Engineering News Fall 2023

While most kids at the age of 14 are spending their summer vacation going to the beach, hanging out with their friends, or attending summer school, Kairan Quazi is starting his first job as an engineer for Space X’s Starlink just one month after graduating with his Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Santa Clara University (SCU). Kairan's journey into computer science and engineering began at a young age, excelling in the subject and completing his school's computer science curriculum up to the 8th grade level by the time he was in 2nd grade. Throughout his accelerated academic career he has faced challenges, but with the support of his family and friends, he has officially become Santa Clara’s youngest graduate.

Encouraged by an elementary school instructor, Kairan enrolled in an advanced programming school, where he collaborated with industry professionals on challenging technical projects. At just six years old, Cathy O'Neil's “Weapons of Math Destruction” inspired him, sparking a passion for AI and using technology for societal good. At 10 years old, he secured a prestigious internship with the Human AI Lab at Intel Labs, contributing to the development of a predictive speech generation system to aid disabled individuals, famously used by Dr. Stephen Hawking. 

To balance his advanced academics, Kairan's parents emphasized focusing his free time on hobbies and friendships, leading to him obtaining a black belt in Kajukenbo, a hybrid martial art from Hawaii. At SCU’s School of Engineering, he found a community that shared his interests, facilitating the formation of deep bonds. Among these shared interests are his passion for video games and reading. Additionally, Kairan has been playing the piano for several years and recently took up tennis, finding joy in activities that keep him grounded. Traveling with his family and close friends is another favorite pastime, with recent adventures including cruising the fjords in Norway and revisiting London. Even though he was in a demanding academic environment, Kairan managed the stress exceptionally well, attributing it to his upbringing that prioritized intellectual curiosity and learning over exam-focused academics. This balanced approach to life has enabled Kairan to excel in both his academic pursuits and personal interests even with the challenges that have been thrown his way.

While his accelerated entrance into college was an impressive feat, it did not come without its obstacles. Kairan started college at only nine years old. Although he was thriving at Las Positas Community College, because of his unique position, the California Department of Education could not waive his K-12 graduation requirements. He balanced his college courses and worked backward to qualify for his highschool diploma a year later. While on an accelerated learning track, Kairan always had the support of his elementary school friends and his classmates in college from both Las Positas Community College and later at SCU. 

Finding peers with common interests at Santa Clara has been an important part of Kairan’s student experience. Amidst the memories that have shaped his college journey, a fond moment Kairan cherishes is from the Fall of 2020. On the first day of classes, the university featured him on its Instagram page, and he was astonished by the overwhelming response. Hundreds of welcome emails and Instagram direct messages poured in from fellow students, making him feel instantly welcomed and appreciated. Through this experience, he quickly formed numerous new friendships, confirming that he was exactly where he was meant to be. However, there was a drawback of being underage in college that Kairan found humorous – Kairan attempted to rush the engineering fraternity Theta Tau, only to discover that even professional fraternities require members to be at least 18 years old. Nonetheless, he received a kind letter inviting him to participate informally in their events, showcasing the campus community's camaraderie and inclusiveness.

Kairan, having experienced the challenges and opportunities of being an accelerated learner within a sequential system, offers valuable advice to others in similar positions. He emphasizes the importance of building a network of mentors across industries aligned with their passions, a practice he started at age nine. These mentors have amplified his learning and provided invaluable perspectives and support for executing his project ideas. Additionally, Kairan advises, “build a network of friends across different majors, industries, and backgrounds where you can challenge and shape each other’s views. I am really grateful for a large group of close friends at SCU where we serve as sounding boards for each other.” Looking towards the future, Kairan shares his intense desire for impact in the world of technology, whether as a founder operating at the intersection of data, AI, and security or as an innovative leader from within. His ultimate goal is to effect innovation with a tangible impact on daily lives while giving voice to outliers who don't fit conventional assessment boxes, ensuring their perspectives are heard and valued.

As Kairan begins his journey at SpaceX's Starlink, he is filled with excitement and purpose. The opportunity to be a part of something so much bigger than he ever imagined fills him with awe and anticipation. Beyond the obvious societal benefits of internet access, he is eager to explore the broader applications of Starlink's technology, particularly in areas like precision farming, where satellite images could revolutionize agricultural practices. Stepping into the SpaceX culture, he embraces the principles of ownership and accountability, ready to thrive in this environment even as a new addition to the team. While he may have experienced imposter syndrome during the interviews, he feels honored and humbled by the trust in his abilities and potential to work on some of the most challenging problems in the field. 

A culmination of his experience, the encouragement from his parents, and the support of the engineering community, has filled Kairan with a deep sense of inspiration and determination. Kairan is excited to contribute the skills he learned at SCU’s School of Engineering and his passion to the cutting-edge innovations at Starlink, knowing that this experience will profoundly shape the trajectory of his professional journey.

External stories on Kairan Quazi

• Kairan Quazi Wikipedia Page
• People: Parents Feared 'We Were Failing' Son. Now He's a 14-Year-Old College Grad with a Job at SpaceX
• The Circuit News: First Year of Science, 14-year-old Engineer, Collecting Space Debris like Star Trek
• The Mercury News: He’s 14, just graduated Santa Clara University and about to join SpaceX
• Kron4: Kairan Quazi, 14, hired by SpaceX, graduates Santa Clara University
• Los Angeles Times: He’s about to graduate college and join SpaceX as an engineer. He’s 14
• USA Today: Kairan Quazi, 14, is the newest team member of SpaceX: 'Nobody winced at my age'
• San Francisco Chronicle: Full sentences at 2 and complex math at 6. Next up, this 14-year-old genius starts a job at SpaceX
• The Santa Clara: 14 Year Old Kairan Quazi to Graduate with Bachelor’s Degrees in Computer Science and Engineering