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Ernesto Sola-Thomas

Silicon EngineerFounderResearcherBuilder Silicon Engineer · Founder · Researcher · Builder

Building Huitzo, the operating system for intelligence. Microsoft silicon engineer with the technical depth to make it real.

  • Founder of Huitzo: a self-hosted AI runtime that lets regulated enterprises run AI inside their own infrastructure. Data never leaves.
  • Silicon verification engineer at Microsoft: AI chip infrastructure, formal verification, and systems depth.

Building Now

Huitzo

The operating system for intelligence: self-hosted AI infrastructure you actually own. Deploy in weeks, not months.
Explore Huitzo Let's Collaborate
Explore Profile
Microsoft Clarkson University IEEE Published Huitzo GitHub
origin story

Builder since 13

Four chapters of one throughline: learn fast, build real things, and point them at people who need them.

  1. 01 / 2015–2019

    First builds

    A calculator app at 13. A piano wired from 555 timers. A water-quality instrument after finding algae in the school supply. Building before feeling ready became the habit.

    The journey

  2. 02 / 2020–2025

    Research years

    Clarkson University: IEEE-published autonomous wheelchair, wearable vision for blind users, prosthetic control, capped by a post-quantum cryptography master's thesis.

    Research & publications

  3. 03 / 2022–now

    Silicon at scale

    Verifying AI accelerator silicon at Microsoft: UVM environments, floating-point pipelines, and automation adopted across verification teams.

    Experience

  4. 04 / 2025–now

    Founder

    Huitzo, the operating system for intelligence: self-hosted AI for regulated enterprises.

    Huitzo
Journey

Professional Experience

From AI silicon verification to research and consulting, I bridge deep engineering with purposeful outcomes.

  1. Founder 2025 – Present Active

    Huitzo

    Raleigh, NC

    Building the operating system for intelligence, a self-hosted AI runtime that lets regulated enterprises run AI inside their own infrastructure.

    • Designing the runtime architecture: Intelligence Packs, model-agnostic execution, audit logging, and team-scoped isolation.
    • Validating product-market fit with teams in regulated industries and recruiting early design partners.
    • Leading everything from infrastructure and security architecture to positioning and go-to-market.
    AI infrastructurePythonKubernetesCloud architecture
  2. Silicon Engineer 2022 – Present Active

    Microsoft

    Raleigh, NC

    Verifying AI acceleration silicon through UVM environments, automation, and cross-team collaboration.

    • Led floating-point pipeline verification for next-gen AI accelerator, ensuring RTL correctness across corner cases.
    • Built automation harnesses that accelerated regression cycles and reduced manual debug hours across verification teams.
    • Partnered with design and architecture to close coverage gaps using constrained-random scenarios and data-driven insights.
    • Owned implementation and maintenance of formal and functional testbenches.
    • Built scalable, reusable tools that were adopted across the organization.
    SystemVerilogPythonAMBA AXI/APBConstrained random verificationCI orchestration
  3. Undergraduate & Graduate Researcher, Teaching Assistant 2020 – 2025

    Clarkson University

    Potsdam, NY

    Investigated resilient distributed systems blending embedded hardware, software, blockchain, and post-quantum cryptography while collaborating across disciplines.

    • Designed a post-quantum secure file transfer protocol with blockchain auditability for my master's thesis (see arXiv:2504.07938).
    • Built embedded systems projects using FPGAs, microcontrollers, custom PCBs, and 3D-printed enclosures in collaboration with students and professors.
    • Collaborated with cross-disciplinary teams exploring AI, quantum fundamentals, and trusted computing deployments.
    PythonSystemVerilogC/C++FPGALinux
Track Record

Selected Proof

High-signal work across silicon, AI, research, and venture building.

AI Accelerator Silicon · Microsoft

// challenge

Verify floating-point pipelines and coverage closure for next-gen AI chips.

// result

Built reusable UVM environments and automation adopted across the org.

Huitzo · The Operating System for Intelligence

// challenge

Regulated enterprises can't ship sensitive data to third-party AI services.

// result

Building a self-hosted AI runtime that runs Intelligence Packs inside customer infrastructure.

Learn more

Post-Quantum Secure File Transfer

// challenge

Protect file transfers against quantum computing threats.

// result

Published a PQ-secured protocol with blockchain auditability (arXiv).

Learn more

Autonomous Wheelchair Platform

// challenge

Enable hands-free indoor navigation for mobility-impaired users.

// result

Published at IEEE: low-cost, open-source design with dual control modes.

Learn more

Cloud-Native Platform Ops

// challenge

Ship production-grade billing and auth for multi-tenant SaaS.

// result

Automated CI/CD pipelines enabling weekly iteration with confidence.

Projects

Making ideas tangible

A list of past projects ranging from robotics, secure compute, simulation tooling, and cloud platforms.

Software & Platforms

2 initiatives

Monte Carlo GPU Finance Simulator

2025

completed

Built GPU-accelerated Monte Carlo simulations in Python to model portfolio risk and derivative pricing scenarios.

  • Delivered 40x speed-ups vs. CPU baselines for client prototypes.
  • Equipped stakeholders with faster decision support dashboards.
PythonCUDANumPy

The work combined quantitative methods, GPU programming, and data storytelling to turn raw simulation output into actionable strategy.

