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Ritul K. Soni

AI / ML Engineer | Gen AI Researcher
Country Financial

As a recent graduate with a Master's in Computer Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, I specialize in Generative AI research, focusing on Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), particularly the ReAct RAG framework integrated with Agentic AI. Currently, I am preparing my first academic publication in these areas, driven by my passion for innovation and advancing AI capabilities.
In my role as a Software Engineer, I actively develop and optimize production-level ReAct RAG systems, train Machine Learning Models, and research novel Gen AI / ML methods. My responsibilities include fine-tuning system components, optimizing large language models, integrating breakthrough research insights, and ensuring highly accurate, contextually relevant responses in real-world applications to serve thousands of users daily.
I thrive at the intersection of cutting-edge research and practical implementation, continually learning and applying my expertise to tackle challenging problems and drive meaningful advancements in AI technology.
Currently, an AI/ML Engineer @ Country Financial


This is what I am doing right now


I am a continous learner and am always researching new technologies. I am currently researching reinforcement learning for data retrieval agents. I am actively on the hunt for AI / ML roles anywhere in the United States.


I am highly supportive of startups and actively participate in open source projects as well. I am eager to collaborate with fresh ideas and individuals. If you have any topics you'd like to discuss, feel free to contact me via Mail


Here you can see what I use on daily basis


Experience

AI/ML Engineer  @  Country Financial
Jul 2024 - Present
Deployed the first generative AI application in production at Country Financial, serving hundreds of agents
Built an Agentic RAG system integrating multiple multimodal data sources to resolve complex agent queries in seconds instead of hours
Trained a neural network document classification model to automatically process and index thousands of documents daily, enabling scalable AI-driven knowledge retrieval and automation across internal workflows
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Software Engineer Intern  @  Country Financial
Aug 2023 - Jul 2024
Migrated applications to Azure Web Apps using PHP & JavaScript, enhancing the EA and Cloud Platforms team's expertise in cloud deployment, monitoring, and logging
Refactored and migrated actuarial research code from SAS to Python documented and transition process
Enhanced skills in cloud infrastructure with a focus on Microsoft Azure, and honed expertise in CI/CD processes utilizing GitLab and pipelines
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Generative AI Researcher  @  New York University
May 2024 - Sep 2024
Contributed to a large-scale RAG research project (96% accuracy, 0.87 correlation) analyzing 5,800+ U.S. zoning codes to measure regulatory complexity and housing impacts
Increased retrieval contextual accuracy by ~50pts through prompt chaining and reasoning, reduced p95 latency (~20ms)
Applied LLM-based performance checks (RAGAS and Judge by LLM evaluators) to ensure high-quality research outputs
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Full Stack Mobile App Developer  @  Carle Illinois College of Medicine
Feb 2023 - May 2023
Led development of I-Heart, an innovative mobile app for congenital heart conditions using Flutter, Google Firebase, and 3D graphics libraries
Created an interactive platform to improve communication and understanding around cardiac abnormalities
Designed a user-friendly and accessible experience for patients and families, enabling physicians to better communicate cardiac conditions and treatment options
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Project Manager CS222  @  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Jan 2023 - Jan 2024
Guided students through challenging semester-long Machine Learning projects as a seasoned Project Manager and Mentor
Implemented effective code reviews and scrub boarding processes, ensuring student and project success
Provided mentorship and technical guidance to help students develop advanced ML skills and complete complex projects
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Project Manager CS124 Honors  @  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Jan 2022 - Jan 2024
Led small teams of developers to create meaningful software and learn various tech stacks including Flask, Python, Pygame, and HTML/CSS
Taught Git Version Control and implemented Scrum Project Management methodologies
Managed multiple teams ensuring timely completion of project deliverables while mentoring students in software development best practices
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Course Assistant CS124  @  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Jan 2022 - Jun 2022
Served as Course Assistant for CS124, providing support to students learning fundamental programming concepts
Assisted with Java programming instruction and software development fundamentals
Helped students understand core computer science concepts and debugging techniques
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