Luciana Cendon
Engineer turned first-time founder, building AI systems that turn language into connection
About me
I’m Luciana, an engineer and researcher now building my first company. I bring over 9 years of experience in machine learning, computer vision, and data science. I hold two master’s degrees: one in Electrical Engineering with a focus on Computer Science from Caltech, and another earned through a collaborative program across EPFL, Grenoble INP, and Politecnico di Torino, which provided me with a strong foundation in engineering and advanced technologies.
Over the years, I’ve contributed to impactful projects, from building real-time full-stack computer vision pipelines for robotics applications at Quiet Machines to advancing machine learning and data systems at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. These experiences sharpened my expertise in end-to-end ML pipelines, data analysis, and applied AI, while deepening my understanding of real-world data-driven problem-solving.
In 2024, I began exploring my own ideas. What started as consulting experiments evolved into early prototypes, and by mid-2025 I committed full-time to building a new AI-native platform. I’m leading product and engineering, designing multi-stage LLM pipelines, scalable architectures, and user-facing systems that transform natural language into structured, actionable intelligence.
When I’m not immersed in tech projects, I enjoy honing my musical skills on the electric guitar 🎸 and staying active through exercise and hiking. I’m also a coffee enthusiast with a passion for crafting the perfect espresso ☕. Most importantly, I’m a proud mom to an amazing daughter, and we love traveling 🌍 together and discovering new places.
Resume
Download Full ResumeEducation
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
Pasadena, CA - June, 2016
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP)
Politecnico di Torino
Master in Micro and Nanotechnologies for Integrated Systems
Conjoint degree from three universities
Lausanne, Switzerland • Grenoble, France • Turin, Italy - March, 2014
Politecnico di Torino
Bachelor in Electronics Engineering
Turin, Italy - March, 2012
Professional Experience (Recent)
Founder & Technical Lead
Marvus
June 2025 - Present | Los Angeles, CA
Leading product and engineering for a B2B2C platform powered by large language models. I design and implement multi-stage pipelines that turn free-form language into structured outputs, and I built the full-stack infrastructure (Next.js, Supabase, cloud services) to support asynchronous workflows and real-time UI. My focus is on technical architecture, product direction, and creating user-facing systems that scale.
Founder & AI Consultant
Marvus AI Solutions
June 2024 - May 2025 | Los Angeles, CA
Explored early product directions through consulting and prototyping while transitioning into founder-led work. I built LLM-based tools and internal workflows that laid the groundwork for Marvus, and gained experience in scoping client needs and translating them into technical solutions. This period served as a bridge from engineering roles into my current product company.
Senior Computer Vision/Robotics Engineer
Quiet Machines, LLC
Nov 2022 - May 2024 | Pasadena, CA
I was the sole computer vision engineer responsible for designing and implementing the entire computer vision pipeline. My focus was on object detection and tracking within video contexts, particularly isolating runners in complex, noisy environments. I developed and trained models for image segmentation and scene understanding, managing data curation and annotation to improve detection accuracy. Additionally, I optimized and integrated these models into the prototype system for high-performance inference and conducted field tests to enhance system performance. I also developed and integrated the frontend with the backend, ensuring seamless communication and real-time data synchronization via WebSockets.
Professional Experience
Data Scientist & Software Engineer
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Nov 2019 - Nov 2022 | Pasadena, CA
At JPL, I contributed to multiple projects, including building machine learning pipelines and developing data analysis systems. I supported NASA’s ARIA Project by designing anomaly detection methods using spatio-temporal time series data to predict volcanic activity. For NASA's Ocean Worlds Life Surveyor (OWLS) Project, I created high-performance simulation tools for generating synthetic holographic images and developed algorithms for automated peak detection in noisy spectrometer data. I've also built automated dashboards in Power BI to visualize resource utilization, supporting data-driven decisions.
Research Engineer
California Institute of Technology
Jan 2019 - Oct 2019 | Pasadena, CA
I spent 9 months working at Pietro Perona's lab, where I developed, trained, and deployed detection and pose estimation models using AWS SageMaker. These models were used as part of a system for automated behavior analysis in lab animals, facilitating scalable cloud-based processing for pose estimation and detection. During this time I also designed a system for automated video editing using imitation learning. This project is available in the projects section.
Research Engineer
Oben Artificial Intelligence
Dec 2017 – Jan 2019 | Pasadena, CA
At Oben, I developed advanced software solutions for personal avatar animation, including implementing gaze tracking using C++ and ensemble regression trees. I also worked on extracting lighting information from facial textures using augmented spherical harmonics, as well as developing an active appearance model for automated lip synchronization. Additionally, I designed a general-purpose chat system adaptable to new personalities and delivered Q&A chat software, which served as the foundation for the company's mobile health initiative.
Research Engineer
HRL Laboratories
Oct 2016 – Nov 2017 | Pasadena, CA
At HRL, I worked on several projects including predictive modeling for well optimization, leveraging data analysis to improve efficiency. I also contributed to the development of reinforcement learning algorithms for autonomous airplane flight and worked on low-power image recognition systems.
Research Engineer
California Institute of Technology
June 2016 – Sept 2016 | Pasadena, CA
During my time at Caltech, I conducted data mining for mouse behavior analysis in time-series data, utilizing Markov chains to model and analyze complex behavior patterns. This work helped identify important behavioral trends, contributing to ongoing research efforts in neuroscience.
Entrepreneurship
Marvus began in 2024 as Marvus AI Solutions, a company focused on helping startups and SMBs apply AI in practical ways. I built custom workflows, prototyped tools, and advised small teams on adoption strategies. That year was a crash course in more than just technology. It was also about people and the challenges small businesses face when trying to innovate.
An unexpected lesson came from the countless networking events I attended to meet clients. Despite all the tools available, networking often felt random, inefficient, and shallow. That experience helped me realize that the real opportunity was not only in building AI for others, it was also in creating a platform where people could connect more intentionally.
This insight became the seed of Marvus today. It is a matchmaking engine that starts with professional networking and is designed to grow into other forms of meaningful connection such as collaborations, friendships, and even dating. My background in AI and passion for psychology come together here. I have always been fascinated by what makes human relationships work, and I want to build technology that helps people find the right connections rather than just more contacts.
Now I am building Marvus full-time as a SaaS platform, beginning with
business networking. The vision is to expand into a broader system for
human connection. The goal is to make introductions smarter, friendships easier to
form,
and opportunities more accessible.
Learn more at marvus.ai.
Blog
A collection of my writing inspired by my curiosity and passion for learning. This space is where I share knowledge and document my journey through the mathematics of machine learning, cutting-edge AI models, the real-world impact of AI, and beyond.
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- Technical
- Non-Technical
Contact
Let's Connect!
I’m always open to connecting with fellow founders, investors, and collaborators who are building the future of AI and technology. If you’d like to talk about my work at Marvus, potential collaborations, or just swap ideas, reach out below.