Wasif Mukaddam

My story begins in Mumbai, surrounded by movement, structure, and curiosity. From an early age, I was drawn to the way things worked — how form and function came together in design, and how even the smallest detail could transform how something felt or performed. That sense of wonder became my language, and engineering felt like its natural extension.

As I studied Mechanical Engineering at VIT Vellore, my fascination deepened into discipline. Design wasn’t just about solving problems — it was about understanding the essence of how something should move, behave, and exist. I learned to think with precision, to create with care, and to take responsibility for what I built.

My Islamic faith has always been my foundation. It reminds me that every act, even one of design or testing, carries amanah — a trust. To do something with excellence is to live with ihsan: striving for beauty, precision, and sincerity in every action. That idea continues to guide my choices — to build not just functional systems, but meaningful ones.

My path led me to Columbia University, where I pursued graduate studies that bridged design, computation, and impact. It was a transformative time — not just academically, but personally. I learned to see engineering as a form of stewardship: that the code, models, and machines we create are extensions of our responsibility to this world. In New York’s fast-moving environment, I discovered how innovation and integrity can coexist — how purpose can elevate technology.

As my work evolved into computational and quality engineering, I began to see beauty in refinement — in testing, validation, and precision. Quality, to me, isn’t about control; it’s about care. It’s ensuring that what we put into the world carries barakah — that quiet blessing that comes from sincerity and consistency.

Today, I continue to grow at the intersection of engineering, AI, and ethics — striving to lead with both technical depth and human values. My goal is to one day lead AI-driven engineering quality teams that uphold excellence not only in their outcomes but in their intentions. To me, engineering is more than a career; it’s an act of service, a continuous journey of improvement, and a reminder that doing something well is, in itself, a form of gratitude.