Ivan Kuria

Software Engineer - Fintech & AgriTech | TDD | Data Analytics | Payment Integration | System Automation | Application Security

Nairobi County, Kenya

About

Senior Backend Engineer with 3 live production SaaS platforms in Kenya’s Fintech (Microfinance) and Waste Management sectors. Developed a Bodaboda Sacco CRM that digitized financial records since 2014, reduced staffing costs, improved service speed, and features MPesa integration, instant SMS, LLM assistance, and robust Azure cloud deployment with ISP failover for high availability. Currently building a 4th system using Python (FastAPI) + Next.js while deepening DevSecOps and security expertise.

Experience

  • Senior Backend Engineer – Fintech | Python & NodeJS | Security Engineering at Jovicorp
    Feb 2025 - Present · 1 yr 5 mos

    Key Projects & Achievements: Bodaboda Microfinance & Sacco Management System (Laravel) Designed, developed, and maintain a production SaaS platform for bodaboda savings and credit cooperatives. Enabled accurate tracking and updating of financial records dating back to 2014, significantly improving transparency and audit readiness. Reduced operational staff requirements while increasing efficiency in member management, savings, loans, and contributions processing. Delivered major operational cost savings and faster service delivery to sacco members through automated workflows and real-time data access. Features include member management, loan disbursement & repayment, vehicle tracking, and secure financial reporting. Tech: Laravel 12, MySQL, Spatie, Azure, Alpine.js + occasional Vue.

  • Backend Software Engineer - (React/Angular & Laravel) Application Security & Infrastructure at Sunny Media Ltd (Logistics)
    Jun 2021 - Sep 2024 · 3 yrs 4 mos

    • Designed and implemented secure ETL pipelines on Azure Synapse + Databricks. • Hardened internal and customer-facing APIs (rate limiting, mTLS, WAF rules, JWT validation). • Established secure CI/CD practices that became the company standard. • Mentored junior developers on secure coding and threat modeling.

  • Laravel Backend Developer - (PHP/Yii/WordPress) at StanTec Kenya - Logistics & AgriTech
    Aug 2017 - Mar 2020 · 2 yrs 8 mos

    Full-stack developer on PHP/Laravel and WordPress projects. First exposure to production systems, code reviews, and basic security practices.

  • Network Administrator - Intern at Murang'a County Government
    Apr 2014 - Sep 2014 · 6 mos

  • IT Support Technician | Community outreach ambassador at Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team (AMURT)
    Jul 2010 - Jul 2011 · 1 yr 1 mo