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ZK
ZAIN KHALIL KHAN
PORTFOLIO
Building secure systems

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Zain Khalil Khan

I work where cybersecurity, software engineering, and real-world IT operations meet. At DePaul, I study how systems fail. At work, I help keep them running. In my own builds, I turn both perspectives into security tools and full-stack products people can actually use.

Current
NASCAR IT
Degree
Cybersecurity
Minor
Computer Science
Graduation
June 2027

Security

Detection, cloud, identity

Experience

10 roles across 5 organizations

Direction

Security engineering and product

My story

I build from both sides of the screen.

The user asking for help and the engineer responsible for making the system work are never separate problems.

My interest in security grew through hands-on technology work, where downtime, confusing systems, and small configuration mistakes have immediate consequences for real people. Supporting users taught me to diagnose problems calmly, communicate without unnecessary jargon, and treat reliability as part of the user experience.

That operational perspective now shapes the software I create. At DePaul, I study the security and computer science foundations behind resilient systems. Outside the classroom, I turn those ideas into detection platforms, AI support tools, real-time applications, and internal software. I am most interested in work that makes complex technology understandable, gives people better decisions, and builds security into the product from the beginning.

Clear over clever
Security by design
Useful under pressure

Experience archive

Work that shaped how I build

5 organizations / 10 roles

Enterprise technology

NASCAR

Daytona Beach, FL

Information Technology Intern

May 2026 - Present

Supporting the technology teams that keep corporate, venue, and trackside operations moving in a high-availability motorsports environment.

  • Work across Service Desk, Business Applications, Trackside Technology, and Venue Technology to support users and operational systems.
  • Investigate hardware, software, network, and security issues, then document and deliver practical resolutions that minimize disruption.
  • Assist with technology deployments and provide clear technical guidance in a fast-moving enterprise environment.

Security product

Aegis Intelligence

Independent venture

Founder

Jan 2026 - Present

Building an AI-assisted security platform that turns reconnaissance data into structured findings and explainable attack-path analysis.

  • Designed multi-input reconnaissance workflows that analyze Nmap and Gobuster output, URLs, and IP addresses for asset discovery and domain profiling.
  • Built heuristic analysis that interprets raw logs, maps potential weaknesses to known CVEs, and models plausible exploit paths.
  • Integrated real-time OSINT and Google Search Grounding to identify technology stacks, exposed services, and likely misconfigurations.

Education technology

Premier Early Childhood Education Partners

Chicago, IL

AI and Software Development Intern

Jan 2026 - Present

Developing five internal programs that streamline knowledge sharing, IT operations, workspace administration, financial planning, and employee support.

  • Built Knowledge Base, a centralized application that makes internal procedures and institutional knowledge easier for employees to find and use.
  • Developed IT History and Workspace Management tools to document technical work, organize environments, and improve operational visibility.
  • Created FPA for financial planning workflows and Fixr, an AI-powered IT support application that helps users troubleshoot common technology issues.
  • Owned the development of all five applications from requirements and interface design through implementation, testing, and internal delivery.

IT Intern

Jan 2026 - Present

Providing dependable Tier 1 support for a distributed organization, with an emphasis on clear communication and consistent device setup.

  • Resolve PC, application, and Microsoft 365 issues for users across the organization through structured troubleshooting and follow-through.
  • Prepare and deploy hardware, configure iPads, and help maintain reliable day-to-day access to workplace technology.
  • Translate technical fixes into clear guidance so users can return to work quickly and confidently.

Campus technology

DePaul University

Chicago, IL

Technology Support Specialist

Jan 2026 - Present

Supporting classrooms, presentations, and events where reliable computing and audiovisual systems are essential.

  • Troubleshoot Windows and macOS computers, classroom A/V equipment, and conferencing systems during live academic and event use.
  • Support Microsoft Office, Teams, Zoom, Adobe applications, and audio/video workflows for faculty, staff, and students.
  • Maintain support documentation and equipment inventory so recurring work stays organized and repeatable.

IS Tier 2 Student Service Tech

Apr 2024 - Dec 2025

Handled escalated faculty and staff issues that required deeper diagnosis, careful ticket ownership, and cross-team coordination.

