Experience

• 

  Toasted Marshmallow Co

  • South Africa
  • Software Development
  • 1 - 100 Employee

  • Managing Director / Software Developer

    • Mar 2021 - Present

    In March 2021, Toasted Marshmallow expanded, welcoming 2 junior developers from The University of Pretoria, my alma mater. This marked my evolution into a multifaceted role as Managing Director for the company and, Engineering Manager / Senior Software Developer / System Architect for some of the projects. Our primary project was the development of the Warehouse Execution Software (WES) for Storage Management Systems (Pty) Ltd or “SMS”.Adapting to SMS’ preferences, we shifted from Neo4j to a more conventional MS SQL database, aligning with them and their customers' comfort with Microsoft solutions. My role involved managing this migration, architecting the entire WES solution, tackling challenges from basic CRUD operations to intricate multi-threaded task management for automated machines and devising effective recovery protocols for task failures. This coupled with working with our frontend developers to design a user-friendly UI. The complexity increased as we integrated with diverse client ERP systems like SAP.One of my notable contributions was developing a full stack Blazor server application named 'The Whisker,' a component of the WES suite, which facilitated communications with Omni-Mole and other warehouse machinery using a unique proprietary RF protocol.Our team grew progressively, adding another member in late 2021 and 3 more in early 2023, bringing our total team to 8 members (including me).Beyond the WES project, we ventured into building a human resources Blazor server application for a hospital group, streamlining their hiring and staff management processes. The team and I also used low-code platforms like Wix and Webflow. The Toasted Marshmallow website was built using Webflow.

  • Co-Founder

    • Sep 2019 - Feb 2021

    In 2019, I co-founded Toasted Marshmallow (Pty) Ltd, a software venture that began as an ambitious side project. As elected leader among the shareholders, I steered the company's direction, transitioning from project management to running the entire operation.Establishing the company in South Africa was a learning curve, filled with challenges unique to the region. We brought on board an accountant to streamline our payroll and business tax affairs. Internally, we adopted Microsoft SharePoint for our business tools, set up a domain, and initiated email services through Outlook.A core focus was developing robust business processes for code development and version control. We started with Atlassian BitBucket and SourceTree, eventually transitioning to Microsoft Azure DevOps. We also did a few minor Wix websites to add to our business income. Significantly, we embarked on R&D work for Storage Management Systems (Pty) Ltd, my previous employer. We aimed to create an advanced warehouse management and traffic routing software for their Omni-Mole machines, collectively termed the Warehouse Execution Software (WES). I personally took charge of architecting and developing the backend API for the Omni-Mole WES using a Microsoft ASP.NET Core API project, complemented by a React application on the frontend.Our initial database choices, MongoDb and Neo4j, were strategic. Neo4j's graphing capabilities were particularly useful in addressing the traffic routing needs of the Omni-Mole system.While I balanced my part-time work with my permanent role at Storage Management Systems, I also managed the React development tasks of our full-time frontend developer (also a co-founder). This role represented a significant step in my career, combining technical skill with leadership in a burgeoning business environment.

• 

  Storage Management Systems (Pty) Ltd.

  • South Africa
  • Automation Machinery Manufacturing
  • 1 - 100 Employee

  • Product Development Manager

    • Aug 2019 - Feb 2021

    Following my growth from an Automation Engineer/Project Manager role, my primary responsibility as Product Development Manager was to ensure the relevance and advancement of the company’s product line, specifically the flagship products – the Pallet Mole and Omni-Mole shuttles. I led a dynamic technical team dedicated to testing and integrating new technologies into our machines. These included advanced batteries, electrical motor systems and custom radio equipment to name a few. We were constantly experimenting with new ideas whilst simultaneously refining the company’s existing products.A key part of my role was to manage the entire product lifecycle of the aforementioned products. We focused on features that could be modernized and standardized across both machines, in an effort to streamline manufacturing and maintenance processes. My role also involved planning work, aligning with stakeholder requirements, and overseeing the teams responsible. I was fortunate to be granted the opportunity to recruit the right talent to bolster my team effectively. I developed and implemented systems for managing performance metrics, deliverables, and career progression pathways for my team. These systems were successful and have since been adopted in other departments of the company, underlining the efficacy that I brought to the role. Additionally, my role extended to enhancing internal workflows within the company. A significant part of this was the improvement of core technical documentation – a consistent theme in my career. I trained several team members to match the documentation standards I uphold, ensuring consistency and quality in our team’s delivery of information.Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this position. It was not just about managing products but also about nurturing people and processes, ensuring continuous improvement and innovation at every level.

