Serial Systems Builder
AI Systems • Startups • Global Tech Leverage
Website • LinkedIn • Topmate • Global Tech Leverage
I build systems.
Sometimes those systems are AI products.
Sometimes they are startups.
Sometimes they are career leverage for engineers around the world.
My work sits at the intersection of:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Systems Architecture
- Startups
- Global Tech Careers
- Community Building
Over the years I’ve worked across AI, fintech, logistics, SaaS, Web3 and infrastructure systems, building products from early idea to production.
But the real theme behind everything I do is experimentation.
Life is a long sequence of experiments.
Some experiments become products.
Some become startups.
Some become stories.
I graduated with a 2.69 GPA.
My first startups failed.
I went into debt.
I freelanced to survive.
In 2020 I posted a small $200 computer vision project on LinkedIn.
It went viral.
That single post led to a role at Motive (KeepTruckin) working on machine learning systems.
Two years later I landed a $120,000 remote role from Pakistan, something that seemed impossible when I first started.
Since then I’ve been obsessed with one question:
If talent is global, why isn't opportunity?
That question led me to start building systems that help engineers access the global tech market.
Designing and deploying production AI systems across different domains:
- Voice AI
- Machine Learning infrastructure
- Computer Vision
- NLP systems
- AI product architecture
I care less about models and more about systems that actually work in production.
Some of the ventures and experiments I’ve been part of:
- AI product development
- automation systems
- developer tooling
- community driven products
Many succeed.
Many fail.
Both are useful.
A private network of engineers and builders exploring the global tech ecosystem.
The focus is simple:
- landing $80k–$250k remote tech roles
- building AI products
- creating startups
- connecting serious builders
Applications are open here:
https://forms.gle/zUkF2oDzrs2XxyjA7
Right now I'm focused on three things:
- Building AI systems that actually ship to production
- Helping engineers access global opportunities
- Creating long-term systems and communities
The goal is simple:
build things that compound over time.
Languages and systems I frequently work with:
- Python
- Go
- C++
- AI / ML Systems
- PyTorch
- TensorFlow
- Distributed systems
- Linux infrastructure
But tools matter less than systems thinking.
Occasionally I write about engineering, systems and careers.
One article that resonated with many engineers:
How to Level Up as an Engineer
https://medium.com/@alizahidraja/how-to-level-up-as-an-engineer-my-journey-and-tips-38aee30d3344
A few fun milestones along the way:
- Top global rankings in Advent of Code
- Top 0.1% among 400,000+ contestants
- AI systems deployed in production environments
- Built projects used by engineers across multiple countries
But the real achievement is simple:
still building.
If you're building interesting things, feel free to reach out.
Website
https://alizahidraja.com
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alizahidraja/
Topmate
https://topmate.io/alizahidraja
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@alizahidraja
Talent is global. Opportunity is not.