About me

Hey 👋 I’m Ali Zahid Raja - a Serial Systems Builder working at the intersection of AI, startups, and the global tech ecosystem. Over the past few years I’ve worked across multiple global engineering roles while living in Pakistan ranging between $8k–$12k/month. Through that journey I realized something most engineers never learn: The tech industry is not one market. There’s the local market, and there’s the global tech market, where engineers are valued based on impact rather than geography. Today I spend my time: • building AI and software systems • working with startups and founders • helping engineers position themselves for global opportunities • sharing lessons from real-world systems and startup failures Some highlights from my journey: Top 0.1% globally in Advent of Code (Ranked #1 in Pakistan) Built products used in 150+ countries Founder of Islam&AI Delivered 1000+ freelance engineering projects since 2017 Outside tech, you’ll usually find me: • traveling whenever possible • restoring old cars (I rebuilt a 1980 Datsun 120Y) • experimenting with new ideas and startups If you’re an engineer trying to break into the global tech market, or a founder working on AI-first systems, I’m happy to share what I’ve learned along the way. Let’s build something meaningful 🚀