Curriculum Vitae

Pelin Balci

MSc Industrial Engineer · Senior Lead Machine Learning Engineer

I build production-grade machine learning systems and research Retrieval Augmented Generation, Knowledge Graphs, TinyML, NLP, Large Language Models, and Reinforcement Learning. With a foundation in industrial engineering and a passion for open-source collaboration, I deliver applied AI solutions that balance rigor and real-world impact.

RAG & Knowledge Graphs NLP & LLMs TinyML Reinforcement Learning
Portfolio ↗
Location Ä°stanbul, Turkey
Experience 10+ years
Focus ML Engineering & Optimization
Community AYA contributor & mentor

Contact

Connect across professional and publishing platforms.

LinkedIn GitHub Website Medium YouTube

Skills & Toolbox

Hands-on expertise spanning operations research, ML systems, and embedded AI.

Core Domains

  • Operations Research, Mathematical Modeling, Simulation
  • Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Reinforcement Learning
  • Tiny Machine Learning, NLP, LLMs, Prompt Engineering
  • Transformers, NER Models, Retrieval Augmented Generation

Software & Platforms

  • Python (Pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn, Matplotlib, PyTorch, TensorFlow, TensorFlow Lite, SimPy, Streamlit)
  • LLM tooling: llama-index, LangChain
  • SQL, GAMS, Power BI

Experience

From ML engineering leadership to analytics and optimization roles.

2024 – Present

Senior Lead Machine Learning Engineer · Arçelik Global

  • Text classification pipelines with AWS deployment.
  • RAG initiatives: knowledge graphs and metadata extraction.
2023

Lead Data Scientist / ML Engineer · SabancıDx

  • Azure OpenAI GPT project compiling keynote speech content.
  • Web/App automation using NLP and GPT models.
  • Air handling unit energy optimization with reinforcement learning.
2022

Sr. Data Scientist / ML Engineer · SabancıDx

  • Retail demand prediction and productionization.
2020 – 2022

Data Scientist / ML Engineer · SabancıDx

  • Production breakage prediction and sensor recommendation.
  • IOT air quality product; monitoring with Power BI and Python.
  • Energy imbalance direction prediction on Databricks.
  • Delivery optimization: simulation with SimPy and staffing optimization with Gurobi.
2019 – 2020

Sr. Data Analyst · Adphorus (Sojern)

  • Algorithm performance reporting and A/B testing for digital marketing.
2017 – 2019

Commodity Portfolio Management Specialist · Enerjisa Sales

  • Built mark-to-market reporting, hedging strategies, and demand analyses.
2015 – 2017

Portfolio Optimization Specialist · Enerjisa Trading

  • Power generation optimization tools and long-term portfolio planning.
2013 – 2015

Project Management Specialist · MilSOFT Software Technologies

  • Software project management (CMMI5, Agile/Scrum), risk management, and HR analytics.
2010 – 2012

Teaching Assistant · Bilkent University

  • Industrial Engineering Department teaching and academic support.

Projects

Selected personal and live applications.

Live Apps

Research & Engineering

Education

Formal studies in industrial engineering and optimization.

Master of Science, Industrial Engineering

Bilkent University Graduate School of Engineering and Science (2010 – 2013) — GPA: 3.09 / 4.00

Master’s Thesis: Analysis of Locations of Existing Fire Stations in Ankara in Comparison to Optimized Locations

Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering

Gazi University Engineering and Architecture Faculty (2005 – 2010) — GPA: 3.44 / 4.00

Certifications & Trainings

Continuous learning across deep learning, embedded ML, machine learning, and leadership.

Deep Learning & Generative AI

  • AWS AI Practitioner Certification, Nov 2025
  • OxML 2025
  • DeepLearning.AI 2024 highlights
  • Retrieval Optimization to Vector Quantization; Knowledge Graphs for RAG; Quality & Safety for LLM Applications
  • Building Applications with Vector Databases
  • Google Cloud Generative AI, Introduction to LLMs (Coursera, 2023)
  • Generative AI with Large Language Models (Coursera, 2023)
  • ChatGPT Teach-Out (University of Michigan, 2023)
  • Deep Learning Specialization modules on NLP, sequence models, CNNs, TensorFlow (2021–2022)
  • CS231n Convolutional Neural Networks for Visual Recognition (Stanford)

Embedded & Classical ML

  • Applications of TinyML; Fundamentals of TinyML (HarvardX, 2022)
  • Introduction to Embedded Machine Learning (Edge Impulse, 2021)
  • Machine Learning Specialization (DeepLearning.AI, 2022)
  • Unsupervised Learning, Recommenders, Reinforcement Learning (DeepLearning.AI, 2022)
  • AWS Machine Learning Foundations (Udacity, 2020)
  • Google Machine Learning Crash Course with TensorFlow API (2020)
  • Udacity Intro to Machine Learning; Bayesian Machine Learning via Python (Udemy)
  • Advanced Data Analytics, Data Scientist Track (Sabancı University, 2018)

Leadership & Other

  • The Science of Stem Cells (AMNH, 2023)
  • Self Awareness and the Effective Leader (Rice University, 2022)
  • Discrete Optimization (University of Melbourne, 2020)
  • Udacity Nanodegrees: Bertelsmann Data Analyst; Google Android Basics
  • Intermediate/Intro to Python for Data Science (DataCamp, 2017)
  • Data Science Orientation (edX, 2017)

Awards & Scholarships

  • Advanced Data Analytics (Data Scientist Track) — 3rd Prize, Sabancı University (2018)
  • Brabant Water Demand Prediction — 3rd Prize, JADS 7th Data Challenge Week (2019)
  • Bilkent University Graduate School of Engineering and Science Scholarship (2010–2012)
  • TÃœBÄ°TAK Graduate Scholarship (2010–2012)

Languages & Interests

Languages

English (Advanced), Spanish (Beginner), German (Beginner)

Interests

Minimalism, Cycling, Lindy Hop & Solo Jazz, Chess, Solar car racing (TÃœBÄ°TAK Formula-G), Tech community building.