Eric Nortmann

About Me

I am a Software Engineer and Computer Science student at the University of Central Florida, specializing in hardware-to-software integration, interactive systems, and simulation.

Currently, I am a Software Engineering Intern at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, supporting the Artemis Mission and Exploration Ground Systems. Working within the Advanced Imaging and Analysis Laboratory, I develop custom Python and ROS-based camera controllers for the SPIDR tracking system to capture critical rocket launch telemetry and imaging.

Previously, I served as an Assistant Scholar at Limbitless Solutions, using C++ and Unreal Engine to engineer training games that interface directly with electromyography (EMG) sensors for bionic limb patients. Along with my background developing VR simulations for the UCF Institute for Simulation and Training, my work is driven by a passion for translating complex physical data into functional, interactive software.

Experience

Software Engineer Intern

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

August 2026 – Present

Working in the Advanced Imaging and Analysis Laboratory (AIAL) on the System for Photogrammetric Imaging, Detection, and Ranging (SPIDR) Project.

Assistant Scholar

Limbitless Solutions

May 2025 – August 2026

• Leading the technical development of an interactive Unreal Engine training game, architecting scalable, Object-Oriented Design core systems in C++.
• Partnering across interdisciplinary game design and 3D art teams to coordinate feature development, translating design mechanics into functional C++ logic and resolving critical engine errors.
• Engineered the integration of electromyography bionic hardware directly into the engine, mapping physical sensor inputs to responsive in-game actions with 95% accuracy for pediatric patient training.

Undergradute Researcher

The DRACO Lab

January 2026 – May 2026

• Conducting research on resilient algorithms for decentralized autonomous drone swarms as part of the SHARKS project (Secure, Heterogeneous, Autonomous, Rotational Knowledge for Swarms).
• Designing multi-agent coordination systems that rely on local sensing and simple agent-to-agent communication, removing the need for a central controller.
• Programmed a Reinforcement Learning (RL) simulation in Python using Gymnasium, implementing a tabular Q-learning algorithm with epsilon-greedy exploration to train autonomous agents in optimal pathfinding.

Outreach Lead

Graphics Programming Knights

July 2025 – May 2026

• Transformed a small interest group into a thriving community of 160+ members, establishing the club as a central hub for computer graphics at UCF.
• Collaborated with technical leads to promote and attend specialized computer graphics workshops.

XR Software Engineer Intern

UCF Institute for Simulation and Training - METIL

December 2025 – January 2026

• Created V-RADS (Virtual Radiation Awareness & Detection System) for METIL, in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE) and ORETTC (Oak Ridge Enhanced Technology and Training Center).
• Developed a modular radiation detection system in Unity 6 (C#), utilizing the Inverse Square Law to simulate realistic radiation spread and dosage.
• Built custom XR Interaction Toolkit mechanics, including a virtual Geiger counter and locomotion systems optimized for user comfort.
• Implemented the Fisher-Yates Shuffle to dynamically randomize hazard scenarios, ensuring replayability.

Game Programmer Intern

The AAT Project

January 2025 – May 2025

• Developed core systems for a turn-based combat game using Unity and C#, building the foundational architecture for the game’s combat loop.
• Implemented complex state management logic using Enumerations and Object-Oriented principles to efficiently handle character abilities, combat statuses, and game flow.
• Integrated interactive gameplay mechanics within the Unity scripting environment to create a responsive and engaging player experience.