Name: Surya Advaith Pandravada
Major and College: Master of Science in Software Engineering at University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Internship Title: Software Engineer
Internship Site: Ardent Privacy
1) Please tell us about your career goals.
As a software engineer, I want to build meaningful, scalable applications that solve real problems and improve user experience. I’m genuinely passionate about learning how different system layers come together, from protocols to UI, and how that complexity can be made to work seamlessly. That’s where I find real engineering to be the most rewarding. My master’s program and this internship have both played a key role in helping me think more deeply about system design and how different components interact in practice. I’m also enthusiastic about how AI is transforming software engineering and enjoy integrating AI tools where they genuinely improve the product.
2) Tell us about your internship (i.e. day-to-day responsibilities, special projects/clients, and work culture).
At Ardent Privacy, I work closely with the engineering team to design and implement core features of the company’s platform. My day-to-day includes architecting new modules, writing and reviewing code, collaborating with teammates, and creating innovative solutions that support how we build and ship software. The work culture is fast-paced and collaborative, and I’ve appreciated the level of trust and responsibility I’ve been given.
3) Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
I first came across the opportunity during a college fair in my second semester. The role stood out to me because of how closely it aligned with the kind of work I was looking to do. I applied shortly after, had a few conversations with the team, and started working during the winter break. I’ve continued through multiple semesters since then.
4) Which of the following resources did you use to find your current experience?
Career Fairs
5) What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?
The level of ownership I’ve had has made this experience very rewarding. I’ve been involved in technical discussions, product decisions, and even brainstorming with the CEO and marketing team—which gave me a broader view of how engineering ties into the business. One of the most exciting parts was watching the system scale to multiple tenants. That came with a lot of nuance and complexity, and solving those challenges was genuinely enjoyable.
6) How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
I contributed to several key business features of the platform. Some of the highlights include building internationalization support, designing REST APIs that follow standard and secure design principles, and making those APIs extensible for third-party integrations. I also worked on access control, secure file handling, and real-time notifications—features that are critical to how the system functions. Additionally, I helped create deployment strategies that worked across both cloud and on-prem environments, which added real value for different types of clients.
7) What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience (i.e. Internship search, Resume, or Interview tips)?
One advice I would share with students is to understand the significance of having a positive attitude. While effort and hard work are like parts of the car, the attitude we carry ourselves with is the fuel.