Abdikhafar Issack
Lead AI Enginer
Nairobi
Summary
Technology leader and software engineer working at the intersection of software engineering, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and entrepreneurship. Founder and technology leader at Nocturnals Intellisoft, with hands-on experience designing and building production-oriented digital platforms, AI-powered applications, secure backend systems, SaaS products, and technology solutions for real-world business problems. Experienced across the software development lifecycle, including system architecture, backend engineering, frontend development, mobile applications, APIs, databases, cloud infrastructure, security engineering, deployment, and product development. Particularly focused on Generative AI, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), AI engineering, secure AI systems, cybersecurity, cloud security, SaaS architecture, automation, and technology entrepreneurship. Combines technical engineering capability with product thinking, communication, entrepreneurship, and leadership. A disciplined, execution-focused professional whose cadet background strengthened leadership, resilience, accountability, teamwork, and performance under pressure.
Overview
1
1
year of professional experience
30
30
Certification
3
3
years of post-secondary education
Work History
CEO & Lead AI Engineer
Nocturnals Intellisoft
Nairobi
- Lead the technical direction and product development strategy across software engineering, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
- Architect and develop modern web platforms, SaaS products, AI-powered applications, and secure digital systems.
- Lead full-stack engineering across frontend, backend, database, API, cloud, infrastructure, and deployment layers.
- Design scalable backend architectures and RESTful API ecosystems, including secure authentication, authorization, data management, and business logic.
- Build and integrate AI capabilities including RAG, semantic retrieval, embeddings, vector search, and LLM-based workflows.
- Apply cybersecurity-conscious architecture, application security, cloud security, server hardening, and secure deployment practices.
- Translate business requirements into technical architectures, product specifications, development plans, and production systems.
- Work with clients and stakeholders to understand business problems and convert them into technology solutions.
- Contribute to company strategy, hiring, product development, marketing, sales, and technology positioning.
- Technology company focused on modern software products, enterprise AI, cybersecurity solutions, and digital transformation.
Security Software Engineer
Enovise Group
Nairobi
04.2025 - Current
- Develop and maintain software systems with a strong focus on security and secure software engineering.
- Apply application security principles throughout the development lifecycle.
- Analyze software and infrastructure from a security perspective and address security risks.
- Work across application development, APIs, backend services, databases, cloud infrastructure, and production systems.
- Implement secure application architectures, authentication mechanisms, and deployment practices.
- Contribute to the intersection of software engineering, cybersecurity, and cloud technologies.
Cadet Officer
Kenya Defence Forces
Nakuru
- Identified, pursued and arrested suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
- Checked vehicle equipment for proper functioning prior to use.
- Utilized clear communication and interpersonal skills to build relationships with citizens.
- Trained other officers in firearms and self-defense tactics.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Bachelor of Science in Defence & Security Studies
National Defence University-Kenya
Nakuru 02.2021 - 02.2024
Bachelor of Science - Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering
Moringa School
01.2024
Skills
- Full-stack development
- Backend engineering
- Frontend engineering
- REST APIs
- SaaS architecture
- System architecture
- Database design
- Testing
- Production deployment
- Generative AI
- LLM applications
- RAG
- Embeddings
- Vector search
- Semantic search
- Prompt engineering
- AI automation
- Enterprise AI
- AI product engineering
- Application security
- Cloud security
- Secure software engineering
- DevSecOps
- Authentication
- Authorization
- API security
- Encryption
- Security hardening
- Risk awareness
- AWS
- EC2
- Linux
- Ubuntu
- Nginx
- Server administration
- Cloud infrastructure
- CI/CD
- Production systems
- Infrastructure security
- JavaScript
- TypeScript
- Python
- React
- Nextjs
- React Native
- Nodejs
- Expressjs
- PostgreSQL
- Prisma
- Redis
- Git
- Expo
- EAS
- SaaS product development
- Product strategy
- Technical leadership
- Startup development
- Client engagement
- Technical sales
- Team leadership
- SQL
- HTML
- CSS
- Tailwind CSS
- Webhooks
- Relational database design
- Security governance
- Mobile API integration
- Push notifications
- Safaricom Daraja API
- M-PESA
- Payment APIs
- AI APIs
- Cloud services
- Strategic Thinking
- Systems Thinking
- Problem Solving
- Product Thinking
- Entrepreneurship
- Public Speaking
- Technical Presentation
- Business Development
- Continuous Learning
- Resilience
- Adaptability
- Execution Under Pressure
- Security Mindset
- Cross-functional Communication
- Technology Innovation
Certification
- University of London, Security Management and Governance, 2024-12-01
- Google, Google Certified Cybersecurity Specialist, 2024-11-01
- Meta, Meta Certified Frontend Developer, 2024-11-01
- Meta, Meta Certified Python Developer, 2024-11-01
- Microsoft, Fundamentals of Azure AI Services, 2024-10-01
- Amazon Web Services, AWS Security Specialty, 2024-10-01
- Microsoft, Fundamentals of Machine Learning, 2024-10-01
Leadership Experience
Kenya Defence Forces, Cadet Officer / Senior Cadet / Junior Cadet, Leadership and team coordination in structured, high-accountability environments., Developed discipline, resilience, decision-making, communication, situational awareness, and operational planning., Strengthened ability to work under pressure, adapt quickly, manage time, and execute responsibilities reliably.
