Felix Akuta

Felix Akuta Software Engineer Profile Result-oriented Senior Java Developer with extensive expertise in fintech and digital payment solutions, currently delivering high-impact systems at Interswitch. Skilled in designing and deploying scalable, secure APIs and microservices using Java EE, Kotlin, Spring Boot, and cloud-native architectures, enabling seamless transaction processing across banking and financial platforms. Achieved measurable results including 30% reduction in server load, 50% faster request processing, and 25% fewer payment errors through performance tuning, code optimization, and efficient database query design. Experienced in implementing PCI-DSS–compliant security measures, ensuring data integrity, confidentiality, and regulatory adherence in financial applications. Proficient in AWS services (EC2, S3, Lambda, API Gateway, CloudWatch, RDS, and IAM) for deploying and managing distributed applications. Skilled in using AWS CDK and Terraform for Infrastructure as Code (IaC), enabling scalable and automated cloud provisioning. Adept at leading cross-functional teams of up to 15 engineers, driving projects from conception to production, and consistently delivering robust fintech solutions that enhance customer experience and align with business goals. Beyond core development, actively engaged in AI model training and evaluation, with hands-on experience in Chain-of- Thought (CoT) analysis, rubric-based response evaluation, and prompt optimization for improving reasoning consistency, traceability, and factual grounding in large language models (LLMs). Skills Technical Skills: Java, Spring Frameworks (Spring Boot, Spring Security), RESTful APIs, ORM (Hibernate), AWS CDK and Terraform, JUnit Tools: Postman, Swagger, Microsoft SQL, Jenkins, CI/CD (Argo CD), Spinnaker, SonarQube, BitBucket, Stash, GitHub, Docker, Kubernetes Cloud Platforms: AWS, Azure, GCP Communication Technologies: Apache Kafka, RabbitMQ Monitoring and Logging: ELK Stack, Prometheus, Grafana, New Relic, AppDynamics Security: OWASP, Encryption Protocols, Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Methodologies: Agile, Scrum, Test-Driven Development (TDD), PCI-DSS, OAuth2.0/OpenID Connect, NoSQL (Redis/MongoDB), IaC (Terraform), and Reactive Programming (WebFlux/Project Reactor), Chain-of-Thought (CoT) Analysis, Rubric-Based Response Scoring, Traceability and Reasoning Audits, Task framing, instruction refinement, and outcome validation for LLM-based workflows, kotlin, flutter Soft Skills: Communication, Leadership, Teamwork, Continuous Learning, Resilience, Adaptability, Conflict Resolution, Mentoring/Coaching, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Planning Project Management: Jira Professional Experience 2025/09 – Present California, United States Generalist - AI Training micro1 Curate, review, and refine diverse datasets to improve AI model accuracy, contextual understanding, and domain generalization. Evaluate model outputs for factual accuracy, coherence, tone, and alignment with task requirements across multiple domains (technical, analytical, and creative). Design and apply structured prompts to guide model behavior during supervised fine- tuning and reinforcement learning stages. Identify content gaps and propose data improvements to enhance model reasoning, traceability, and adherence to instructions. Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams (engineering, linguistics, policy) to ensure balanced model performance across languages and subject areas. 2023/ 11 – present Lagos, Nigeria Software Engineer Interswitch Group Leverage AWS cloud services (EC2, S3, Lambda, RDS, API Gateway, CloudWatch) to deploy and manage scalable microservices, ensuring high availability, fault tolerance, and cost efficiency in distributed fintech environments. Develop and optimize transaction service capabilities, such as manual reversal processing, transaction insights, and advanced search implementations, improving operational efficiency and user experience. Build scalable, high-performance backend services using Java, Spring Boot, and microservices architecture, enabling seamless handling of financial transactions with low latency and high throughput. Integrate advanced security measures (encryption, 2FA, OWASP practices) across account and transaction services, ensuring compliance with PCI-DSS and safeguarding sensitive financial data. Collaborate with cross-functional teams (product managers, QA, business analysts) to gather requirements, design end-to-end fintech solutions, and deliver production-ready services aligned with regulatory and business objectives. Implement monitoring and logging solutions using ELK Stack, Prometheus, and Grafana to ensure real-time system visibility, proactive issue resolution, and improved platform reliability. 2020/01 – 2023/ 10 Lagos, Nigeria Java Engineer HiersTechnology Integrate SMS APIs using Feign Client, enabling seamless communication across the project ecosystem and enhancing customer engagement. Implement Apache Kafka to streamline internal communication and ensure reliable, real- time data exchange between microservices. Orchestrate data exchange through external APIs, improving interoperability and cohesion across distributed systems Utilize Stash and Bitbucket for version control and collaboration, maintaining code quality and enabling efficient peer reviews through Git workflows. Automate builds, testing, and deployments with Jenkins, accelerating delivery cycles and ensuring robust CI/CD practices. Contribute actively to Agile ceremonies (daily stand-ups, sprint planning, retrospectives), fostering continuous improvement, adaptability, and alignment with business goals. 2018/08 – 2020/ 12 Lagos, Nigeria Software Engineer Synova Technology Solutions Built scalable APIs that reduced server load by 30% and increased request processing time by 50%. Implemented the integration of Paystack gateway for wallet creation and seamless transfer between lenders and borrowers, resulting in a 15% improvement in transaction processing time and a 25% reduction in payment errors. Developed a feature-rich banking app called 'MyBank' using Java, Spring Boot for backend and Dart. Optimized database queries and caching strategies, resulting in a 20% decrease in database response time and improved overall system performance. Enhanced security measures by implementing two-factor authentication (2FA) and encryption protocols, ensuring the protection of sensitive user data and compliance with regulatory standards. Collaborated with cross-functional teams including product managers, designers, and QA engineers to gather requirements, define project scope, and deliver high-quality software solutions on time and within budget Quickteller Platform A leading digital payments application in Africa that enables users to perform fund transfers, bill payments, airtime recharge, and merchant transactions. Smartfuel Application A fuel management and payment solution that digitizes the fuel distribution chain for consumers and merchants. Payment Reconciliation System An automated platform that matches transaction records with bank statements to ensure financial accuracy. Messaging & Notifications Service A microservice for real-time customer notifications across financial platforms. Education 2014/06 – 2020/04 Awka Anambra, Nigeria Food Science and Technology Nnamdi Azikiwe University