Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Timeline
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Duncan Kinuthia

Senior Backend Engineer
Nairobi

Summary

I am a Senior Backend Software Engineer with 7+ years of experience seeking a challenging position in an organization that rewards dedication and proficiency in backend software engineering. I am highly skilled in TypeScript, NodeJS, Go and AWS Serverless architectures. I also am very passionate about Web3 and OpenAI.

Overview

9
9
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education

Work History

Senior Backend Software Engineer (Onboarding and Compliance)

Yellow Card App
Nairobi
03.2021 - Current
  • Backend engineer in charge of the customer onboarding, authentication and KYC flows on the platform
  • Reduced user KYC process from 2 - 3 business days, to an average of four minutes
  • In charge of engineering a module to identify and stop scammers on the platform, who target many customers, given it is a cryptocurrency exchange
  • In charge of identifying and preventing promo code fraud on the platform
  • Developed a micro-service to process promo code redemptions and automatically identify and prevent fraud
  • Streamlined development processes to increase efficiency and reduce production time.
  • Improved application performance with optimization of database queries, ensuring smooth and efficient data retrieval.
  • Mentored junior developers, sharing knowledge and expertise to support their professional growth and development within team.

Lead Engineer

Raise
Nairobi, Nairobi Province
06.2020 - 02.2021
  • Led the automation of the legal process involved in the issuance of private securities through the introduction of electronic securities certificates
  • Championed an automation of the user onboarding flow allowing startup founders to onboard their company cap-tables with minimal assistance from customer support
  • Regularly reviewed peers'' code contributions, offering constructive feedback to enhance overall product quality.
  • Facilitated smooth handovers between developers working on different parts of a project by enforcing strict documentation standards across all codebases.
  • Improved cross-team collaboration by initiating regular knowledge-sharing sessions, fostering a greater understanding of each team''s strengths and areas for improvement.
  • Led the design of robust software architectures that facilitated seamless integration with existing systems, minimizing disruption during implementation.

Software Engineer

Raise
Nairobi
07.2019 - 05.2020
  • Among the first engineers in the development of the Raise platform, a platform that enables the digitization of paper-based private securities in Africa
  • Automated the securities calculations (ownership, employee stock plan vesting, convertibles), which are commonly done on spreadsheets
  • Re-architected the platform NodeJS and GraphQL backend to only populate objects requested by the frontend API
  • This extensively reduced the API response time and led to a promotion to senior engineer
  • Streamlined deployment processes, significantly reducing deployment time and minimizing errors.

Data and Cyber Security Engineer

e.KRAAL Innovation Hub
Nairobi
07.2017 - 06.2019
  • Developed and deployed a data analysis tool that used graph theory and network analysis to establish any existing links between two or more entities in datasets
  • Involved in the deployment of a big data analysis system under the Hadoop ecosystem
  • Involved in the training of software development and data analysis interns and junior developers
  • Undertook penetration testing and web application vulnerability assessments for clients' web servers and applications
  • Extended the code base for Fruity Wi-Fi, an open-source wireless network penetration testing tool

Software Engineering Intern

Cytonn Investments Management Limited
01.2017 - 06.2017
  • Developed an internal project and employee task management solution that automated the company's internal project and task management
  • Part of a team that automated the company's clients' investments management and returns tracking
  • Deployed a web application for virtual real estate tours for the company's clients
  • Collaborated with software engineers to develop and test application procedures for system efficiency.
  • Participated in code reviews and maintained high-quality standards throughout codebase.

Cyber Security Intern

e.KRAAL Innovation Hub
01.2016 - 09.2016
  • Undertook penetration testing and web application vulnerability assessments for clients' web servers and applications
  • Extended the code base for Fruity Wi-Fi, an open-source wireless network penetration testing tool
  • Collaborated with IT team to identify potential security risks and develop mitigation strategies.
  • Enhanced network security by conducting vulnerability assessments and implementing recommended patches.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Computer Science

University of Nairobi
05.2013 - 10.2016

Skills

  • TypeScript

  • NodeJS

  • Go

  • GraphQL

  • REST

  • PostgreSQL

  • Reddis

  • DynamoDB

  • MongoDB

  • Elasticsearch

  • Serverless

  • Cloudflare

  • AWS

  • GCP

  • Express

  • VueJS

Timeline

Senior Backend Software Engineer (Onboarding and Compliance)

Yellow Card App
03.2021 - Current

Lead Engineer

Raise
06.2020 - 02.2021

Software Engineer

Raise
07.2019 - 05.2020

Data and Cyber Security Engineer

e.KRAAL Innovation Hub
07.2017 - 06.2019

Software Engineering Intern

Cytonn Investments Management Limited
01.2017 - 06.2017

Cyber Security Intern

e.KRAAL Innovation Hub
01.2016 - 09.2016

Bachelor of Science - Computer Science

University of Nairobi
05.2013 - 10.2016

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Duncan KinuthiaSenior Backend Engineer