About Me

Bridging Hardware & Software

I'm Blessed Munashe Jerry-lee Chihota — a Mechatronics Engineer (BSc Hons, UCT) and ECSA-registered Candidate Engineer with 2.5 years of professional experience delivering end-to-end hardware-software products across fintech, IoT, and embedded AI domains.

My background in mechatronics means I don't just write code — I understand the physical systems it controls. Whether it's designing a 6-layer PCB for an IoT gateway, optimizing FreeRTOS task scheduling, or architecting a Next.js application with real-time device monitoring, I bring a systems-thinking approach.

Currently based in Harare, Zimbabwe, working on projects that span continents. Open to opportunities globally — remote, hybrid, or relocation.

3 cups
Coffee/day
15+
PCBs designed
200+
3D prints
∞
Bugs fixed
BMJ

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How I Work

Principles that guide every project, from weekend prototypes to production systems.

Purpose-Driven

Every line of code, every trace on a PCB should solve a real problem. I optimize for impact, not complexity.

Iterate Fast

Prototype in days, not months. Fail early, learn faster, ship sooner. Speed of learning > speed of coding.

Learn Publicly

Document the journey. Share failures as openly as successes. The best engineers teach while they build.

Craft Matters

Clean code, neat solder joints, thoughtful UX. Quality isn't a phase — it's the baseline.

Technical Toolkit

Depth in embedded systems and hardware, breadth across the full stack.

Product Engineering

(7)
Full Product LifecycleCross-Disciplinary IntegrationAgile/Scrum (Jira, Confluence)Design for Manufacturing (DFM)Standards & Compliance (IEC 61010, ISO 26262)BOM Management & Cost ReductionTechnical Documentation

Software Engineering

(6)
Python (Django, FastAPI)Java (Spring Boot)JavaScript/TypeScriptAngular (NgRx)React & Next.jsPostgreSQL & Redis

DevOps & Cloud

(4)
Docker & Docker ComposeAWS (EC2, Lambda, IoT Core, CloudWatch)GitHub Actions CI/CDLinux Administration

Embedded Systems

(5)
ESP32/ESP32-S3 & STM32FreeRTOS & Bare-metal CPeripheral Drivers (I2C, SPI, UART, CAN)OTA Firmware UpdatesJTAG/SWD Debugging, Logic Analyzers

Hardware Design

(4)
PCB Design (KiCad, 4-6 layer)Impedance Control & Power IntegrityAnalog Front-ends & Power ManagementFusion 360 (Enclosures, FEA)

IoT & Connectivity

(1)
Protocols (MQTT, HTTP, CoAP, Modbus, BLE)

AI/ML (Edge)

(6)
TensorFlow/Keras & TensorFlow LiteModel Quantization (INT8) for MCUComputer Vision (Detection/Classification)Time-Series Anomaly DetectionSensor Fusion & Predictive MaintenanceReal-time Telemetry Pipelines

Testing & Tools

(1)
Testing (pytest, JUnit, HIL)

Professional Journey

From IoT product development to fintech systems engineering — a path of continuous learning.

Graduate Trainee — Systems Engineering

BancABC (Subsidiary of Atlas Mara)

Jan 2025 — PresentHarare, Zimbabwe
  • Co-own 3 microservices (account onboarding, transaction monitoring, notification gateway) from design through production; collaborate with Product, UX, Compliance, and Ops to define scope, acceptance criteria, and release plans
  • Full-stack delivery: Angular 16+ frontend (NgRx); Python/Django & Java/Spring Boot backends; PostgreSQL + Redis; REST + async event-driven patterns (Kafka)
  • Designed and deployed 5+ automation workflows (KYC verification, transaction reconciliation, regulatory reporting) reducing manual processing by ~60% and cutting SLA breaches by 35%
  • Built GitHub Actions CI/CD pipelines (lint, test, containerize, deploy); integrated structured logging (ELK), metrics (Prometheus/Grafana), and alerting; reduced deployment lead time from hours to <15 minutes
  • Active in 2-week sprints, story refinement, estimation (Planning Poker), demo days; mentor junior developers on code review standards and test-driven development
  • Implemented OAuth2/OIDC with Keycloak, PCI-DSS aligned data handling, audit logging, and automated vulnerability scanning (Trivy, Dependabot)
Angular 16+NgRxPython/DjangoJava/Spring BootPostgreSQLRedisKafkaGitHub ActionsELK StackPrometheus/GrafanaKeycloakDockerKubernetes

Junior Electronics Engineer (R&D / Product Development)