Core Competencies
Full-stack development, Backend engineering, Frontend engineering, REST APIs, SaaS architecture, System architecture, Database design, Testing, Production deployment, Generative AI, LLM applications, RAG, Embeddings, Vector search, Semantic search, Prompt engineering, AI automation, Enterprise AI, AI product engineering, Application security, Cloud security, Secure software engineering, DevSecOps, Authentication, Authorization, API security, Encryption, Security hardening, Risk awareness, AWS, EC2, Linux, Ubuntu, Nginx, Server administration, Cloud infrastructure, CI/CD, Production systems, Infrastructure security, JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, React, Next.js, React Native, Node.js, Express.js, PostgreSQL, Prisma, Redis, Git, Expo, EAS, SaaS product development, Product strategy, Technical leadership, Startup development, Client engagement, Technical sales, Team leadership
Selected Technical Projects
- Pulse Manor, AI-Powered Property Management Platform, Founder / Lead Engineer, Multi-platform property technology product for landlords, tenants, buyers, caretakers, and property managers., Full-stack architecture spanning Next.js, React, React Native, Node.js, TypeScript, PostgreSQL, Prisma, Redis, Expo, AWS, Nginx, APIs, notifications, and AI integrations., Built property management workflows, owner functionality, installment sales, owner portals, communications, notifications, and AI-assisted workflows., Managed production infrastructure, cloud deployment, mobile notification infrastructure, security, integrations, and system hardening.
- AI Invoice Management & Collections Platform, AI-powered platform designed to process invoices, identify outstanding balances, track customers, and automate payment reminders., AI Engineer / Software Engineer / Team Member, Built around practical AI automation for reducing manual invoice follow-up and improving payment collection workflows., Achievement: Third Place in the associated competition.
- Enterprise RAG Systems, Enterprise AI Architecture & Technical Presentation, Designed and explored production-oriented Retrieval-Augmented Generation architectures., Worked with document ingestion, intelligent chunking, embeddings, vector databases, semantic search, context augmentation, prompt orchestration, grounded generation, and AI evaluation., Focused on reliable enterprise AI that can reason over proprietary organizational knowledge.
- Safaricom Daraja API Integration, M-PESA Payments Integration, Implemented production-oriented M-PESA integration using Safaricom Daraja APIs., Worked with STK Push, B2C payments, reversals, Paybill confirmations, callbacks/webhooks, payment reference mapping, initiator credentials, RSA encryption, and security credential generation., Designed callback and payment-processing flows suitable for SaaS and business systems.
Speaking Industry Community Engagement
- Microsoft Africa Development Center, Technical Speaker, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Presented modern enterprise RAG architecture covering document ingestion, chunking, embeddings, vector search, context augmentation, prompt orchestration, grounded responses, retrieval quality, and evaluation.
- Cyber First East Africa 2026, Representative, Nocturnals Intellisoft, Participated in discussions around cyber defence, emerging threats, AI, cyber resilience, governance, and security intelligence.
- OpenAI Build Week Community Hackathon - Nairobi, Participant / Builder, Engaged with developers and AI builders around generative AI, AI applications, emerging technologies, and real-world product development.
- AfricArena Nairobi Summit 2026, Startup Pitching / Technology Ecosystem, Participated in a startup pitching experience involving climate technology, entrepreneurship, investor engagement, networking, and African technology innovation.
Leadership Professional Strengths
- Technical Leadership
- Strategic Thinking
- Systems Thinking
- Problem Solving
- Product Thinking
- Entrepreneurship
- Team Leadership
- Public Speaking
- Technical Presentation
- Client Engagement
- Business Development
- Continuous Learning
- Resilience
- Adaptability
- Execution Under Pressure
- Security Mindset
- Cross-functional Communication
- Product Strategy
- Technology Innovation
Professional Positioning
Artificial Intelligence × Cybersecurity × Software Engineering × Entrepreneurship. A multidisciplinary engineer capable of moving from business problem → product concept → system architecture → implementation → security → deployment → product iteration, while understanding both the technical and commercial dimensions of building technology products.
Target Roles
- AI Engineer
- Machine Learning Engineer
- Generative AI Engineer
- AI Solutions Engineer
- Software Engineer
- Full-Stack Software Engineer
- Backend Engineer
- Security Software Engineer
- Application Security Engineer
- Cloud Security Engineer
- DevSecOps Engineer
- AI Security Engineer
- Technical Lead
- Lead Software Engineer
- AI Product Engineer
- Solutions Architect
Languages
English, Professional proficiency
References
Available upon request.
Timeline
Security Software Engineer
Enovise Group
04.2025 - Current
Bachelor of Science - Bachelor of Science in Defence & Security Studies
National Defence University-Kenya
02.2021 - 02.2024
CEO & Lead AI Engineer
Nocturnals Intellisoft
Cadet Officer
Kenya Defence Forces
Bachelor of Science - Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering
Moringa School