Hi, I'm Davide.a SW Engineer.a Researcher.an Innovator.

I'm a computer graphics researcher at the University of Milan, working on sphere-meshes and real-time 3D simulations.

Previously, I co-built the startup Develop-Players, scaling it to a €2.5M pre-seed valuation.

About Me.

Hey! I'm Davide, a software engineer and research fellow with a strong interest in computer graphics, algorithms and data structures, and full-stack development. 👨‍🎓

My work involves building graphical applications, optimizing rendering pipelines, and developing scalable web platforms. I have experience in C++ engine development, real-time 3D graphics, and full-stack SaaS applications. 👨🏼‍💻

Currently, I’m a research fellow at the University of Milan, where I work on real-time simulations, computational geometry, and interactive 3D applications. I also enjoy designing efficient backend systems and user-friendly web interfaces. 💻

Outside of work, I spend time solving algorithmic problems, contributing to open-source projects, and working on full-stack applications. I enjoy building tools that improve developer workflows and experimenting with new technologies. 🤓

I'm always interested in exciting projects and opportunities where I can apply my skills in computer graphics, system design, and web development. If you're working on something innovative in rendering, full-stack automation, or algorithmic problem-solving, let’s connect! 🔗

My Links

Programming Languages

C++CC#PythonJavaJavaScriptDartTypeScriptGoHTMLCSSPHPSQLBashZsh

Frameworks & Libraries

ReactReact NativeFlutterReduxNext.jsVue.jsNode.jsExpress.jsFlaskDjangoQtOpenGLThree.jsTailwind CSSBootstrapjQueryCUDA

Tools & Cloud Services

AWSDockerKubernetesGitHubGitLabJiraMongoDBPostgreSQLMySQL

Game & Graphics Software

UnityUnreal EngineGodot EngineBlenderThree.jsDaVinci ResolveAfter EffectsFigmaPhotoshop

Experience.

University of Milan
July 2024 - Present
Research Fellow
Milan, IT
  • Developed a C++ engine, with Qt, for creating and editing sphere-meshes, an advanced collider for cloth simulation in 3D wearer software.
  • Applied graph-like data structures for efficient memory management in constrained environments.
  • Enhanced algorithmic efficiency by ~20% through a novel disjoint set technique.
  • Performed low-level optimizations (SIMD, loop unrolling, and memory prefetching) to maximize performance.
  • Utilized profiling tools (Valgrind) to identify and optimize performance bottlenecks.
C++QtDear ImGuiOpenGLCUDACMakeValgrindLinux
Develop-Players S.r.l.
Aug 2021 - Aug 2024
Co-Founder & Software Engineer
Cesena, IT
  • Designed and deployed a cloud-native, serverless architecture using AWS Lambda, API Gateway, and DynamoDB.
  • Reduced AWS Lambda cold start latency by 30% through targeted optimizations.
  • Designed and implemented CI/CD pipelines using Git, AWS CloudFormation, and Kubernetes.
  • Automated testing and deployment for mission-critical services in a distributed cloud infrastructure.
  • Implemented real-time logging and monitoring pipelines to ensure system reliability.
  • Developed analytics pipelines for scalable data processing using MySQL and PostgreSQL.
  • Boosted client-side game performance by ~45% through mesh compression techniques.
  • Secured 700k+ € in investments from Opess Italia & 20Fund.
AWSKubernetesDockerPythonC#UnityReactFlutterNext.jsGitHub ActionsPostgreSQLMySQL
University of Bologna
Aug 2020 - Aug 2021
Research Fellow - Pre-Graduation
Cesena, IT
  • Developed serious games for children with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) and ADHD, integrating accessibility features.
  • Worked on a project using video games as a tool for cognitive assessment and therapy, leading to the foundation of Develop-Players.
  • Developed a prototype game in Unity and built a web platform for behavioral data collection.
UnityC#HLSL

Education.

