gtchakama
☀️
George Chakama

George Chakama

Software Engineer · Innovator · Mentor

Zimbabwean-born · Based in South Africa

Software engineer, systems architect, and product builder crafting impactful digital solutions across logistics, accessibility, fintech, sustainability, healthcare, and AI.

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5+
Years engineering
9+
Companies & teams
500+
Drivers served (Etapath)
2
Global awards
Profile

About

George Chakama is a software engineer, systems architect, product builder, and technology innovator recognized for building impactful digital solutions across logistics, accessibility, fintech, sustainability, healthcare, AI, and social good.

With over five years of industry experience, he has built scalable platforms and user-centered applications using Ruby on Rails, Node.js, React Native (Expo), Flutter, TypeScript, PostgreSQL, and Google Cloud Platform — spanning startups, enterprise systems, real-time logistics, ESG tooling, fintech ecosystems, Web3, and developer tooling.

He is known for combining deep engineering capability with strong product thinking, turning complex operational requirements into resilient, scalable infrastructure and intuitive digital experiences.

Beyond engineering, George is an active mentor, community organizer, and public speaker — advocating for developer education across Africa through the Google Africa Developer Scholarship and WeThinkCode, and speaking at events like Google DevFest and Build with AI.

What I do

Core expertise

Fullstack Web DevelopmentMobile (React Native / Expo, Flutter)Backend & Distributed SystemsRuby on Rails & Node.jsPostgreSQL Design & OptimizationGoogle Cloud Platform (GCP)Google Fleet Engine & LMFSReal-Time Geolocation SystemsAI Integrations & WorkflowsFintech & Payment InfrastructureAPI Architecture & IdempotencyESG & Sustainability PlatformsDevOps & Cloud InfrastructureKubernetes & HelmDeveloper Tooling & AutomationAccessibility-First EngineeringWeb3 & BlockchainProduct Strategy & MVP Engineering
Google ecosystem

Google technologies experience

Google Cloud Platform

  • Cloud infrastructure management
  • Service deployment workflows
  • Scalable backend architecture

Google Fleet Engine

  • Real-time bidirectional geolocation streams
  • Logistics visibility infrastructure
  • High-performance transportation coordination

Last Mile Fleet Solution

  • LMFS integrated into React Native driver apps
  • Real-time route planning & visibility
  • Live tracking for logistics operations

Gemini AI

  • Practical AI-powered workflows & integrations
  • Production AI demos at developer conferences
  • AI applied to utilities, monitoring & automation

Google Maps Platform

  • Mapping & geolocation tracking
  • Spatial visualization workflows
  • Route & transportation optimization

Community & Education

  • Speaker — Google DevFest
  • Speaker — Build with AI
  • Mentor — Google Africa Developer Scholarship
Career

Professional experience

Software Engineer

Etapath
Jul 2023 – Present
South Africa

Building large-scale transportation and logistics infrastructure with cross-functional engineering and product teams.

  • Orchestrated real-time bidirectional geolocation streams with Google Fleet Engine.
  • Integrated Google LMFS into a React Native (Expo) driver app serving 500+ drivers.
  • Designed and launched a scheduling & booking system supporting 1,000+ users.
  • Built a subscription-based notifications platform for operational monitoring and alerts.
  • Developed finance validation tooling, including a custom CSV Analyzer for audits.
Ruby on RailsNode.jsReact NativePostgreSQLHerokuHetznerGoogle Fleet EngineGoogle LMFS

Software Engineer

TDi Sustainability
Jun 2025 – Oct 2025
Remote

Enterprise ESG and supply-chain sustainability systems for risk analysis and compliance.

  • Built a multi-step Strategic Roadmap wizard for enterprise materials risk assessment.
  • Developed ESG dashboards integrating TEDD, ICAT, Global Risk Tool, and Search 360.
  • Implemented RBAC, token authentication, and secure API integrations.
  • Built visualization tooling and deployed with Kubernetes and Helm.
Next.jsReactTypeScriptTailwind CSSConvexMapboxRechartsRadix UITanStack QueryKubernetes (Helm)

Software Engineer

Restio Labs
Feb 2023 – Jun 2023
Cape Town, South Africa

AI-connected emergency response and monitoring infrastructure.

  • Built WhatsApp/Telegram alerting integrated with AI-powered camera monitoring.
  • Implemented automated incident summaries with AI-generated descriptions.
  • Enhanced Flutter panic-button systems with categorized response workflows.
Node.jsAngularFlutterREST APIsAWS / Azure

Full Stack Engineer

Velocity Tech Inc.
Jan 2023 – May 2023
Harare, Zimbabwe

Marketplace infrastructure and contractor-client matching systems.

Vue.jsNode.jsJavaScriptPostgreSQL

Frontend Developer

Codum
Sep 2022 – Feb 2023
Berlin, Germany

Accountability-based project-learning platform connecting global tech enthusiasts.

