Computer Science Senior · Graduating May 2027

Takunda Madziwa

I build apps. And the platforms behind them.

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Takunda Madziwa

01 / Featured projects

Products I built and operate

Selected work across product engineering, cloud architecture, real-time systems, and GitOps delivery.

Flagship project

FairShare

Active development

Household coordination was scattered across messages and spreadsheets. I set out to create one shared place for expenses, chores, events, and communication.

Delivered a working end-to-end product with live household workflows and a production deployment.

Project details
Situation & task
Household coordination was scattered across messages and spreadsheets. I set out to create one shared place for expenses, chores, events, and communication.
Action
Designed a React client and Node.js/Express API backed by MongoDB, with Firebase authentication and Socket.IO for real-time updates. Containerized both services and connected delivery to GitHub Actions, GHCR, Kargo, Argo CD, and k3s.
Results
  • Delivered a working end-to-end product with live household workflows and a production deployment.
  • Established an automated nonproduction-to-production promotion path with observable, version-controlled releases.
ReactNode.jsExpressMongoDBFirebase
Live Demo of FairShareGitHub repository for FairShare

FairShare — System architecture

Explore this project’s architecture using the link below.

Open architecture ↗
FairShare interface for household chores, expenses, and chat
FairShare interface for household chores, expenses, and chat

Featured project

Kubernetes Deployment Platform

Live platform

Personal applications needed a repeatable delivery path without the operating cost and abstraction of a large managed platform.

Runs FairShare, this portfolio, and FruitKu through version-controlled deployments.

Project details
Situation & task
Personal applications needed a repeatable delivery path without the operating cost and abstraction of a large managed platform.
Action
Built a single-node k3s platform on an OVH Linux VPS. Ansible bootstraps the host; GitHub Actions builds images; Kargo promotes releases; Argo CD, Helm, and Kustomize reconcile the desired state. Traefik, cert-manager, Prometheus, and Grafana handle traffic, TLS, and observability.
Results
  • Runs FairShare, this portfolio, and FruitKu through version-controlled deployments.
  • Separated host automation, application source, and cluster configuration into focused repositories with documented ownership boundaries.
Kubernetesk3sAnsibleArgo CDKargo
GitHub repository for Kubernetes Deployment Platform

Kubernetes Deployment Platform — System architecture

Explore this project’s architecture using the link below.

Open architecture ↗

Featured project

FruitKu

Stripe test mode

Fruit vendors need a straightforward storefront that lets customers browse products, manage a cart, and test a checkout flow.

Took the application from local development to a TLS-enabled Kubernetes deployment.

Project details
Situation & task
Fruit vendors need a straightforward storefront that lets customers browse products, manage a cart, and test a checkout flow.
Action
Built the responsive storefront with Next.js, React, and Tailwind CSS, integrated a Stripe test-mode checkout, then containerized and deployed it to the production k3s environment.
Results
  • Took the application from local development to a TLS-enabled Kubernetes deployment.
  • Created a reusable production manifest structure in the GitOps platform.
Next.jsReactTailwind CSSStripeDocker
Live Demo of FruitKuGitHub repository for FruitKu

Featured project

Community Insights AI

Team project

Researchers and community partners needed an accessible way to support facilitated civic dialogue and gather useful workshop feedback.

Supported 50+ workshop participants with sub-200 ms data queries.

Project details
Situation & task
Researchers and community partners needed an accessible way to support facilitated civic dialogue and gather useful workshop feedback.
Action
Collaborated with researchers and partners to ship 5+ React and TypeScript features, connecting AWS Lambda and DynamoDB for responsive data access and iterating on AI-assisted chatbot workflows.
Results
  • Supported 50+ workshop participants with sub-200 ms data queries.
  • Improved pilot dialogue engagement by 30% through feedback-led product changes.
ReactTypeScriptAWS LambdaDynamoDBAmplify
Live Demo of Community Insights AIGitHub repository for Community Insights AI

Tools I work with

Technical skills

Languages

Java · Python · TypeScript · JavaScript · SQL

Frameworks & application development

React · Next.js · Node.js · Express · Quarkus · REST APIs · OpenAPI · Socket.IO

Cloud, data & delivery

AWS · Lambda · DynamoDB · MongoDB · MySQL · Kubernetes · Docker · Helm · Terraform · Ansible · Argo CD · Kargo · GitHub Actions · Grafana · Prometheus · Linux

03 / Experience & education

Professional experience

ALLETE

June 2025–Present

DevOps Engineer Intern

  • Onboarded 15+ services from 12+ teams to an API gateway by developing OpenAPI specifications and validating routes before production.
  • Reduced build and test time by 40% by automating CI workflows with GitHub Actions.
  • Containerized 10+ Java, Quarkus, and Python services with Docker and Helm for repeatable releases across development, testing, and production.
  • Automated infrastructure provisioning and configuration with Terraform and Ansible.
  • Supported cross-team troubleshooting through API gateway diagnostics, technical documentation, Grafana, and Prometheus.

Ordean Foundation

May 2025–August 2025

Full-Stack Web Developer

  • Shipped 5+ React and TypeScript features with researchers and community partners, reaching 50+ participants.
  • Delivered sub-200 ms queries by integrating AWS Lambda and DynamoDB.
  • Increased pilot dialogue engagement by 30% by improving AI-enabled chatbot workflows from participant feedback.

Office of International Programs

November 2024–Present

Data Coordinator

  • Support 100+ international students by maintaining Salesforce records and coordinating academic, cultural, and administrative services.