Brian Mokandu

Resume Personal details Name Brian Mokandu Email address - Phone number - Gender Male LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/brian-mokandu-3a- Github github.com/brianbrix Profile Experienced Software Engineer with expertise in backend development, cloud deployment, and system integration. Skilled in working with multiple programming languages but with strong proficiency in Java. Experienced in modernizing legacy applications, enhancing security, and building scalable microservices. Proficient in cloud computing (Azure, Kubernetes, Docker), CI/CD pipelines, API development (REST, GraphQL, SOAP), API documentation(OpenAPI, Swagger) and database management (MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB). Skilled in designing and deploying distributed caching strategies using tools like Redis to enhance application scalability and responsiveness. Adept at leading teams, mentoring engineers, and conducting technical interviews. Successfully contributed to large-scale projects, including Ardhisasa (Kenya’s National Land Information Management System). Passionate about building high-performing, secure, and efficient applications. Education Sep 2015 - Oct 2019 BSc. Software Engineering Multimedia University of Kenya Skills Technical Skills Languages: Java, Python,JavaScript, SQL Backend Development: Java (Spring ecosystem, Spring boot, Spring Security, Spring Data, Spring Batch, Spring Integration,Reactive Spring,Hibernate) Cloud & DevOps: Azure, Kubernetes, Docker, CI/CD (Git, Azure DevOps, GitLab) Databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB Caching: Redis, Ehcache Software Version Control Unit and integration testing APIs & Integration: REST, SOAP, Apache Kafka, RabbitMQ Messaging and Streaming: Apache Kafka, RabbitMQ Operating Systems: Unix based and Windows Soft Skills Creativity and innovativeness - Mindset to come up with better ways of doing things. Leadership - Time-management, Team-management skills Communication - Active listening, Verbal/Non-verbal communication skills. Critical Thinking - Ability to take time to analyse situations and come up with relevant solutions. Teachable - Eagerness to learn. Teamwork - Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse team with one goal Professionalism - Working with competence Trustworthy and Honest Accountability - Always want to be responsible for my own actions. Experience Jul 2023 - Present Software Engineer Consultant Development Gateway- An IREX Venture Backend development using Spring, Hibernate and JAX-RS(Jersey) integrated with PostgreSQL and MySQL database Optimising native SQL queries in the backend which improved application performance by 30%. Implemented asynchronous for frontend React User Interfaces which improved application load time by over 50%. Development of intuitive user interfaces using React and Wordpress gutenberg. Backend development using Spring boot and Spring Data Documentation of backend APIs using Swagger2.0 Migration of legacy application from Spring 3 to Spring 5, Hibernate 4 to Hibernate 5 and Jersey 1 to Jersey 2 Integration of Aid Information Management System with Blockchain technology Upgrading legacy application security to use modern security using Spring Security significantly reducing cases of security issues Deploying applications to both on premise and on-cloud servers. Participating in interviewing of new software engineers. Apr 2023 - Jun 2023 Senior Software Engineer Credable Group Backend development using Java Spring Boot integrated with PostgreSQL database for relational data and MongoDB for non-relational data. Designed and implemented microservices architecture for existing system, reducing system downtime by 30%. Application deployment-cloud and on-site Added features to existing software applications to fit new customer requirements Tested, maintained and monitored deployed applications. Documentation of REST APIs using OpenAPI 3.0 Mentored junior developers significantly improving team productivity Nov 2022 - Apr 2023 Senior Software Engineer Cellulant Group Backend development using Java Spring boot together with PostgreSQL database. Application deployment-cloud and on-site Added features to existing software applications to fit new customer requirements. Tested, maintained and monitored deployed applications. Created and maintained automated CI/CD Pipelines using Gitlab. Integration of applications with other applications(new and existing) Developing of Message Consumers/Publishers using RabbitMQ/Java Monitoring application Performance/Logs using Newrelic. May 2021 - Nov 2022 Payment Integration Developer Equity Group Holdings Limited Lead the Development Team in developing applications using Java(Spring) integrated with Microsoft SQL server database and microservice architecture which improved system performance by 25%. Developed web portal backend using Python(Django) with PostgreSQL database. Development of Customer Portal Frontend using React Js. Added features to existing software applications to fit new customer requirements. Tested, maintained and monitored deployed applications. Created and maintained automated CI/CD Pipelines using Azure DevOps. Integration of applications with other applications(new and existing) Development and exposing of REST and SOAP APIS on Azure API manager. Monitoring application Performance using Microsoft App Insights. Jun 2019 - May 2021 Software EngineerGeoproject Kenya(National Land Information Management System) Team Lead for Desktop Application Development Team Selected appropriate libraries and open source technologies for project integration. Developed, tested and deployed Desktop Applications using PyQt5 framework and other Python libraries. Developed backend applications using Python Django. Developed e-commerce system backend using Java Spring. Designed, coded, tested and deployed new features and functionality using CI/CD best practices. Identified complex system and software problems, evaluated troubleshooting options and developed solutions. Documentation of APIs using Swagger Closed security loopholes by debugging and patching software. Biggest achievement: Enabled digitization of land records for 10 million users in Kenya Jan 2018 - Jun 2019 Software DeveloperShara Solutions Limited Developed web applications using Python Django and PHP Laravel for backend and Angular Js for Front End Developed desktop applications using Java Developed applications using Python for Data Science and Machine Learning Website Design using HTML5, CSS3 and Javascript Hybrid Mobile Apps Development using Ionic Framework Took requirements from design through to implementation both independently and with larger team. Jan 2016 - Present Freelance Software DeveloperUpwork and other platforms Building software applications for clients using various programming languages and frameworks(PHP, Laravel, Python, Django, C#, Java, Javascript(Node Js and Angular Js)) Deployment of Software Systems using Docker together with Kubernetes Leveraged technical expertise to support, maintain, document and enhance software functionality. Projects Reconciliation System for Credable Group Designed and developed an automated daily transaction reconciliation system for Credable group which improved the reconciliation process by 80%. Integrated the reconciliation system with existing Payment gateway using SOAP and REST APIs. MPESA Payment Integration System Designed and developed a middleware system to enable e-commerce system owners to integrate with MPESA epayment. Integrated the integration system with client systems. GIS Plugin for GeoProject Kenya Designed and developed a QGIS plugin for tracking land information for Kenya Integrated the plugin with existing backend APIs to enable sharing of data. Staff Digital Meal Card for Geoproject Kenya Designed and developed a digital staff automated meal card that uses QR code as a pass for each meal.