Tesla Senior Software Engineer & Codesmith Alum, Cyrus Yari, On Deciding Against Computer Science At University, Working At Tesla, & Future Of AI
We spoke with Tesla Senior Software Engineer Cyrus Yari about his views on software engineering,...
Tech is at an inflection point with the rise of AI/ML, calling for a new kind of technologist who knows when, where, and how to responsibly wield AI/ML to solve today’s problems.
To develop that technologist, Codesmith’s four week AI and ML Technical Leadership Program is accepting applications now for the first cohort in January 2025.
The intensive program is designed for mid to senior-level software engineers looking to leverage the new opportunities AI and ML offer them in their careers, and takes a deep dive into the technical and leadership skills required to conduct AI-driven projects across the industry.
The program is built on the foundational work done by our Data Science & Machine Learning Research Group, in which Codesmith residents contributed to tooling for industry-standard ML tools like Tensorflow.js under the leadership of Codesmith co-founder Alex Zai.
Codesmith has a commitment to helping build an equitable tech landscape that serves underrepresented groups. So the program will also explore ethics within AI/ML to ensure graduates leave with the understanding of how to build and use these tools responsibly.
The Program Breakdown
Part One: Foundational Technical Skills
Led by Codesmith Senior Curriculum Manager James Laff and Engineering instructor Jared Lewis part one will establish participants in the foundational technical skills needed to work with AI and ML, including the building of portfolio-ready projects.
Across four weeks participants will learn the technical skills of AI and ML engineering, consisting of four sessions each from Monday to Thursday in the first two weeks, followed by work on an AI / ML project from Monday to Thursday in the final two weeks.
The foundational technical skills students will learn in part one include LLMs, embeddings, RAG and fine-tuning, as well as MLOps. This will be covered through lectures, skill building exercises, collaborative coding with fellow students and regular code reviews.
Part Two: Advanced Industry Practice
The second part, led by former Tesla Senior Software Engineer Cyrus Yari, teaches residents how to actively apply AI and ML tools and practices within industry, including how to improve product performance and best practices, and effective leadership methods that will empower residents to lead AI and ML projects out in the field.
Participants will be able to identify industry-specific applications, allowing them to propose and implement new ML/AI applications at their companies. They will learn best practices for integrating AI/ML, assessing organizational data infrastructure, evaluating existing processes and identifying inefficiencies, and understanding stakeholder needs.
Residents will explore cutting-edge model architectures and algorithms, techniques for integrating multiple data sources, and the latest AI-powered coding assistants.
Additionally they will be able to design AI systems — with ethical considerations — after learning the key ethical principles and concerns, how to factor in public policy, and the impact on various societal aspects.
Codesmith’s strength is building not just engineers but leaders. So participants will learn how to lead teams in the context of AI and ML, as well as the foundational effective leadership & management strategies and, crucially, learning how to lead in times of constant change as we are experiencing.
Part Three: Leadership Circle
The program’s third part is Codesmith’s new AI and ML Leadership Circle, which will give residents access to engineers working at the forefront of the growing industry today.
The two hour sessions take place on Monday each month and include lectures, Q&A sessions, peer breakout discussions to explore real-world applications, best practices, and overcoming challenges in AI/ML projects.
The Leadership Circle provides the opportunity to network with professional AI engineers and MLEs and gain insights from the experts developing cutting-edge software and products.
To learn more about the program, download the syllabus, or apply for the program, head over to the AI and ML Technical Leadership Program page.