Summary

Mechatronic and systems engineer (MEng, Stellenbosch) working across the full technical range — embedded firmware, IIoT platforms, full-stack web applications, AI integrations, and automation software — and the commercial side: client relationships, proposals, on-site delivery, and sales. Founding Engineer at Cybarete, with production systems deployed across mining, manufacturing, and knowledge work in South Africa and the USA.

Experience

Cybarete · Founding Engineer
Sep 2022 – present. First engineering hire; involved across technical and commercial functions from day one. Built and delivered core IIoT, full-stack, and AI systems for clients in mining, manufacturing, and knowledge work. Helped bring CrewPulse, a SaaS workforce management platform, to market in South Africa and the USA. Managed client relationships, proposals, on-site delivery, and sales.

Education

MEng Mechatronics
Stellenbosch University, 2021–2022. Modules: robotics, holonic control systems, data science, numerical methods. Co-author: Classification of Technical Challenges to Human-System Integration in Cyber-Physical Systems — Defty, Kruger, Basson; Springer SOHOMA 2021. Thesis: A holonic Human Cyber-Physical System in healthcare.
BEng Mechatronics
Stellenbosch University, 2017–2020. Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. Final-year project: automated upper-limb orthotic device for brachial plexus injuries (Jac van der Merwe Award runner-up, 2020).

Skills

Hardware Engineering

  • Mechatronic design
  • Firmware
  • Control systems
  • CAD — Fusion 360
  • CAD — Inventor
  • PCB — KiCAD
  • MATLAB / Simulink

Software Engineering

  • Erlang
  • Elixir
  • BEAM ecosystem
  • JavaScript
  • TypeScript
  • Svelte
  • Astro
  • Next.js
  • Python
  • C
  • Docker
  • SQL
  • Fly.io
  • Vercel
  • Cloudflare

AI & Automation + Tools

  • OpenAI
  • Anthropic
  • ChatGPT
  • Claude
  • Gemini
  • N8N
  • Microsoft Suite
  • Google Suite
  • Linux
  • Notion
  • Cursor
  • Claude Code

Professional Skills

  • Technical Product Management
  • Project Management
  • Sales & Proposals
  • Client Relationship Management
  • Technical Writing
  • Team Leadership

Awards

  • Best Postgraduate Mechatronic Student — Stellenbosch University (2022)
  • Co-founder, Educate 4.0 — a small NPO running STEM programmes in under-resourced schools alongside Youth in Transformation