JOSEPH S. LUBINDA
https://linkedin.com/in/jlubinda
https://www.youracclaim.com/user/jlubinda
FOCUS AREAS & SKILLS
✔ Data Science
✔ AI Engineering
✔ Data Engineering
✔ Software Engineering
PLATFORMS, LIBRARIES, FRAMEWORKS, AND LANGUAGES (Inclusive but not limited to)
1. Software Platforms
Apache Web Server, Nginx Web Server, LiteSpeed Server, Apache Spark, Apache Kafka, Apache
Airflow
2. Cloud Platforms
Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Amazon Web Services (AWS) and IBM Cloud
3. DevOps Technologies
Kubernetes, Docker, Git, Circle CI
4. Languages & Protocols
PHP, Python, Dart, SQL, JavaScript, Type Script, HTML4/HTML5, CSS
5. Databases
PostgreSQL, MySQL/MariaDB, Microsoft SQL Server, SQLITE, MongoDB, IndexedDB
6. Libraries and Frameworks
Tensorflow, Scikit Learn, PyTorch, Pandas, Matplotlib, Scipy, Numpy, Fast API, Flask, Django and
Django REST, Node.js, Vue.js, React, Flutter, Cordova, Quasar, AngularJS, Bootstrap, Materialize
7. Version Control:
Git – GitHub, BitBucket, GitLab
8. Project Management
Jira, ClickUp, Confluence
PERSONAL OUTLOOK
I am a firm believer that constant evolution is required for excellence. To this end, I devote time daily
to learning about new developments in tech, acquiring new skills, and studying topics of interest so as
to improve myself and become more relevant to clients, employers and/or partners. I am here to
design, build, deploy and manage modern, relevant, and effective solutions in Software Engineering,
Artificial Intelligence Engineering, Data Engineering, and Data Science, all for you.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Recently, I have been working heavily with The Copperbelt University whose ICT Business and
Innovation Centre (CBU-IBIC) has taken advantage of my vast experiences in technology, deep
knowledge and understanding of Artificial Intelligence, Data Engineering, Data Science, and Software,
alongside my multifaceted work experience in various areas like Financial Sector/Fin-tech, Edu-tech,
Data, Modern Software Development and many more. They have especially been engaging me where
they need reliable solutions in limited time-frames.
Despite being an independent contractor, they have made me the primary person for making
presentations and pitching new solutions to their key clients.
They have also tasked me with training their developers in Artificial Intelligence, Modern Software
Engineering techniques, and Engineering Best Practices.
The Director of CBU-IBIC recently conducted interviews with his staff members to find out how well I
integrated with them. He told me that he was very happy with the responses which were unanimous
in saying that despite clearly showing mastery in the work, I always made everyone feel like part of the
team, was always ready to help where they needed help and provided direction in a clear and exciting
format.
On a lighter note, their Acting Senior Software Engineer gave me the nickname ChatJPT because
apparently, I know too much to be a human being. I have to say, I am devoted student of computer
technology.
WORK EXPERIENCE (Inclusive but not limited to)
Software Engineering Consultant – CBU IBIC
March 2023 – To Date
After two other consultants failed to deliver the required Accounting System, the Copperbelt
University (ICT Business Innovation Centre) contracted me to urgently build the system which is part of
their Council-In-A-Box solution for Local Authorities. I was given the liberty to recruit any developer to
assist me, considering the high number of projects they had assigned to me within the same time. I
engaged a developer who I have previously trained and whose skills I am confident in for speedy
development of a reliable solution.
We are currently rebuilding the solution using the Micro-service Architecture. It uses Vue.js for the
front-end and Python, FastAPI, and PostgreSQL in the micro-services. The development mechanism is
Test Driven Development using PyTest, Jest and Cypress.
Software Engineering Consultant – Liesl and Lincoln Software Solutions/Ecobank Zambia
Feb 2023 – To Date
Liesl and Lincoln Software Solutions subcontracted me to build an auto reconciliation solution for
Ecobank Zambia whose clients need to receive digitally signed receipts automatically generated upon
confirmation of funds being paid into the account.
The back-end was built using Python, and talked with the banking system using Swift messaging
MT103. The front-end was built using Vue.js.
Software Engineering Consultant – CBU IBIC
Feb 2023
As the Copperbelt University (ICT Business Innovation Centre) sub-contracted me to urgently build the
backend of their payment solution EZ-Pay (a QR Code-based payment system) and integrate it with
several payment service providers.
The back-end was built using PHP and made use of Microsoft SQL Server for the database.
Development was completed and tested within 5 days.
