Hello! I am Jonatan Miarecki, a software engineer and researcher based in Germany. My work sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, cognitive informatics, and embedded systems. I am interested in building software that solves real‑world problems and integrates tightly with the underlying hardware it runs on.

This website is my personal portfolio. I use it to document my research, build open‑source infrastructure, and log my engineering process. I write in English, German, and Polish.

Software engineering from first principles

I have always treated software as a physical, material system rather than just lines of code. My journey started with building radios using Snap Circuits and programming Lego Mindstorms EV3, where I quickly realized that code becomes powerful when it directly controls physical devices. To write robust, scalable software, you need to understand the underlying silicon.

This approach is grounded in a strong foundation in physics and computer science. During high school, I completed Harvard’s CS50x, which solidified my programming fundamentals. Upon graduation, the German Physical Society awarded me the DPG‑Abiturpreis in July 2025 for my performance in physics. These experiences combined to shape how I analyze computational problems: instead of treating them as abstract exercises, I look at the concrete mathematical and physical bounds that define what is possible.

To deepen my low‑level understanding, I built a fully functional 8‑bit CPU in Logisim from the ground up. I implemented a microcoded Harvard architecture and wrote a custom Python assembler. This exercise forced me to develop a strict methodology for memory management and helped me see the full chain from electrons to algorithms.

Hardware, software, and local computing

Today, my primary focus is software engineering across a wide range of applications—from web dashboards and AI integrations to embedded firmware and IoT infrastructure. My core programming languages are TypeScript (for the web), Python, C++, Rust, and C, with a strong emphasis on writing memory‑safe and performant code. On the hardware side, I frequently write custom firmware for ESP32 microcontrollers; they are my absolute favorite platform for bridging local smart home ideas with the physical world.

I am a strong advocate for open‑source software and local data processing. I believe modern infrastructure should be inspectable, self‑hosted, and independent of opaque cloud providers whenever possible. I actively develop open‑source tools for privacy‑focused systems, including software‑defined radios, local API endpoints, and WebUSB‑enabled hardware controllers. The core philosophy behind these projects is simple: keep the user in control and process data as close as possible to where it is generated.

Academics and applied software research

I began my university studies early through the Studieren ab 15 program at Bielefeld University in October 2023, completing four semesters of computer science while still in high school. I am currently pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Informatics, while simultaneously working on independent software‑engineering projects.

My research focuses on how models of cognition can inform the design of intelligent software systems. During the 2025 Bundeswettbewerb Informatik workshops at TU Dortmund, my team and I programmed autonomous agents to compete in a Robocode tournament. We implemented vision‑tracking and movement logic under constrained radar environments, deliberately avoiding pre‑built strategies to explore the gap between theoretical AI and real‑time, low‑level execution. I also gave a presentation detailing our team’s approach and technical implementation. I publish my research findings in open access whenever possible.

Radio, sensors, and the physical layer

My extracurricular work serves as a direct extension of my software‑engineering mindset. I am an active amateur radio operator under the callsign DN9AJ (Class N), a pursuit featured in the Neue Westfälische Newspaper, and am currently studying for the CEPT license. I once decoded SSTV image transmissions from the International Space Station that earned me a physical postcard from the ISS crew. These pursuits inspired me to build my own open‑source SSTV encoder/decoder. The project integrates SDR techniques with a WebSDR frontend, enabling real‑time signal processing and browser‑based visualization without a server‑side backend.

I also hold an A1/A3 drone operator license, which gives me hands‑on experience with aerial spatial awareness, mobile sensor telemetry, and autonomous navigation software. When it comes to hardware prototyping, I design and 3D print custom enclosures using my Prusa i3 MK3S. I create the models in OpenSCAD, Shapr3D, or Siemens Solid Edge.

Outside of the engineering space, I have an international mindset: I am fluent in English, German, and Polish, speak French, and am currently learning Italian. I swim regularly and hold the Deutsches Rettungsschwimmabzeichen Silber, recognized internationally as an ILS Lifesaver. I am also an avid long-distance runner and skier (🇵🇱🇨🇭).

Contact

I am always open to collaborating on software‑engineering projects, applied research, or open‑source infrastructure. You can audit my code on GitHub or review my academic record via ORCID.

Feel free to reach out via email at jonatan@miarecki.eu or via Matrix at @jonatan:miarecki.eu.

I strongly encourage encrypted communication. You can use my S/MIME Public Key or my PGP public key. The PGP key is automatically discoverable via my self‑hosted WKD endpoint. I wrote a technical post on Web Key Directory Setup if you want to understand the mechanics of decentralized identity verification.

Identifiers