Master of Science in Computer Science
2021 - 2024
University of Milan
Milan, IT
  • Graduated with a final grade of 110/110 with honors (GPA: 3.8/4.0).
  • Conducted research in computer graphics, focusing on sphere-meshes and real-time 3D simulations.
  • Received the Best Paper Award for my research.
  • Developed an open-source C++ library for high-performance geometry processing.
Computer ScienceResearchMathematicsComputer GraphicsC++
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
2016 - 2020
University of Bologna
Cesena, IT
  • Focus on software engineering, data structures, and computer graphics.
  • Built several projects in C++ and Java, including a real-time rendering engine.
Computer ScienceSoftware EngineeringGraphics ProgrammingC++Java

Projects.

An image of the Sphere-mesh Editor project.

Sphere-mesh Editor

C++ - IEEE CG&A - STAG2023 - Best Paper Award

A real-time editor and engine that allows users to create and tweak a sphere-mesh starting from a triangular mesh. Learn more >

An image of the Develop-Players project.

Develop-Players

Unity - AWS - C# - React - Flutter

A social impact spin-off from the University of Bologna, providing software to help students with ADHD and SLDs. Learn more >

An image of the Coeus Engine project.

Coeus Engine

C++ - OpenGL - CUDA - CMake - Python

A custom game engine with a rendering engine, physics system, and mathematical library, built in C++. Learn more >

An image of the Smoothed-Particle Hydrodynamics project.

Smoothed-Particle Hydrodynamics

C++ - OpenGL - CMake

A physics-based smoothed-particle hydrodynamics simulation with real-time rendering. Learn more >

An image of the Find Your Way project.

Find Your Way

Flutter - Flask - RaspberryPI - Python - C++ - ESP32 - Arduino - LoRa - UWB - STM32 - AWS

An advanced Internal Positioning System (IPS) for navigation in complex environments. Learn more >

An image of the Arrow project.

Arrow

Unity - C# - FMOD - Photoshop

A Castlevania-inspired action-platformer featuring dynamic combat and a unique journal system. Learn more >

Awards & Publications.

Best Paper Award
2023
STAG 2023 Conference
Presented at STAG2023
  • Awarded Best Paper Award for the Sphere-mesh editor tool presented at STAG2023.
ResearchAlgorithmsOpenGL
Pre-seed Investment
2021
Social Fare
Social Fare Accelerator
  • Secured 70k € in pre-seed investment for Develop-Players after the acceleration program at Social Fare.
PitchingStartup Accelerator
Round Investment
2023
Opess Italia & 20Fund
First Round Investment
  • Secured 600k € in funding as a first-round investment for Develop-Players scale-up.
InvestmentStartup Funding
Automatic and User-Assisted Sphere-Mesh Construction
2024
IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications
Online
Research WritingLaTeXGraphics Programming
User-Assisted Sphere-Mesh Construction
2023
The Eurographics Association
STAG 2023
Research WritingSphere-MeshGraphics Programming
Procedural Level Generator in Serious Games
2024
2024 IEEE 21st CCNC
IEEE Conference
  • Published the paper 'On developing a procedural level generator based on the Model Synthesis algorithm in the context of serious games'.
  • Authors: Davide Paolillo, Bryan Corradino, Gianni Tumedei, Mariagrazia Benassi, Catia Prandi.
  • https://doi.org/10.1109/CCNC51664.2024.10454803
Procedural GenerationModel SynthesisSerious Games
Eye-Riders! Cognitive Improvement in Neurodiverse Children
2024
2024 IEEE 21st CCNC
IEEE Conference
  • Published the paper 'Train Your Attention and Executive Functions with Eye-Riders! A Videogame for Improving Cognitive Abilities in Neurodiverse Children'.
  • Authors: Mariagrazia Benassi, Davide Paolillo, Matilde Spinoso, Sara Giovagnoli, Noemi Mazzoni, Luca Formica, Gianni Tumedei, Catia Prandi.
  • https://doi.org/10.1109/CCNC51664.2024.10454866
Cognitive ImprovementSerious GamesResearch Writing

Playground.

Try my Dijkstra Implementation:
Too easy! Try A* then:
What about sorting? Maybe topological can help:

Contact.

Shoot me an email if you want to connect! You can also find me on Linkedin or GitHub if that's more your speed.