Software Engineering Consultant – CBU IBIC
Dec 2022 – Jan 2023
As the Copperbelt University (ICT Business Innovation Centre) was coming to the close of the year,
they sub-contracted me to build an Asset Management System which is part of the solution called
STIMIS built for the Government of the Republic of Zambia – Ministry of Technology and Science.
The solution was built using Vue3 for the Front-end. It is a Microservice Architecture with Python,
FastAPI, Microsoft SQL Server and RabbitMQ. Development mechanism – Test Driven Development
using Pytest, VueTestUtils and Jest.
Software Developer – Manga Village Banking Group
Nov 2022 – Current Date
The Manga Village Banking Group in Lusaka came to me asking that I help them build a solution that
would solve a number of their challenges, namely, effective management of the group’s finances as
well as activities. Village Banking Groups are social and informal groups that pool funds together on a
monthly basis, funds which they then lend out to other people at a profit. The commissions are split
between the members in proportion to what they put in. Village Banking Groups ahave multiplied
exponentially in Zambia in the recent years as bank interest rates tend to be too high with
requirements to secure a loan facility being beyond the ability of most Zambians. Unfortunately, these
groups have been marred with problems of mismanagement of funds, lack of transparency, and
thefts. To this end, the Manga Village Banking Group sought my help. I have been on hand at the task
and am currently winding up the development phase.
The tech stack includes Vue3 for the Progressive Web App, PHP8 with Slim4 micro-framework for the
Back-end APIs, and MySQL for the Database.
Software Engineering Consultant – CBU IBIC
Oct 2022 – Current Date
I was contracted by the Copperbelt University (ICT Business Innovation Centre) to build a Land
Administration system (part of their Council-In-A-Box solution) to be used by the Ministry of Lands as
well as the Local Authorities (Municipal Councils).
The front-end is built using Vue3 with some API endpoints using PHP8 and MySQL, and others using
Python, FastAPI and PostgreSQL. The system employs Artificial Intelligence (using TensorFlow) and
Blockchain technology (built using Python) in which Title Deeds are represented by NFTs. The system
uses a Micro-service architecture and makes use of Apache Spark for Data Reporting and Analytics. It
also makes use of the Google Maps APIs as well as Folium.
Software Engineering Consultant – COMESA Secretariat
Mar 2022 – Current Date
After engaging a consultant who failed to deliver the ECO system in 2 years, the COMESA Secretariat
contracted me to overhaul the substandard work they had received and build a robust Trade
Facilitation system capable of effectively handling high numbers of concurrent users from 22 countries
in Eastern and Southern Africa. It also had to seamlessly integrate into other customs systems used by
the governments in the region. The tech stack they required was PHP8, JavaScript and MySQL.
Using the Slim micro-framework, I have successfully build the back-end with REST/RESTful APIs and
the front-end with Vue3. To the COMESA Secretariat's delight, I successfully completed the system
within 5 months.
Software Engineering Consultant – CBU IBIC
Jul 2022 – Sep 2022
I was contracted to assist the Copperbelt University (ICT Business Innovation Centre) in designing the
new EGP system and produce all related technical documents for the ZPPA tender bid. My area of
focus was the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain technology, and the Micro-services
architecture, as implemented using Docker and Kubernetes as well as the DevOPs tools required for
the effective monitoring and management of the designed system. For Data Reporting and Analytics,
the system shall use Apache Spark, an Open-source Big Data solution.
Data Engineer – Payrix (a World Pay Company)
Oct 2021 – Mar 2022
I was tasked with building the Data Lake and Data Marts using AWS Glue, AWS Lake Formation and
AWS S3. AWS Athena was to be used for querying the data. Version control was done using Git on
GitLab. Other tools used were Jira, for Project Management, and Confluence for documentation.
The Glue Jobs were coded with Python and used the Apache Spark Engine, utilizing a shared library I
built to automate and standardize the Glue Job creation process. This ensured consistent quality of
the Glue Jobs, while simplifying the code for quick and effective audit-ability. It also made it possible
to quickly build Glue Jobs that adhered the required standards. Data was pulled from designated
sources and saved in S3 Buckets, Parquet Format, with Glue Crawlers automatically scanning the
schema and making it available for querying using AWS Athena or other Glue Jobs. Python, SQL and
AWS Glue were used in the building of the ETL pipelines to make them easily audit-able by other
engineers.
