Nikita Sietsema is a Full Stack Software Engineer at XPRIZE, responsible for building, maintaining, and scaling software solutions that support XPRIZE and its breakthrough-driving competitions. She supports every stage of the software lifecycle, from requirements and development to testing and deployment, working closely with cross-functional teams.

Since earning her B.S. in Computer Science from Calvin University in 2021, Nikita has worked as a full-stack software engineer on a variety of projects. Her experience includes railcar manufacturing automation, K–12 data visualization and analytics, grocery subscription and order management, and her personal project—an American Sign Language study tool called TRAIN GO SORRY. She is passionate about using technology to create meaningful, real-world impact and was drawn to XPRIZE because its areas of focus strongly align with her personal and professional values.

In addition to her professional work, Nikita has been actively involved in mentoring through  Girls Who Code, where she supported and inspired young women to pursue careers in computer science and STEM. She loved watching her students’ confidence grow and takes pride in seeing many of them go on to earn STEM degrees. Nikita was also a finalist for the NCWIT Collegiate Award, recognized for her innovative and forward-thinking project, TRAIN GO SORRY.