Software engineer based in Nairobi, Kenya

Brian Gathua Kiragu

Engineering Lead & Senior Software Engineer

I build mobile applications and backend systems for energy distribution, delivery, and insurance. At Jaguar Petroleum, I lead a team of five engineers and contribute to system design, development, and code reviews.

View projects Download CV (PDF) kiragugathua@gmail.com

10,000+ Cylinders tracked

4 Depots supported

1,000 BLE sensors in a pilot

Sensor count refers to the BLE pilot; performance improvement has not yet been measured.

Selected projects

JGas mobile app screenshot from its Google Play listing — Official store screenshots · current listing artwork may reflect later releases.

Second JGas mobile app screen — Official store screenshots · current listing artwork may reflect later releases.

LPG operations

JGas & cylinder tracking

500+ reported JGas users · 10,000+ cylinders across four depots

I built Flutter and backend capabilities for LPG operations and designed the workflows that track cylinders from depot to customer.

Flutter · Dart · Backend APIs · ERP integration

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The problem

LPG operations need to follow each cylinder through onboarding, warehouse movements, dispatch, refilling, and customer allocation.

My contribution

I architected the cylinder lifecycle workflows and delivered Flutter and backend capabilities for JGas, connecting mobile workflows with operational services and enterprise systems.

Technical challenge

Keeping a cylinder’s lifecycle coherent across depots, delivery personnel, refilling, and customer allocation required a shared model of its movements.

Outcome

The cylinder tracking platform supports 10,000+ cylinders across four depots. JGas has a reported 500+ users; the measurement period is still to be confirmed.

Google Play

Insurance

ICEA LION Agents

1,000+ reported users across the customer and agent apps combined

I developed and maintained Flutter mobile features and REST API integrations for insurance workflows.

Flutter · REST APIs · Enterprise integrations

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The problem

Agents need mobile access to insurance workflows connected to enterprise backend services.

My contribution

I developed and maintained agent-facing application features in Flutter and implemented REST API integrations, working with product and engineering stakeholders.

Technical challenge

Connecting mobile workflows to enterprise services required integration work and debugging across application and backend boundaries.

Outcome

Delivered and maintained agent-facing insurance capabilities. The reported user base exceeds 1,000 across both ICEA applications combined, rather than for the agent app alone.

Google Play

ICEA LION Client App official store screenshot — Official store screenshots · current listing artwork may reflect later releases.

Second ICEA LION Client App official store screenshot — Official store screenshots · current listing artwork may reflect later releases.

Insurance

ICEA customer application

Customer insurance workflows on mobile

I contributed Flutter features and API integrations to the customer-facing insurance application.

Flutter · REST APIs · Mobile development

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The problem

Customers need mobile access to insurance services backed by existing enterprise systems.

My contribution

I developed and maintained customer-facing mobile capabilities, implemented Flutter features and REST API integrations, and collaborated on debugging and delivery.

Technical challenge

Mobile features had to work with enterprise backend services, requiring debugging across API and application boundaries.

Outcome

Delivered customer self-service capabilities as part of the ICEA mobile application work. The 1,000+ reported user figure covers customer and agent applications combined.

App Store

More technical work: IoT monitoring & delivery systems

PILOT SCALE 1,000 BLE sensors

Redis caching / MySQL write management

Device data

IoT monitoring

1,000 BLE sensors in a pilot

I investigated MySQL load and reworked sensor data handling with Redis caching and less frequent persisted updates.

Redis · MySQL · BLE · IoT data pipelines

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The problem

High-frequency sensor updates created elevated MySQL workload during a 1,000-sensor BLE pilot.

My contribution

I investigated the database load, introduced Redis caching, and reduced how frequently sensor updates were persisted.

Technical challenge

The data pipeline needed to manage database writes while handling frequent readings from the pilot devices.

Outcome

The data handling approach was reworked for the pilot. Performance improvement has not yet been measured; this is pilot scale, not a production rollout claim.

DELIVERY OPERATIONS Dispatch → Delivery

Mobile workflows / Backend services

Last-mile delivery

JMobility

Dispatch and delivery workflows

I delivered Flutter and backend capabilities for fleet and mobility operations supporting last-mile delivery.

Flutter · Backend services · Fleet workflows

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The problem

Last-mile delivery teams need connected fleet, dispatch, and delivery workflows.

My contribution

I designed and delivered Flutter and backend capabilities for fleet and mobility workflows, integrating operational services.

Technical challenge

Delivery workflows need to connect mobile activity with backend operational services.

Outcome

Delivered mobile and backend capabilities for fleet operations. Order volume is awaiting confirmation.

About me

My work covers mobile development, backend services, and the operational systems that connect them.

At Jaguar Petroleum, I lead five engineers across mobile, backend, IoT, and infrastructure. My work includes system design, implementation, hiring, and code reviews.

I have mentored and trained 20+ developers. I also contribute to technical interviews and work with nontechnical stakeholders to turn operational needs into software workflows.

My training includes a Diploma in Information Technology from JKUAT and a Software Engineering Certificate from Moringa School.

Independent work

Web development at Funmo

Alongside my engineering work, I run Funmo, my web development agency. I build websites for clients through funmo.africa .

Security is a priority in how I approach software: limiting access, protecting sensitive data, and reviewing what an application exposes.

Visit Funmo

Technical skills

Flutter & Dart

Delivered mobile capabilities for JGas, fleet workflows, and ICEA customer and agent applications.

Backend services & REST APIs

Built backend capabilities for LPG and fleet operations; implemented REST integrations for ICEA insurance workflows.

Redis & MySQL

Introduced caching and reduced persisted sensor update frequency to address database load in a BLE sensor pilot.

System design & integrations

Designed cylinder lifecycle workflows across four depots and contributed to the NetSuite to ERPNext migration.

Git & engineering delivery

Lead Git-based delivery workflows, architecture discussions, code reviews, and technical mentoring for a five-person team.

Experience

APRIL 2024 – PRESENT

Jaguar Petroleum Limited

Engineering Lead

Lead five engineers and contribute directly to architecture and development. Designed cylinder lifecycle workflows, delivered JGas and fleet capabilities, and addressed sensor database workload using Redis. Contributed to the NetSuite to ERPNext migration.

April 2022 – April 2025

ICEA LION Group

Full Stack Developer

Developed and maintained customer and agent insurance apps. Implemented Flutter features and REST integrations and collaborated with product and engineering on debugging and delivery.

2017 – April 2022

Upande Limited

Technology leadership & Android development

Joined as an intern and progressed into Android development and technology leadership. Contributed to environmental monitoring software and related digital solutions.

Contact

Open to remote engineering roles and long-term contracts. You can reach me by email or LinkedIn.

kiragugathua@gmail.com

Funmo · Web development LinkedIn GitHub +254 701 250 543 Nairobi · EAT (UTC+3)