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Crystal Joy

@crystaljoy

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Backend software engineer building async, reliable APIs and AI-driven search systems in Python/FastAPI.

Kenya

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What I'm looking for

I’m looking to build production backend systems in fast-moving startups—owning features end-to-end, optimizing async services, automation, and AI-driven search to solve real user and operations problems.

I’m a Backend Software Engineer focused on building and deploying production systems in high-paced settings. I emphasize asynchronous backend services with Python and FastAPI, delivering fast, reliable APIs.

I’ve built AI-powered retrieval systems where conventional keyword search wasn’t enough—using document pipelines like OCR, text extraction, chunking, and vector indexing. I implemented hybrid search methods and optimized indexing/caching to speed query latency by as much as 60% in a production-like setup, improving usefulness and accuracy.

I also care deeply about operational practicality: I’ve automated workflows with background orchestration, retries, error handling, and rate limiting to reduce manual overhead. Comfortable with uncertainties and feature ownership, I enjoy shipping solutions that support real users and operations, especially in the startup world where impact, speed, and responsibility matter.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Software Engineering Intern

Strides of Africa Tourism and Travel Company

Supported development of internal booking, customer communication, and operational tracking systems to digitize tour planning and coordination processes. Served as a technical liaison, troubleshooting issues to reduce downtime and translating operational needs into working technical solutions.

Software Engineering Technical Support System Troubleshooting Customer Communications