Christian Smith

For Christian Smith, software engineering is less about typing fast and more about thinking deeply.

“Software engineering is more than coding,” he says. “You need to understand what the customer wants, even when they don’t fully know themselves. There are always multiple ways to solve a problem, and some are better than others.”

At Arizona State University, Smith found a field that matched both his curiosity and his drive to build. Originally considering electrical engineering, he discovered programming in high school and quickly realized it was the right path forward.

This spring, Smith graduates from the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU, with a bachelor’s degree in software engineering. Recognized with the New American University President’s Scholarship and the Sun Devil State Award, he has focused his time on building practical solutions to real-world problems. He also received the ASU Moeur Award for academic excellence.

That focus came into sharp view during his senior capstone project. Working with industry sponsor Grey-box, a technology startup focused on expanding digital access, Smith and his team helped develop a content collaboration system for UNI, the company’s portable device designed to bring reliable access to digital resources in areas with limited internet connectivity. By providing offline access to tools like Wikipedia and other educational platforms, UNI helps bridge the digital divide in underserved communities. The project required adapting Nextcloud, a platform built for Linux systems, to run on Android, a complex integration that demanded both technical creativity and persistence.

Beyond the classroom, Smith gained hands-on industry experience through an internship with General Dynamics Mission Systems. It was there that he had a defining moment.

“During my commute, I was eager and ready to tackle whatever I was going to be working on that day,” he says. “Despite being busy and waking up early, I was always in a good mood, and that was a clear indication that I was on the right path.”

Mentorship also played a key role in his growth. After taking a foundational course with Associate Teaching Professor Robert Heinrichs, Smith returned as an undergraduate teaching assistant, helping fellow students navigate complex material while strengthening his own communication and problem-solving skills.

After graduation, Smith will continue with General Dynamics Mission Systems in Scottsdale, Arizona, as a full-time employee. Looking ahead, he plans to pursue a master’s degree in computer engineering and focus on developing software for embedded systems.

Favorites

Hobby: Sewing
TV show: Doctor Who
Movie: Now You See Me
Activity: Gaming
Game: Minecraft

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ spring 2026 class.

Written by Kelly deVos