Cloud-Native Platform Ops

2024

active

Orchestrated Django, Supabase, and Stripe ecosystems with Dockerized deployment across Azure Kubernetes Service and Cloudflare.

  • Delivered reliable billing and auth flows for multi-tenant applications.
  • Automated build and release pipelines, enabling weekly iteration with confidence.
DjangoSupabaseStripeAzure Kubernetes ServiceDocker

This stack demonstrates how I build for resilience, pairing infrastructure automation with thoughtful developer experience.

Research & Exploration

3 initiatives

AI Chip Verification Suite

2025

active

Building reusable verification environments and analytics to accelerate AI accelerator bring-up and coverage closure.

  • Reduced test debug time through targeted stimulus and health dashboards.
  • Improved confidence in floating point paths for production delivery.
SystemVerilogPython automationMetrics pipelines

A focused initiative extending core verification work into reusable frameworks and knowledge transfer artifacts for future silicon programs.

View case study →

ECG-Based Emotion Recognition

2024

completed

Enhanced emotion recognition accuracy using wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) data and machine learning models to classify emotions across valence, arousal, and dominance dimensions.

  • Demonstrated superior performance of random forests with carefully selected ECG features for emotion classification.
  • Advanced feature engineering techniques for physiological emotion recognition systems.
  • Contributed to personalized mental health monitoring and human-computer interaction applications.
  • Established framework for real-time emotion detection using wearable ECG devices.
PythonMachine learningECG signal processingRandom forestsSupport vector machines (SVM)Logistic regressionDREAMER datasetFeature engineering
IEEE Co-Author

FPGA Vision Processing for Prosthetic Hands

2023

completed

Implemented vision-based automated control for prosthetic hands using FPGA processors, featuring an RGB camera interfaced to Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC with object detection deep learning models.

  • Addressed high-power consumption limitations in sophisticated robotics through power-efficient FPGA implementation.
  • Developed advanced image processing pipeline from scratch for prosthetic hand applications.
  • Created publicly available repository with thorough implementation documentation.
  • Enabled vision sensors to artificially sense objects from wrist position for sophisticated grabbing control.
Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoCFPGA designComputer visionDeep learningImage processing pipelineRGB camera interfaceDigital circuit design
IEEE
Video Archive

Projects in Motion

Recorded demos and documentation of past hardware and research projects, a window into earlier engineering work.

Autonomous Wheelchair Platform

Autonomous Wheelchair Platform

2021

A low-cost, open-source autonomous wheelchair built on a standard manual chair. Demonstrated hands-free indoor navigation using stereo depth camera, LiDAR, and Nvidia Jetson. Published at IEEE.

Watch on YouTube
NBI EMG Prosthetic Hand

NBI EMG Prosthetic Hand

2021

A prosthetic hand driven by EMG muscle signals. The system translates electrical muscle activity into multi-grip actuation, restoring confidence and capability through biofeedback.

Watch on YouTube
Schumilop Water Quality Monitor

Schumilop Water Quality Monitor

2019

A science fair project born from discovering algae in the school water supply. Combined electrolysis and sensor electronics to build a working water quality detection instrument.

Watch on YouTube
Engagement

Ways I Can Help

Outcome-driven engagements for founders, teams, and organizations building at the edge of what's possible.

Technical due diligence

Evaluate architecture, code quality, and scalability risks for investment decisions or acquisition targets.

Prototype & system architecture

Design and build proof-of-concept systems spanning hardware, firmware, cloud, and AI pipelines.

AI + hardware systems strategy

Advise on AI accelerator integration, silicon-software co-design, and intelligent infrastructure planning.

Product & engineering advisory

Help early-stage teams make high-leverage technical decisions, from stack selection to team structure.

Early-stage technical direction

Partner with founders to translate vision into architecture, roadmap, and first working system.

Start a conversation

Select engagements only. All advisory work is independent of my role at Microsoft.

the human side

Beyond the lab

The passions and values that keep me grounded and curious outside of the lab.

Passions

  • My passion sits at the intersection of technology, impact, and human progress. I build because I believe technology should create long-term value, not chase trends. This drives me toward projects that are ambitious and ethical.
  • I see technology as a bridge to freedom and connection, not just technical progress. I thrive when innovation aligns with purpose.
  • I explore blockchain, AI, and embedded systems for their technical depth and the new possibilities they open for society and business.
  • I enjoy sailing, windsurfing, and time on the water. These moments remind me of the balance between focus and flow, challenge and freedom.

Values in Action

  • I build technology that serves people, not just markets. Innovation is only meaningful when it creates long-term value and expands human potential.
  • I balance ambition with responsibility, prioritizing ethics and sustainability over short-term wins.
  • Collaboration is at the core of how I work; diverse perspectives and genuine partnerships turn bold ideas into real impact.
  • I measure success not by what I accumulate, but by the freedom and opportunity I help create for others.
Collaborate

Let's build what's next

Whether you're shipping silicon, scaling a venture, or exploring secure systems, I'd love to hear about the challenge.

Primary contact

[email protected]

What would you like to discuss?

Discuss Huitzo Speaking / Podcast Research Collaboration Advisory General
Send an email Book a conversation

Location

Raleigh, NC

Current availability

Open for select advisory, prototyping engagements, and speaking with founders shaping technology.