  • Built scalable frontend architecture in React.js.
  • Collaborated on Python backend integrations.
  • Integrated secure payments with Stripe.
React.jsPythonPostgreSQLStripe

Lead Software Developer

Kerapay
Feb 2022 – Oct 2022
Remote

Flexible employee financial infrastructure.

  • Architected salary-on-demand systems (Flexi-pay).
  • Built employee benefits and rewards infrastructure.
  • Managed payment-provider and transactional API integrations.
  • Led international engineering collaboration.
TypeScriptNode.jsReact.jsReact NativeStripeFlutterwave

Frontend Developer

Orbit
Jul 2021 – Jan 2022
Remote

High-fidelity frontend systems with modern React architecture.

React.jsRedux.jsApollo GraphQLJavaScriptSASS

Full Stack Developer

Benthos Technologies
Jan 2020 – Apr 2021
Harare, Zimbabwe

End-to-end client applications from discovery to deployment.

Fullstack JavaScriptWeb Infrastructure

Community Manager

Zimbabwe Developers Community
Sep 2022 – Present
Zimbabwe

Organizing meetups, mentorship initiatives, and events growing Zimbabwe's developer ecosystem.

Selected work

Core projects

HearMe

Award-winning assistive communication platform for individuals with speech impairments.

  • Preset communication phrases
  • Visual communication boards
  • Accessibility-first UX
  • Personalized communication workflows
Received international recognition for advancing inclusive technology.

Oddah

Relationship wellness and intentional collaboration platform, co-founded with Kamohelo.

  • Shared goals & milestones
  • Relationship analytics
  • Shared scheduling
  • Emotional-intelligence workflows
  • Dedicated letter feature for intentional communication
React Native (Expo) + Node.js, with subscriptions via RevenueCat and PayPal.

Rubatsiro

Transparent community aid and sponsorship platform connecting communities with donors worldwide.

  • Verified project profiles
  • Transparent donor workflows
  • Community funding systems
  • Accountability-focused donation tracking
Open source

Developer tools & extensions

VS Code Extensions

Published the Zimbabwean Theme Collection and African Theme Collection to the VS Code marketplace.

TeleLog (LogStream)

Lightweight log-streaming utility (Node.js + Expo) for monitoring local dev logs in real time.

Ticket TV (Tikkatv)

TV-focused time-management app with stopwatch and timer workflows optimized for large screens.

AI-powered utilitiesChrome extensionsHospital management systemsCOVID-19 tracking systemsEmergency response platformsReal-time chat infrastructureFleet & logistics toolingVoting systemsBlockchain & Web3 experimentsAutomation toolingCLI productivity systemsFinancial validation infrastructure
From GitHub

Open source

wa-tui 10

A fully functional terminal UI for WhatsApp Web (Node.js + neo-blessed) with fuzzy-finding, system notifications, media downloads, and a Homebrew tap.

JavaScript
lockr 4

A fast CLI for storing API keys and credentials with AES-256-GCM encryption, Argon2id key derivation, and OS-keychain caching. No accounts, no servers.

Go
ruby-gemini-chatbot

A terminal AI chatbot powered by Google's Gemini API — written in pure Ruby with no external gems.

Ruby
google-gemini-ai-chrome-extension

A Chrome extension that uses Gemini AI to rewrite text into a more polished, professional tone.

JavaScript
nodejs-web-scrapper 3

A web-scraping API that extracts structured information from the HTML of any given website.

JavaScript
pc-monitor 2

A performance-monitoring dashboard tracking real-time CPU, memory, disk, and network metrics with historical logging.

JavaScript
bitwarden-fix 1

A web app that finds and removes duplicate entries from Bitwarden CSV exports.

JavaScript
zi-user 1

A tiny package that generates random user objects — fake names, emails, and passwords — for testing and seeding.

TypeScript
react-browser-navigation-access 1

A React component that guards against accidental navigation away from pages with unsaved changes.

JavaScript
Recognition

Awards

JCI — TOYP Honoree

Recognized as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World for building impactful accessibility technology through HearMe.

30 Under 30 Top Tech Innovator

Recognized for contributions to accessibility, fintech, logistics, healthtech, and social-impact engineering.

Background

Education

Zimbabwe Open University

BSc — Computer Software Engineering

2017 – 2018

Treehouse

Front-end Web Development & Full-stack JavaScript Nanodegree

2018 – 2019
Giving back

Mentorship & community

George has mentored developers since 2019 — through the Google Africa Developer Scholarship, WeThinkCode, community workshops, and local and international developer events.

Accessibility in technologyAfrican developer growthPractical AI adoptionScalable engineering cultureCommunity-driven innovation
Technology should be intentional, human-centered, and impactful — building systems that not only scale technically, but improve how people communicate, work, move, learn, and connect.