Netro Electronics Zimbabwe

Apr 2024 — Oct 2024Harare, Zimbabwe
  • Designed 4 custom PCBs (4-6 layer, KiCad) — main controller (ESP32-S3), GNSS module, CAN transceiver, power management (12V/24V automotive input, 3.3V/5V rails, battery backup); performed SI/PI analysis, thermal simulation
  • Firmware architecture: Bare-metal C + FreeRTOS on ESP32-S3; modular driver layer, OTA update manager (HTTPS, rollback, delta updates), secure boot, flash encryption; achieved <50 µA deep-sleep current
  • Enclosure & mechanical integration: Fusion 360 — IP67-rated enclosure with custom mounting, antenna placement optimization, thermal pad interface; coordinated with injection molding vendor for pilot run (500 units)
  • Developed automated test fixture (pogo pins + Raspberry Pi + Python) for end-of-line validation: RF performance, CAN compliance, power consumption, firmware checksum; reduced test time from 15 min to 3 min/unit
  • Cross-functional leadership: Liaised between firmware, hardware, mechanical, and QA teams; managed BOM (18% cost reduction via alternate sourcing); wrote technical documentation (datasheets, integration guides, regulatory checklists)
  • Deployed 50+ units in pilot fleet; implemented remote diagnostics (MQTT telemetry to AWS IoT Core); iterated firmware based on real-world vibration, temperature, and EMI findings
KiCad (4-6 layer)ESP32-S3FreeRTOSBare-metal CFusion 360SI/PI AnalysisPython (Test Fixtures)AWS IoT CoreMQTTCAN BusOscilloscopesLogic Analyzers

Developer Intern (IoT / Embedded Systems)

Petalm Africa Group

Jan 2024 — Mar 2024Harare, Zimbabwe
  • Embedded prototyping: C/C++ on ESP32 for soil moisture, weather station, and irrigation control nodes; LoRaWAN + Wi-Fi dual connectivity; deep-sleep scheduling for 12-month battery life
  • Backend & API: Django REST Framework + PostgreSQL; device provisioning, telemetry ingestion, alerting rules engine; deployed on Ubuntu VPS with Docker Compose (Nginx, Gunicorn, Certbot)
  • Dashboard: Real-time Angular dashboard with Leaflet maps, Chart.js telemetry, device fleet management; role-based access for farmers/agronomists
  • Created hardware integration guides, API specs (OpenAPI), and runbooks for field technicians
ESP32C/C++LoRaWANDjango REST FrameworkPostgreSQLAngularLeafletChart.jsDocker ComposeNginxGunicornCertbot

Engineering Intern (Firmware Validation & Dashboard Development)

Azoteq

Jun 2023 — Jul 2023Paarl, South Africa
  • Automated regression testing for capacitive touch controller ICs (I2C/SPI); Python test harness (pytest + PyUSB + FTDI) covering 200+ test cases across voltage/temperature corners; integrated into Jenkins CI
  • Designed and built single-page application (Vanilla JS, Chart.js, WebSockets) for real-time inverter-battery monitoring (voltage, current, SoC, temperature); Python/Flask backend with Modbus TCP polling
  • Authored validation reports, test plans, and application notes for OEM integration
PythonpytestPyUSBFTDIJenkinsVanilla JSChart.jsWebSocketsFlaskModbus TCPI2C/SPI

Education & Certifications

Formal education and ongoing professional development toward Pr.Eng registration.

Education

BSc (Honours) Mechatronics Engineering

University of Cape Town

2020 — 2023

  • Core: High-Performance Embedded Systems, Process Control & Instrumentation, Engineering Systems Design, Project Management, Computer Science (Data Structures, Algorithms, OS), Signals & Systems, Control Engineering
  • Final Year Project: 'AI-Enhanced Battery Management System for Electric Vehicle Applications' — Distinction
  • Relevant Electives: Digital Signal Processing, Power Electronics, Robotics, Engineering Economics

A-Level

Zimbabwe Republic Police High School

2013 — 2018

  • 3 As: Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science | Ordinary Level: 12 As

Certifications & Professional Development

Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) — Candidate Engineer

2024

Registered Candidate Engineer; competency development toward Professional Engineer (Pr.Eng) registration; tracking 11 ECSA outcomes

AWS Cloud Practitioner

In Progress (Target Q2 2025)

Cloud fundamentals certification

TensorFlow Developer Certificate

In Progress (Target Q2 2025)

ML model development and deployment certification

Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)

In Progress (Target Q1 2025)

Agile/Scrum framework certification

PCB Design with KiCad

2023

Professional PCB design training — Contextual Electronics

FreeRTOS Mastery

2023

Real-time operating system mastery — FastBit Embedded Brain Academy

Languages & Professional Affiliations

Languages

  • EnglishProfessional
  • ShonaNative
  • FrenchAcademic (DELF B1)

Affiliations

  • IEEE Member (Graduate) — Robotics & Automation, Power Electronics Societies
  • ECSA Candidate Engineer — Structured development toward Pr.Eng
  • UCT Mechatronics Society — Former Treasurer (2022)
  • Hackathon Participant — 2nd Place, MTN IoT Challenge 2022