Kalkidan Dereje
Software Engineer-
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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
PROFILE
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Software Engineer with a strong background in
cybersecurity, AI engineering, and machine
learning. Skilled in Python, C/C++, JavaScript, and
Java, with experience in RAG systems, reproducible
AI workflows, and secure application development.
Proven track record through internships and
research in GenAI, Out-of-Distribution
generalization, and neurosymbolic AI, combining
technical depth with clear communication and
collaboration skills.
Cyber Security Intern
eTech
03/2024 – 07/2024 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Executed comprehensive vulnerability
assessments using Linux and Bash scripting to
identify system weaknesses and improve overall
security
Applied cybersecurity knowledge and honed
technical skills by participating in Capture The
Flag (CTF) competitions.
Authored clear reports, effectively
communicating technical findings and
demonstrating proficiency in report writing.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering
(Cyber Security Stream)
Addis Ababa University
06/2021 – 06/2025 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
With Great Distinction
DSA Fellowship
African to Silicon Valley
11/2022 – 10/2024 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Solving Data Structures & Algorithms problems on
LeetCode and Codeforces using Python
SKILLS
Technical Skills
Python, C/C++, Javascript, Dart, Java
Model Evaluation & Metrics, Data Curation
Dataset Quality Review, Benchmark Design,
Reproducibility Analysis
Git(version control), Docker, code reviews,
Continuous integration pipelines, Linux/Unix,
Bash Scripting
• Python (AI workflows, scripting, Web scraping)
Testing: Unit/Integration/Fuzz testing
GenAI: RAG, prompt engineering
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Soft Skills
Communication & Collaboration
Continuous Learning
Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking
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PROJECTS
KAVAS
Kifiya Avatar System
02/2025 – 05/2025
AI assistant integrating voice, face recognition,
and RAG for enterprise task automation
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AI Engineering Intern
Kifiya Financial Technology PLC.
12/2024 – 05/2025 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Contributed to the development of a RetrievalAugmented Generation (RAG) system
Conducted thorough integration, unit, and fuzz
testing for GenAI subsystems
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Machine Learning Intern
Icog Labs Inc.
09/2024 – 12/2024 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Implemented semantic search using vector
embeddings and Rust-based backends
Contributed to prompt engineering strategies for
improving GenAI behavior
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AI for Impact Hackathon Semifinalist
African to Silicon Valley
06/2024 – 10/2024 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Semifinalist at A2SV 2024 AI for Impact
Hackathon | Africa to Silicon Valley. Ranked
among the top 32 teams from over 1118+ teams
across Africa.
Built backend for smart transit system with route
optimization using Genetic Algorithms and
LSTM.
Enabled real-time scheduling with dynamic data
processing.
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Research Assistant
BitzBrain Research
04/2024 – present
Studied OoD generalization in ResNet, VGG, and
Transformer models.
Reviewed experimental datasets and ensured
clarity and reproducibility of MNIST distributionshift studies
Tested IRM on MNIST under distribution shifts.
Explored links to Neurosymbolic AI.
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TransitTrack
AI powered public transportation system
06/2024 – 10/2024
Real-time vehicle tracking, arrival prediction,
dynamic routing & digital payments
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Youtube Note Taking
Semantic search over extracted key points from
video content using ChromaDB
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CryptoSign
Digital Signature
05/2023 – 06/2023
Built using Django & ECC(C++) for secure file
signing and verification
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AI Safety Engineer
TestSavant
07/2025 – 09/2025 | Remote
Performed rigorous QA of adversarial datasets
(10K+ samples), documenting edge cases and
inconsistencies to improve evaluation protocols.
Developed and deployed a Python Evaluator
Package, standardizing validation for 20+ APIs
and models to boost team velocity and
consistency.
Designed and implemented a novel guardrail
model, preventing Model Theft and Backdoor
Attacks and enhancing production AI security.
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LANGUAGES
English — C2(Advanced/Professional Fluency)
Amharic — Native