IT Consultant – The Real Meats Company Limited
Nov 2019 – Sep 2021
During a period I decided to reduce my pace in solutions development so as to concentrate on
learning new facets of technology, acquire new skills and improve some personal attributes, I took on
a role as an IT consultant for The Real Meat Company in Lusaka. This role was different from previous
roles in that rather building Software, I was tasked with managing and monitory computer software,
hardware and network infrastructure for the company’s sites across the city of Lusaka. It involved
setting up networks physically and logically. I setup a firewall using a Linux machine, with which I
created VLANs to interface various sites and control them all using the firewall. I further setup a
company VPN to allow specific officers securely access to the local area network from anywhere in the
world, allowing them work remotely much more effectively. I created multiple scripts for identifying
and banning access to elicit sites using Python. I also used the firewall to block access to social media
and other website which they designated as “unproductive sites”.
Lead Software Engineer – Partnership between Roger Federar Foundation, Reformed Open
Community Schools (ROCS), Zambia Open Community Schools (ZOCS), Development Aid From
People to People (DAPP), and Zuha Learn
Jun 2016 – Oct 2019
Besides being the ensuring all the infrastructure was operating in good order, my role had a focus on
creating and training teams of developers, overseeing the systems analysis, design, development, and
maintenance process. I also performed all Data Science tasks including all ETL processes and Quality
Assurance (QA). I had the privilege of working with officials from the Reformed Open Community
Schools (ROCS) - Zambia, Roger Federer Foundation, Zambia Open Community Schools (ZOCS), and
Development Aid from People to People (DAPP), among others, coordinating all research, and
development operations and personally performing Data Science related tasks and some of the
Backend Development, in cases where other developers failed to achieve the required outcome.
Lead Software Engineer – Partnership between International Labour Organisation, NECOR Zambia
Ltd, Postalline In Communities, and Payitapp Limited
Dec 2015 – Jun 2016
This role requiring me not only to spearhead critical programming tasks, and training a team of
developers but also meeting stakeholders to ensure all activities of the company and its partners
aligned well. Also tasked with managing several projects, leading the efforts of securing funding, and
identifying and getting the buy-in on all the necessary stakeholders, to ensure the success of the
projects. Had the privilege of securing, and working with partners like the International Labour
Organisation, NECOR Zambia Limited, Postalline In Communities, and Stanbic Bank. Putting the team
together, composed of two, developers, a business development expert, a banking and finance expert,
an administrative expert and paralegal, and an Agricultural Market Expert.
Software Engineer – Citydrive Rent A Car Limited
Mar 2014 – Nov 2015
I was contracted to build and ERP, a website and a Car Sharing marketplace (VehiclePortal), all of
which communicated with each other via REST/RESTful APIs. As such, I handled the Research, Systems
Design, Software Development as well as System Maintenance for the company. The platform was
built with React and HTML5 on the Front-end and REST/RESTful API developed using Python and Flask
for Annime Car Hire ERP, and PHP for VehiclePortal. The systems initially all used MariaDB as the
Database engine but this was later swapped for PostgreSQL. In the Front-end, data was persisted using
IndexedDB, the NoSQL storage system for browsers.
The company loved the platform as it reduced the amount of manual operations they had to do. It
also allowed them to scale easily as it allow for real-time monitoring of their new offices around the
country, which led them to becoming one of the top 3 car rental services in Zambia. They also won an
international award for best car hire company in Zambia.
Lead Software Engineer – COMESA Secretariat
Nov 2011 – Feb 2014
Lead Software Engineer contracted to spearhead/lead the Software Development efforts required to
rebuild the Yellow Card Management Information System. The requirements indicated that it had to
be built using PHP, and SQL, with some JavaScript, making use of a MySQL database. I insisted on
going out, doing some research on the expectations of users, and created requirements documents as
a guide for the development process and had the system overhauled, rebuilding it from the ground
up.
Before being commissioned to the task, the system had been abandoned by users because it simply
didn't meet their requirements. After overhauling the system, users adopted the new system at such a
high rate, they had to scale up the servers to ensure it kept up with the huge demand. The system
became the most used COMESA system at that time. COMESA was so happy with the outcome that
they granted another contract for the building of their Regional Customs Transit Guarantee System
(RCTG).
Lead Software Engineer – Ministry of Agriculture
Jan 2011 – Oct 2011
Lead Software Engineer contracted to spearhead/lead the Software Development efforts of building
the Agriculture Market Information System for the ministry. This system was a replacement of an
Access based system that the ministry was having trouble with it, namely:
1. It did not allow local statistics to be pushed to the Head Office without human intervention,
which caused them to loose a lot of data as many officers simply did not take the time to
perform the needed task of sending the data via email.
2. It did not allow users in the same office to effectively use the same system, which brought
about data inconsistencies in the same office.
3. The system was dependent on Microsoft Office. An upgrade in the Office package resulted in
the software being unusable and they did not have the source code.
The Agricultural Market Information System solved these problems by:
1. Allowing users to install a local copy of the software which was fully capable of addressing their
local needs and synchronized with the central server which was hosted by Zamnet.