  • Automation Engineer / Project Manager

    • Mar 2017 - Jul 2019

    Elevated to the role of Automation Engineer/Project Manager, my journey began as a support project manager for a Fully Automated Mole/Shuttle (FAM / FAS) system close to Durban, South Africa. My responsibilities included managing procurement tasks, troubleshooting feedback from onsite engineers, and providing feedback to clients.Soon, I transitioned to leading the groundbreaking Omni-Mole automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) project – a ~400 pallet system for a glass window/door manufacturer in Toronto. This was the first of its kind for the company and was a solo endeavour for me, marking my first foray into complete project management. I undertook tasks from procurement and shipping to coordinating different teams, aligning production schedules, and onsite problem-solving. The project, as it was a “first” was significant for its R&D focus for the company. It involved a considerable amount of experimentation, which provided challenges with the client. During this project, I also worked closely with automation engineers, applying my expertise in technical documentation to refine UI designs for Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs).This greatly enriched the learning experience for me and allowed me to not only grow technically but also from a client management perspective. My comprehensive understanding of these AS/RS projects led me to become a key player in creating detailed quotes for subsequent AS/RS ventures, contributing significantly to the engineering pre-sales initiatives. The combination of this and my project management role saw me further enhance my technical documentation skills, tackling more intricate tasks such as formal electrical wiring documentation, machinery operational manuals, critical spare parts lists and developing various graphics for comprehensive quotations for large AS/RS proposals.Along with all my new responsibilities, I further enriched my skill set in customer support and supplier relations.

  • Junior IT & Electrical Support Engineer

    • Mar 2016 - Feb 2017

    As a junior engineer, I embraced a blend of engineering support and IT tasks. The company allowed me to lead a few low-risk automation initiatives like the cost-effective Onyx Dimensioning System, an in-house R&D endeavor. I delved into the nuances of PLC software and electrical components essential for our automated warehouse solutions. My remit expanded across continents, from Africa to Europe and the US, ensuring the seamless operation of our Pallet Mole system's PLC software for a diverse clientele.My role also entailed a deep dive into the company's technological documentation, where I streamlined and updated a few drawings and manuals to reflect the latest advancements. With a knack for computers and network systems, I gradually assumed control over the local network administration, data storage, and server infrastructure, spearheading the management of user access with an eye for security and efficiency.Tasked by the managing director to address one of the organization's pressing challenges, I strengthened our partnership with the supplier of our critical radio equipment. Through persistent communication and feedback integration, I was pivotal in enhancing the reliability of devices essential for our Pallet Mole systems.In the arena of project management, I cut my teeth on smaller-scale assignments, focusing on various sensor replacement and radio equipment replacement projects for our global customer sites. These projects were my foray into project oversight and allowed me to craft personalized systems for process management, honing my skills for future complexities in the engineering domain.

• 

  KMeasure

  • 101 Gordon Rd, Pretoria, 0083, South Africa

  • Intern Engineering Work

    • Dec 2014 - Jan 2015
    • 101 Gordon Rd, Pretoria, 0083, South Africa

    Over my December break in the third year of my Electronic Engineering studies, I rolled up my sleeves for an internship at KMeasure. I got my hands dirty with soldering work and assembling together the plastic chassis of the 'ParkA' — a cool gadget that saves the day in snug garages by telling drivers when to hit the brakes with a sonar-triggered alarm. A much-improved version of the classic tennis ball on a string.Teaming up with some sharp minds at KMeasure (Tshwane University of Technology alumni), I tackled a neat project whereby I wrote a UART (RS232) library in C for the Cypress PSOC 5LP microcontroller. This was a utility library to be used in other parts of their project and was all about making serial communication snappy and reliable on the platform. It's the kind of work that got me excited to join industry!

• 

  Freelance

  • Pretoria

  • High School Math/Science Tutor

    • 2013 - 2015
    • Pretoria

    While pursuing my degree in engineering, I had the opportunity to share my knowledge by tutoring high school students in Pretoria East. I provided guidance in chemistry, physics, and mathematics, subjects that paralleled the rigorous content of my engineering coursework. Not only did it put some extra cash in my pocket, but it also let me share the concepts I was learning in my own courses. Teaching these subjects really kept me on my toes and helped me break down complex principles, which was super rewarding. Plus, it was awesome seeing those lightbulb moments when my students grasped a tricky problem! This was my first exposure to mentoring.