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Johan van Niekerk

@johanvanniekerk

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AI Automation Engineer specializing in workflow automation and self-hosted AI infrastructure for efficient operations.

South Africa

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What I'm looking for

I’m looking for fully remote, asynchronous work where I can build reliable AI automation and workflow systems, integrate self-hosted LLM solutions, and continuously improve operational efficiency through hands-on troubleshooting and process optimization.

I’m an AI Automation Engineer and Workflow Automation Specialist with 25+ years of technical troubleshooting and systems experience. I focus on designing and deploying automated workflows that reduce manual work and improve operational efficiency.

I independently learn, implement, and optimize emerging technologies across Linux, cloud, automation, and AI ecosystems. I’ve built and integrated local LLM solutions using Ollama and llama.cpp, and I develop reliable automation systems with n8n.

I also deliver hands-on infrastructure support—configuring Docker, Nginx, and Cloudflare Tunnel—and provide technical documentation and remote support to help clients implement and maintain these systems confidently.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

AI Automation Engineer

Current

Self-Employed

Jan 2023 - Present (3 years 5 months)

Designed and deployed workflow automation solutions with n8n to eliminate repetitive manual processes and build AI systems using local LLMs (Ollama, llama.cpp). Developed Telegram bot and API-driven automation tools, maintained Linux infrastructure with Docker/Nginx/Cloudflare Tunnel, and produced technical documentation for remote clients.

N8n Ollama Llama.Cpp AI Agents Prompt Engineering Docker Nginx REST APIs LLamacpp

Current

Freelance IT Systems Technician

Current

Self-Employed

Jan 2000 - Present (26 years 5 months)

Provided computer repair, diagnostics, system optimization, and technical support for individuals and small businesses, troubleshooting hardware, software, networking, and operating system issues. Managed both Windows and Linux environments and applied root-cause analysis to resolve complex technical problems.

Technical Troubleshooting Windows Administration Linux Administration Optimization Remote Technical Support Root Cause Analysis