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James Onyango

@jamesonyango1

Message

I build and deploy credit and climate risk machine learning systems grounded in real underwriting practice.

Kenya

Message

What I'm looking for

I'm looking to build and deploy practical ML systems, particularly in credit, climate, and risk-focused work, where real underwriting and portfolio context improves model decisions.

I build and ship end-to-end machine learning systems for credit risk and climate risk, from data pipelines and training through APIs, CI/CD, and documentation.

In my independent practice, I deployed a physics-constrained Nyando flood-risk classifier with AUC 0.9717 and F1 0.9022, and built a credit-default model achieving 0.833 recall and Gini 0.582 using cost-optimised thresholding. I also audited 77,412 FMCG records for a distributor and identified 13 buildable ML solutions.

Before moving into ML, I spent eleven years in Kenyan insurance and investment distribution, including leadership roles at Cytonn Investments and Jubilee Insurance. I maintain seven deployed ML services, publish reproducible research and model cards, and bring practical underwriting, portfolio, and risk context to every model.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Machine Learning Engineer and Data Consultant

Current

Independent Practice

Jan 2024 - Present (2 years 9 months)

Designed and deployed production ML systems including a flood-risk classifier and credit-default model, with CI/CD pipelines and live interfaces. Maintains seven deployed ML services and publishes reproducible research.

Python scikit learn XGBoost Gradient Boosting SMOTE SHAP fastAPI Flask Docker GitHub Actions CI CD Pytest PostgreSQL Google Earth Engine REST APIs Model Monitoring Render Vercel

Career Transition — Technical Retraining and Community Work

Independent Practice

Jan 2020 - Dec 2023 (3 years 11 months)

Completed structured Python and machine learning coursework and built initial portfolio projects. Engaged in voluntary community and teaching work.

Python Machine Learning

Business Unit Manager, Western Kenya

Cytonn Investments

Jan 2018 - Dec 2020 (2 years 11 months)

Led the Western Kenya unit, reporting to the Distribution Manager, with responsibility for growing regional assets under management. Produced financial and statistical analysis, variance reporting, and 12-month investment projections.

Financial Analysis Variance Reporting Team Management Recruitment Training Performance Management

Unit Manager, Medical Business

Jubilee Insurance

Jan 2017 - Dec 2018 (1 year 11 months)

Named Best Unit Manager countrywide for Medical Business in October 2017. Led the Kisumu business development team, recruited and trained brokers and agents, and held renewal and retention ratios above target.

Business Development Team Leadership Recruitment Training Portfolio Review Underwriting Retention Management

Financial Advisor

Madison Insurance; CIC Insurance

Jan 2013 - Dec 2016 (3 years 11 months)

Advised clients across life, medical, and general lines; prospected new business and calculated and valued policy premium rates.

Insurance Client Advisory Prospecting Premium Calculations

Physics and Mathematics Teacher; Geophysics Intern

KenGen

Jan 2007 - Dec 2012 (5 years 11 months)

Taught Physics and Mathematics at secondary schools in Nyanza. At KenGen Olkaria Geothermal Plant, collected and interpreted geophysical field data and ran simulations.

Teaching Geophysics Magnetotellurics TEM Seismology Micro Gravity Simulation