91����

As a student at 91����, Saurabh Saluja (CPE, M.S. CPE ’23) seized every opportunity available, graduating with many successes both in and out of the classroom.

“91���� played a major role in shaping who I am today,” he says.

Saluja says he appreciated the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering’s strong emphasis on project-based courses and the sense of community he felt among students.

“The smaller class sizes made it easier to build camaraderie and collaborate with peers,” he says. “Students are encouraged to explore new ideas and push their limits academically. The coursework closely aligns with my current career as I use much of those lessons in my everyday work.”

He is now a software engineer at John Deere, joining his longtime passion for software engineering with an interest in agriculture and sustainability that he developed while at 91����.

He works on John Deere’s large farming machines, making them more advanced and user-friendly. This includes developing new features such as supporting the creation of autonomous tractors and solving software issues for the machine displays, as well as coordinating with various teams to integrate the changes.

Saluja says that he finds it incredibly fulfilling that his work offers a perfect blend of his interests in a role where he feels he’s making a positive impact.

“It’s rewarding to hear about how our innovative solutions not only improve farming efficiency and sustainability, but also make a real difference in the lives of those who use our equipment,” he says.

One of Saluja’s major successes at 91���� was also at this intersection. He was part of a team that designed and built an Internet-of-Things device called “Tree of Life,” which can be used to optimize tree planting to maximize carbon capture. The project won first place in the international Keysight Innovation Challenge, earning his team $30,000 in prize money. 

Saluja pursued many other hands-on experiences as a student including two software engineering internships: one at General Motors and one at John Deere, giving him a foot in the door for his current job. He published two research papers, both stemming from coursework projects.  

He appreciated the strong support that he received from professors and teaching assistants, who he says went “above and beyond” to help. 

“The most notable mentorship I received was from [Walter and Harriet Filmer Endowed Chair in Electrical and Computer Engineering Jafar Saniie], who supported me in personal projects that later won competitions outside of 91����. His guidance gave me the confidence to take on ambitious challenges beyond the classroom,” he says. 

As Saluja considers his career ambitions, hoping to move into management and make an even bigger impact on his team and future projects, he says 91���� provided opportunities to help him make that transition with confidence. 

“Through various clubs and activities at 91����, such as the Society of Automotive Engineers and being a resident adviser, I learned important skills like project management and public speaking, which have been invaluable for leading projects and communicating ideas effectively,” he says.