A.I • FULL-STACK
About Me
Hi, I'm Tofara — a software engineer and AI systems builder from Harare, Zimbabwe, based between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. I'm passionate about the intersection of artificial intelligence, full-stack development, and infrastructure engineering — building production-grade systems that scale, adapt, and solve real-world problems.
I specialize in transforming ideas into reliable, intelligent systems. I've worked across the full stack — from designing APIs and scalable architectures to developing agentic AI workflows that automate complex reasoning tasks. My work combines deep technical problem-solving with product intuition — every line of code is written with performance, maintainability, and real-world impact in mind.
What I Do
I currently work as a Software Engineer at a US-based AI startup, building production-grade agentic systems and LLM-powered microservices. My work spans the full AI engineering stack:
- Architecting agentic AI systems with LangGraph, CrewAI, and custom agent frameworks — designing multi-agent workflows for autonomous reasoning, tool orchestration, and state management across distributed systems.
- Building Python microservices and REST APIs with FastAPI, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and Redis — implementing TDD, asynchronous processing, and Model Context Protocol (MCP) integrations for LLM-native applications.
- Developing production frontends using TypeScript, Next.js, and React — building real-time AI dashboards, streaming LLM responses, and interactive agent interfaces with Tailwind CSS and shadcn/ui.
- Implementing observability and infrastructure with Prometheus, Grafana, Traefik, and Docker — deploying containerized services with CI/CD pipelines via GitHub Actions and monitoring production LLM systems.
- Collaborating across engineering and product to translate AI research into scalable systems, working directly with founders to architect technical solutions aligned with product vision.
My approach is full-stack and holistic — I care about every layer, from the database schema to the user experience, and the intelligence that connects them.
Technical Expertise
I'm fluent in multiple layers of modern engineering:
- Languages: Python, TypeScript, JavaScript, C, C++, SQL
- Frameworks: FastAPI, Django, Next.js, React, LangChain, CrewAI
- Infrastructure: Docker, GitHub Actions, CI/CD, Prisma, PostgreSQL
- AI Systems: RAG pipelines, agentic workflows, API-based LLM orchestration, and prompt engineering
- Software Principles: SOLID, Domain-Driven Design (DDD), Test-Driven Development (TDD), and Clean Architecture
My foundation was built on two years of intensive C/C++ programming, where I developed HTTP servers, game engines, and multithreaded applications. This low-level grounding taught me how computers truly work — memory, processes, networking — and gave me the technical confidence to design complex, distributed systems.
I later transitioned to full-stack web and AI development, where I now blend modern web frameworks with machine intelligence, creating systems that learn, adapt, and scale.
Work & Collaboration
Beyond the technical layer, I bring strong communication and teamwork. I've worked in remote, multicultural teams spanning the US, UAE, and Africa — coordinating across time zones, aligning business priorities with technical execution, and delivering consistently.
I'm comfortable working directly with non-technical founders, PMs, and clients, translating high-level product ideas into concrete technical solutions. I also enjoy mentoring peers, reviewing code, and improving developer workflows through automation and DevOps practices.
My professional values are: clarity, reliability, and precision — whether in communication or code.
Education
- École 42 Abu Dhabi (Software Engineering Program)
Intensive peer-driven program focused on low-level programming, system design, and large-scale software projects. - Cambridge International A Levels: 1A*, 2A's, 1B (Mathematics and Physical Sciences)
- IGCSE: 8A*'s and 1A
- SAT Math: 770 / 800
These experiences trained me to think algorithmically, debug deeply, and approach problems with both creativity and rigor.
Ventures & Side Projects
Outside work, I'm building:
- claireAI — a WhatsApp-based AI assistant designed as a virtual employee for small businesses, automating communication, scheduling, and lead management through conversational AI.
- Horizon — a software studio focused on developing high-quality web infrastructure and AI integrations across Southern Africa.
Vision & Craft
I believe the best software blends engineering precision with creative design. My long-term goal is to create systems that serve millions of users, combining robust infrastructure with human-centered AI capabilities.
I'm especially interested in how LLMs, agentic systems, and retrieval architectures can power the next generation of educational and productivity tools — systems that understand and adapt to human intent, not just execute commands.
Let's Talk
If you're building something ambitious — whether it's a startup, AI product, or open-source tool — I'd love to hear about it.
You can reach me via email or connect with me on LinkedIn.
Let's build something intelligent, useful, and lasting.