Jerry Shikanga

Koko Networks is a VC backed startup that creates and delivers technology to transform fast growing cities. I work on the Koko Fuel Product where my role includes:

• Develop ERP modules that manage manufacturing, transport, delivery and sales processes
• Design and build API modules to mediate between ERP and micro-tankers, agents, consumer apps and sales representatives.
• Conduct demos to internal and external users
• Work closely with other project managers, product managers, development teams and infrastructure specialists to deliver high availability solutions for mission-critical applications.
• Reviewed Python code and worked with development teams to correct problems, run test scenarios and prepare for deployment.
• Trained and mentored junior developers and engineers, teaching skills in API, ERP and DevOps and working to improve overall team performance.
• Revised, modularised and updated old code bases to modern development standards, reducing operating costs and improving efficiency by 35%.

My key wins include:

• Automating customer support process for customers who reach out via SMS to ticket creation in Atlassian support software and eventual resolution reducing customer care representative manual processes by uptown 10 minutes per ticket.
• Develop DevOps practices, Continuous Integration, Continuous Development and Code Quality tools that reduced deployment time taken by developers to less than 5 minutes.

MFS Africa is a Pan African mobile money payments hub connected to 320 million mobile money wallets across Africa. I was part of partner portals and reporting team. My role included:

• Write Python and SQL scripts for daily reporting for management purposes.
• Directed remote teams of junior developers in core squad dedicated to application design, development and quality assurance testing.
• Adjusted design parameters to boost performance and incorporate new features.
• Contributed ideas and suggestions in team meetings and delivered updates on deadlines, designs and enhancements.

My key wins include

• Exhibited strong technical aptitude and application expertise resulting in optimized performance, continuous improvement recommendations and product innovation.
• Automated error telemetry that helped catch issues early enough improving software reliability by 10%
• Established collaborative culture between Kenyan and Remote Teams in India to improve ways of work

Beyonic is a payments aggregator providing merchants with a single wallet that can access 23 mobile money networks across East, Southern and West Africa. As part of my role

• Revised, modularized and updated old code bases to modern development standards, reducing operating costs and improving functionality.
• Integrated new mobile money and bank networks into Beyonic 's network.
• Reviewed project specifications and designed technology solutions that met or exceeded performance expectations using Python and Java programming languages.
• Investigated new and emerging software applications within fin-tech space to design, select, implement and use administrative information systems effectively. This includes incorporation of AI in client support and transaction issues resolution processes.
• Conducted regression testing, analyzed results and submitted observations to development team.
• Consulted with engineering team members to determine system loads and develop improvement plans.
• Provided L4 technical support to Beyonic clients and partners.

My key wins included:

• Led handover of IPN Hub project from GSMA to Beyonic and consequently maintenance and development of IPN Hub v2.
• Redesigned of Beyonic Platform to handle both bank and mobile payments and connected it to over 32 banks in East Africa.
• Upgraded core Beyonic from Python 2 to Python3 and Django 1.7 to 2.1

Pharmily is an e-commerce platform targeting dealing in beauty and wellness product s for the Urban youth. I was part of the founding team. My role included

• Designed enterprise-level technological blueprints and system architectures.
• Briefed executives on technology risks and suggested ways to alleviate concerns.
• Facilitated ongoing team development and growth through training and professional skills enhancement.
• Created procedures for system monitoring, recovery, backup and optimization using telemetry tools.
• Communicated technical development stages and provided design support to all stakeholders encouraging participation for on-time execution.
• Interfaced with cross-functional team of business analysts, developers and technical support professionals to determine comprehensive list of requirement specifications for Pharmily.
• Wrote highly maintainable, solid code for Pharmily, forming core framework and earning consistent praise from subsequent developers since initial version.
• Gathered and defined customer feedback and requirements to develop clear specifications for improving Pharmily Products.

My key wins included:

• Built outstanding and dynamic team of 4 software developers which significantly boosted overall success of organisation.
• Orchestrated efficient large-scale deployments of Pharmily Platform, including testing features and correcting code reducing developer time in testing and deploying by 80%.

• Prepared and submitted reports and other documentation to assist development team members.
• Partnered with company mentor to learn best practices in software design.
• Prioritized assigned change requests and completed in order of priority.
• Analyzed source code to identify and rectify potential functionality issues.
• Collaborated with other developers to identify and alleviate number of bugs and errors in software.
• Wrote all technical documentation for new software in development.
• Received calls from clients and solved basic issues and forwarded complex ones to seniors. This helped seniors save 60% of their time spent on support issues.