From AI Hype to AI That Helps

I help companies simplify AI and turn it into practical, secure business value.

Struggling to translate AI hype into measurable ROI?
Want to automate internal workflows but don’t know where to start?
Looking to integrate LLMs into your stack without relying on cloud APIs or vendor lock-in?
Need someone who combines deep technical expertise with business sense?
Interested in privacy-first, open-source AI you can fully control?

About me

Hi! I’m Daniel Panea, a data scientist and AI engineer with a background in theoretical physics and a passion for intelligent systems that work in the real world. I help companies move beyond experimentation and deploy AI solutions that are modular, efficient, and fully under their control.

Whether you're trying to eliminate repetitive work with automation or integrate large language models into your existing tools, my mission is the same: deliver AI that’s reliable, privacy-conscious, and actually improves your bottom line.

My journey started with a PhD in theoretical physics and led me into high-performance computing, machine learning, and eventually AI engineering. I’ve spent the last 3+ years building custom algorithms, data pipelines and AI/ML systems across the semiconductor industry, geolocation, education, and enterprise automation. Always with a focus on data sovereignty and open infrastructure.

Why work with me?

Here's what sets me apart and how I can help drive value for your business:

Privacy-First Approach

I believe in building AI you own and control. I specialize in open-source and on-premise solutions that keep your data private, secure, and vendor-independent.
End-to-End Systems

From model training to deployment and monitoring, I design modular AI workflows that integrate seamlessly into your business operations and scale with your needs.
Deep Technical Foundations

With a PhD in theoretical physics and a master’s in machine learning, I bring analytical rigor and systems thinking to every project I touch.
Pragmatic Innovation

I don’t chase buzzwords, I build solutions that solve real problems. Every system I design is grounded in practical impact, measurable outcomes, and maintainability.

What my past clients and colleagues say about my work

Armin Pfauser

CEO and founder at digitflow GmbH

"Daniel is helping us as a freelancer to build AI and machine learning solutions for our clients. He is delivering exceptionally good work. He is very intelligent and knows what he is talking about. I can only recommend working with him."
James Smith

Founder at Mark My Words

"Daniel is a brilliant freelancer. Hardworking, smart, creative and personable. I could not recommend him more."
Chris Cooper

Founder at NeoMatrix

"Professional, smart and friendly. Daniel delivers outstanding work, and has a solid grasp of technical domains. We value his work, and hope to continue engaging with him in future."
Juan Trujillo Sevilla

Chief Optical Engineer at Wooptix

"It has been a privilege to have Daniel on our team these past two years. From day one, he proved himself an exceptional professional, not only by excelling in every task assigned to him, but also through his constant drive to improve our projects. His unique blend of theoretical training as a physicist, practical skills, and meticulous attention to detail make him a reliable teammate.

Beyond his technical abilities, Daniel consistently brought a commitment to quality, even when challenges pushed him outside his comfort zone. While his departure is a loss for our team, I have no doubt his multidisciplinary talent and adaptability will make him an great asset in his new career. Any client or team that works with him will gain a creative and rigorous professional."
Kiril Ivanov Kurtev

Tech Lead at Wooptix

"I had the pleasure of working with Daniel for two years at Wooptix. During this time, I was consistently impressed by his dedication, professionalism, and ability to quickly develop effective solutions to complex problems.

Daniel has strong expertise in Python and an excellent understanding of mathematical modeling, which he applies with precision to deliver high-quality results. He is a highly skilled professional and a valuable team player.

I highly recommend Daniel for any organization or project that requires technical excellence, problem-solving abilities, and a strong work ethic."

Here's how I can help you get started

AI Opportunity Audit
Map out which processes you can automate and how AI can create real value in your business.

Custom Solution Design
Develop AI systems tailored to your data, your infrastructure, and your use case.

LLM Integrations & Workflow Automation
Embed AI into your internal workflows using open-source models, custom pipelines, and clean APIs.

On-Prem & Open-Source Implementations
Keep your data secure and avoid vendor lock-in by deploying solutions you fully own and control.

Ongoing Support & Optimization
Monitor, maintain, and improve your systems for long-term value.

Tools & Technologies I Work With

Languages: Python, C/C++, CUDA, Bash, SQL
Frameworks: FastAPI, Huggingface, PyTorch, scikit-learn
Infra: Docker, CI/CD, REST APIs, local/private deployments
AI/ML: RAG, LLMs, prompt engineering, fine-tuning, open-source models
Data: PostgreSQL, pandas, NumPy, pipeline orchestration
Cloud & Deployment: AWS, Azure, on-prem, hybrid

Case Studies

Welcome to my portfolio of data science and AI projects. Each project demonstrates my expertise in delivering impactful solutions to real-world business challenges. Click on any project to see more details.

AI for Education

An AI-powered feedback system for Mark My Words, delivering real-time, personalized insights on student writing through RAG models and fine-tuned LLMs. Integrated data pipelines and fast asynchronous backend endpoints to support educators and students with scalable, context-rich automation.

Synthetic Data for Model Validation

A privacy-first synthetic data engine for Digitflow, enabling realistic AI model validation without exposing sensitive user information. Combined LLMs, probabilistic modeling, and rule-based simulation to replicate real-world behavior, typos, and data imperfections.

Custom ML Algorithms and Physics-Based Models

A physics-informed, ML-powered tracking upgrade for NeoMatrix, enabling reliable navigation in environments without access to GPS like tunnels and containers. Delivered real-time sensor fusion and predictive modeling using Kalman filters, custom CNNs, and PyTorch.

Let's have a virtual coffee together!

Want to see if we're a match? Let's have a chat and find out. Schedule a free 45-minute strategy session to discuss your AI challenges and explore how we can work together, or send me a message: me@danielpanea.com.

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