2. The local installation was web based and allowed multiple users to access and use it from the
office at the same time. As it synchronized, it pulled all the national records up to that moment
allowing the national statistics to be accessible even when internet connectivity dropped. It
also allowed users to download the national statistics onto a USB and import it into the local
installation, in the event that there was not internet access in the office. Beyond that, users
could post their local statistics to the online server using data exported from the system to s
USB drive.
3. It was developed using open-source platforms and languages making it vendor independent.
Software Developer – Gospel Envoys Church
Dec 2009 – Oct 2010
I built a data collection system which the church used to collect data about who was reaching out to
others, who they were reaching to and the contact details of the people they invited to church. The
system allowed users to send a registration SMS with their names and email address which were used
to create their user profile. It the allowed them to send SMSs with the names and contact information
of the invited guest to the system. The system compiled this information and performed real-time
analytics, giving the church the ability to respond guests quickly and efficiently, which contributed to
the rapid growth of the church.
Software Developer – Cornerstone Business Consultants
Mar 2007 – Oct 2009
Cornerstone Business Consultants in (Kitwe, Zambia) contracted to build and provide support for an
Accounting System and a Payroll System which they used to automate processes in the service they
provided to their clients. They migrated from the use of Excel spreadsheets which periodically gave
them serious problems like getting corrupted resulting in data loss which seriously impacted their
clients. Being the first big project I had been contracted to do, I paid extra attention and used it as a
learning ground, which provided me a solid foundation for my career.
The system was build using PHP, JavaScript, HTML and CSS, making use of a MySQL database.
EDUCATION
1. Exceed College, UAE with Universidad Catolica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM), Spain
MBA in Business Analytics
February 2022 – June 2023
2. London School of International Business
2022
Level 6 Diploma (BSc equivalent) in Information Technology
3. IBM
Professional Certificate in Data Science
January 2021 – December,
August 2020 – January 2021
4. IBM
November 2021 – February 2022
Certificate in Advanced Machine Learning and Signal Processing
5. IBM
August 2020 – November 2020
Certificate in Scalable Machine Learning on Big Data using Apache Spark
HOBBIES
1. Reading, Astrophysics research
2. Experimenting with technologies like the Raspberry Pi, the Arduino, etc
3. Playing Guitar
4. Singing and Dancing
5. Swimming
6. Exercising/Martial Arts – Capoeira
7. Learning New Languages (currently focusing on Swahili and Brazilian Portuguese)
8. Church Activities
REFERENCES
1. Ecobank Zambia and Liesl and Lincoln Software Solutions
Projects: Auto Reconciliation System (2023 – Date)
Name: Elvis Chomba
Position: Bank Manager – Ecobank Zambia (HQ)
Name: Pastor Hampande
Position: Director – Liesl and Lincoln Software Solutions
2. Copperbelt University – ICT Business Innovation Centre
Projects: Asset Management, EZ-Pay Payment System, Council-In-A-Box (2022 – 2023)
Name: Pastor Hampande
Position: Director for CBU-IBIC (Presently on leave)
Name: Kelvin Chiwele
Position: Project Manager for EZ-Pay, and Acting Director for CBU-IBIC
Name: Chisenga Musonda
Position: Project Manager for Council-In-A-Box and STIMIS, and Acting Senior Software
Engineer for CBU-IBIC
3. Manga Village Banking Group
Project: Manga Village Banking App (2022)
Name: Langa Mweene
Position: Liason Officer
4. Ministry of Agriculture
Project: Agriculture Market Information System (2011)
Name: George Zulu
Position: Liason Officer
5. COMESA Secretariat
1. Projects: YCMIS, RCTG -)
Name: Kelvin Chisongo
Position: Insurance Expert / Liason Officer
2. Project: ECO (2022)
Name: Lanka Dorby
Position: COMESA IT Director
6. City Drive Rent A Car Limited
Projects: Main Website, VehiclePortal, Animme, Other (2014 -2017)
Name: Gregory Chama
Position: CEO / Liason Officer
7. International Labour Organisation
Project: uAgro / Yapasa -)
Name: Milensu Kapaipi
Position: Liason Officer
8. Roger Federar Foundation
Project: iAct, iGo, School Readiness -)
Name: York Launa
Position: Executive Director
9. The Real Meats Company
Project: Network Setup and Administration
Name: Robert Mwale
Position: Chief Finance Director
10. Payrix
Project: Data Strategy, Infrastructure & BI Reporting
Name: Steven Sykes
Position: Senior Manager
11. Cornerstone Business Consultants
Project: Account System & Payroll System
Name: Vitalian Chola
Position: Director
