play soccer and enjoy running.

I love coffee. My love for coffee flourished in Manhattan, probably because of the many cute little coffee shops I used to frequent there. Here are some nice places to get coffee while in the big apple.

Also, included are some brunch places I love!

I am always excited to know about the next generation video games and the latest gaming PCs that can be built to play them. I once successfully overclocked an Intel E8400 Dual Core to 4.0 GHz from its base clock of 3.0 GHz.

यथा चतुर्भिः कनकं परीक्ष्यते निकर्षणछेदनतापताडनैः ।
तथा चतुर्भिः पुरुषः परीक्ष्यते श्रुतेन शीलेन कुलेन कर्मणा॥

- Chanakya, 300BC

_{[English Translation] The test for the purity of gold is performed by rubbing, heating, pounding, and cutting. Similarly, the true characteristic of a person is revealed at the time of intense trouble. His manners, voice, and actions will reveal a lot about him.}