  • Diagnosed hardware and software problems across managed Windows and macOS systems.
  • Owned and resolved ServiceNow tickets, recording useful technical context and resolution details.
  • Coordinated with specialized teams when incidents crossed service boundaries, helping reduce downtime for university users.

Genius Squad Tech

Mar 2025 - Sept 2025

Delivered walk-up support across DePaul campuses for users who needed direct, hands-on technical help.

  • Resolved device, application, and connectivity issues for students, faculty, and staff.
  • Performed malware removal, operating-system installations, and network configuration while explaining each solution in plain language.

Help Desk Associate

Sept 2024 - Dec 2024

Served as a first point of contact for university technology questions while protecting account and system security.

  • Triaged technical requests from students, faculty, and staff and guided users toward timely resolutions.
  • Balanced responsive customer service with secure support practices and appropriate escalation.

COL Technician

Mar 2024 - May 2024

Kept technology-enabled classrooms ready for instruction and responded when classroom systems failed during use.

  • Checked and supported COL classroom technology, including audiovisual and presentation equipment.
  • Performed system diagnostics and assisted faculty with in-class issues to limit interruptions to teaching.

Information services

KAK Law Associates

Independent venture

Information Services Intern

Jul 2021 - Aug 2023

Combined technical support, information organization, and client service in a professional legal environment.

  • Maintained day-to-day IT operations, resolved technical issues, and organized legal documents for reliable retrieval.
  • Supported case research and handled client inquiries and scheduling with care for accuracy and professionalism.

Foundation

Education and operating toolkit

DePaul University / Class of 2027

Academic record

DePaul University

Chicago, IL

B.S. in Cybersecurity

Computer Science minor

Expected
June 2027
Recognition
Dean's List

Relevant coursework

Data Structures & AlgorithmsData AnalysisApplied Computing

Analyze and defend

Security

Turning telemetry, identity, and threat behavior into practical controls and investigations.

  • Detection engineering
  • Incident response
  • Penetration testing
  • Vulnerability assessment
  • Network security
  • Cloud security
  • IAM
  • SIEM
  • MITRE ATT&CK
  • Zero Trust
  • OSINT
  • Cryptography

Design and ship

Engineering

Building usable interfaces and dependable services from prototype through deployment.

  • React
  • Next.js
  • TypeScript
  • Python
  • Java
  • FastAPI
  • Flask
  • SQL
  • PostgreSQL
  • Firebase
  • Prisma
  • Data analysis

Operate and support

Systems

Troubleshooting the infrastructure, endpoints, and service workflows real teams depend on.

  • AWS
  • Docker
  • Kubernetes
  • CI/CD
  • DevSecOps
  • Linux
  • Windows
  • macOS
  • ServiceNow
  • Microsoft 365
  • Endpoint deployment
  • A/V systems

Engineering signal

Open-source activity

Syncing GitHub…

Developer profile

@zkkhan01

Public commits
Public repositories
Stars earned
Followers
View GitHub profile

Public code snapshot

Language footprint

Measured by bytes across public repositories, not a self-assessed skill score.

  • Python

    Automation, security tooling, data

    96.10%
  • Cython

    Performance-oriented Python

    1.92%
  • TypeScript

    Product interfaces and full-stack apps

    1.13%
  • CSS

    Responsive interface systems

    0.33%
  • JavaScript

    Browser behavior and prototypes

    0.24%

Beyond the screen

Leadership and community

6 roles

  1. DePaul CDM Undergraduate Ambassador

    Represent the College of Computing and Digital Media and help prospective students understand the program.

  2. DePaul CDM Grader

    Review coursework and support consistent academic feedback within the College of Computing and Digital Media.

  3. Student Council Leadership

    Served as Head Boy, Society President, Prefect, and Sports Captain, helping lead a community of more than 300 students.

  4. Executive Council Head, Chiraagh

    Led discussions on global issues and organized student campaigns and events.

  5. Media Head, SPES NGO

    Directed media outreach and created content supporting humanitarian initiatives.

  6. Social Media Manager, Pakistan Ju-Jitsu Federation

    Managed digital content and used visual storytelling to strengthen audience engagement.

Continue watching

See the work behind the story.

Explore security labs, full-stack products, applied AI experiments, and interactive demos built from the same hands-on perspective.