Thomas Mwania
Nairobi
Summary
Strategic and results-driven Head of Software Engineering with a proven track record of leading high-performing engineering teams to deliver scalable, resilient, and customer-focused technology solutions. Experienced in building and evolving engineering organizations, aligning technical direction with business goals, and driving cross-functional collaboration across product, design, and executive teams. Skilled in modern cloud architectures, DevOps practices, agile methodologies, and data-informed decision-making. Passionate about fostering engineering excellence, mentoring leaders, and creating inclusive, high-trust team cultures that thrive on innovation and accountability.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Engineering
Turaco
02.2025 - Current
- Direct and scale software engineering teams across multiple products and services, ensuring alignment with strategic business objectives.
- Own the engineering roadmap, balancing long-term technical vision with near-term delivery goals.
- Hire, develop, and retain high-performing engineers and managers, fostering a culture of ownership, excellence, and continuous improvement.
- Drive architectural decisions and ensure engineering best practices across backend, frontend, DevOps, and QA.
- Collaborate closely with product, design, and business stakeholders to translate goals into scalable, maintainable software solutions.
- Implement and refine agile processes, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud infrastructure to support rapid and reliable delivery.
- Track engineering performance using metrics such as cycle time, deployment frequency, and system reliability (DORA metrics).
- Guide the team through technical and organizational change, including re-architecture, platform modernization, and team restructuring.
Engineering Manager
Turaco
01.2023 - 02.2025
- Developed a software architecture that supported scalability and reliability for the organization's products
- Leads a team of software engineers, providing guidance, mentorship, and support to ensure the successful completion of milestones while fostering a collaborative and high-performance Environment
- Ensures that software development processes adhere to industry best practices and quality standards. Implement robust testing and quality assurance strategies to deliver a reliable, bug-free code base.
- Allocates and manages resources effectively, including staffing requirements, and task assignment. Ensures the team has the skills and expertise to deliver the promise.
- Collaborates with product managers, designers, quality assurance team, and other stakeholders to align priorities and deliver timely solutions that meet business needs.
- Identifying the development needs of team members and providing coaching, training, and career growth opportunities.
- Continuously researches and implements new tools that boost quality and productivity within the team
Senior Software Engineer
Turaco
10.2021 - 01.2023
- Analyzes business problems and proposes innovative technical solutions.
- Debugging and resolving software defects, performance issues, and other technical challenges by applying critical thinking and troubleshooting skills to identify root causes and implement effective solutions.
- Providing technical guidance and mentorship to junior and mid-level engineers.
- Sharing knowledge and best practices, conducting code reviews, and promoting a culture of excellence within the team.
- Conducting research and experimentation to evaluate new technologies, frameworks, and tools that can improve software development processes or enhance productivity.
- Making informed recommendations for adopting new technologies.
Associate Software Engineer
Turnkey Africa Ltd
10.2020 - 08.2021
- Effectively coded software, bug fixes, and alterations based on specific design requirements and business needs.
- Documented migration plans for existing legacy software to support the latest industry architecture
- Oversaw induction, training, and performance management of junior engineers within the team
- Actively participates in formulating and implementing key performance indicators within the working team and the organization as a whole
Software Engineer
Riverbank Solutions
01.2017 - 09.2020
- Collaborated with project teams to understand software functions, build, and risk requirements.
- Effectively coded software, bug fixes, and alterations based on specific design
- Responsible for overseeing the completion of tasks, testing, and deployment of software within a collaborative unit.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to design robust and scalable software architectures.
- Translate business requirements into technical specifications and design solutions that meet performance, security, and scalability goals.
Quality Assurance Engineer
Riverbank Solutions
01.2015 - 12.2016
- Developed comprehensive test plans, strategies, and test cases based on project requirements, specifications, and operational needs.
- Created and maintained test artifacts such as test plans, test cases, test scripts, and test reports.
- Conducted risk analysis and prioritized test efforts based on business impact and criticality.
- Participated in the release management process by verifying release candidates and providing a sign-off for production deployments.
Data Analyst
Kenya Commercial Bank
09.2013 - 12.2014
- Successfully built a reliable management information system, analyzed and presented portfolio performance evaluation and projection to division heads and executives
- Successfully implemented effective compensation structures and employee appraisal structures for sales teams within my division.
Education
Bachelor of Commerce - Teachnology
Jomo Kenyatta university of agriculture
06.2011
Diploma in Software Development - Database administration
Institute of Software Technology
12.2013
Skills
- Communication
- Engineering Management
- Technical Leadership
- Collaboration
- Software Engineering
- Code Review
- Learning
- DevOps
Languages
English
Swahili
Personal Information
- Title: Engineering Manager
- Nationality: Kenyan
Timeline
Head of Engineering
Turaco
02.2025 - Current
Engineering Manager
Turaco
01.2023 - 02.2025
Senior Software Engineer
Turaco
10.2021 - 01.2023
Associate Software Engineer
Turnkey Africa Ltd
10.2020 - 08.2021
Software Engineer
Riverbank Solutions
01.2017 - 09.2020
Quality Assurance Engineer
Riverbank Solutions
01.2015 - 12.2016
Data Analyst
Kenya Commercial Bank
09.2013 - 12.2014
Diploma in Software Development - Database administration
Institute of Software Technology
Bachelor of Commerce - Teachnology
Jomo Kenyatta university of agriculture
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