Product Development
Program leadership for product and prototype development, from concept through testing and delivery.
Profile
Core Competencies
Digital Fabrication
Hands-on fabrication workflows spanning CAD, electronics, machining, and system integration.
System Integration Testing
Validating hardware–software systems, laboratory equipment, and production-ready prototypes.
IT Operations
Servers, databases, networks, access control, backups, and disaster recovery for institutional systems.
Software & Web
Application and website development, cloud filing systems, and user onboarding for academic programs.
Security & Access
Data protection, lab access permissions, and safety practices across makerspace and research facilities.
Experience
IT Manager — TEA-LP Project
- Appointed IT Manager for the Transforming Energy Access – Learning Partnership (TEA-LP) project, funded by the UK FCDO through the University of Cape Town.
- Support development and delivery of TEA-LP courses and review of the Master’s of Renewable Energy programme.
- Maintain ACE-ESD training and MSc Renewable Energy webpages, student tracking templates, seminar support, and project cybersecurity and backups.
Member — UR Projects Public Tender Committee (SPIU)
- Appointed by the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance as a Public Tender Committee member for UR projects coordinated under SPIU.
- Serve as committee member (IT Specialist, UNIPOD) under Law N° 031/2022 and Ministerial Order n° 001/23/10/TC governing public procurement.
Secretary — College Online Presence Committee
- Appointed Secretary of the UR-CST College Online Presence Committee (Ref. 1066/2022), representing ACE-Energy and Sustainable Development.
- Coordinate website content, MIS records, e-learning support, and file-sharing updates for directorates, schools, and departments.
IT Operations Specialist / Program Lead (PDP)
- Lead daily IT operations for UNIPOD and support ACE-ESD and GIIH programs.
- Operationalize Makerspace Labs, High Etech Smart Grid Laboratory, and related facilities.
- Administer databases, networks, cloud filing systems, and critical servers (web, DNS, databases).
- Coordinate access security, safety, user onboarding, and progress reporting for projects and stakeholders.
IT Officer
- Managed hardware, software, networks, websites, and institutional databases.
- Developed and maintained the ACE-ESD and GIIH websites and a cloud-based filing and application platform.
- Supported e-learning content updates, staff training, and server performance monitoring.
Software Developer
Developed solutions focused on mobility management approaches for mobile IP networks.
Education
Fab Academy (MIT Fab Foundation)
Diploma · Digital Fabrication
January 2025 – June 2025
Becoming a FABMASTER
Annamalai University
Master’s degree · Information Technology
2011 – 2016
Certifications
Selected Work
Jan – Nov 2026 · UR-CST / ACE-ESD
IT Manager — TEA-LP Project
Appointed IT Manager for the Transforming Energy Access – Learning Partnership (TEA-LP), funded by the UK’s FCDO through the University of Cape Town as lead. The project develops and teaches TEA-LP courses and reviews the Master’s of Renewable Energy programme at ACE-ESD, UR-CST.
- Develop and maintain ACE-ESD training course and MSc Renewable Energy programme webpages.
- Build and maintain student data templates for TEA-LP course tracking.
- Support virtual and physical seminars and workshops.
- Ensure cybersecurity and data backup for project digital assets.
Jan – Mar 2026 · LIF Launchpad Prototyping Program
UNLEASH Philippines — Prototyping Mentor
Mentored two UNLEASH Philippines prototyping teams from early ideas to tangible prototypes, supporting testing, iteration, and innovation practice:
- Team 3 — Bayanihan-Link: decentralized LoRa mesh fire-alarm system for high-density informal settlements in Tondo, enabling community alerts without Wi-Fi.
- Team 4 — Coconut peat packaging: non-plastic protective packaging for Tarlac stone-craft and terracotta artisans, meeting European buyer and plastic-taxation requirements.
19–24 Oct 2025 · Mukuba UniPod, Kitwe, Zambia
NextGen Managers Programme — Training Facilitator
Facilitated specialized capacity-building sessions for the UNDP-supported NextGen Managers Programme at Copperbelt University’s Mukuba UniPod, transferring practical experience from UR UniPod Rwanda to innovation hub managers in Zambia.
- Prototyping & MVP development: prototype types, rapid iteration, and validation cycles.
- Additive & subtractive manufacturing: 3D printing, CNC, and laser-cutting workflows for makerspaces.
- Makerspace engagement & safety: student ownership, access control, and equipment stewardship.
- Lab reorganization: co-designed specialized labs (rapid prototyping, textile, green tech, design).
20–21 June 2025 · UniPod Rwanda
UNLEASH Hack Rwanda 2025
Facilitated UNLEASH Hack Rwanda 2025 at UniPod under the Timbuktoo Initiative, powered by UNDP in collaboration with UNLEASH. Theme: Digital Minds for Youth Mental Health & Wellbeing. Co-facilitated with Joyeux Shalom, Benitha Irakoze, and Peace Ndoli, guiding 29 young innovators across 5 university teams through the UNLEASH methodology.
- Day 1: problem framing and root-cause analysis (Problem Tree, user-centered research).
- Day 2: ideation, low-fidelity prototyping, and pitching to a panel of judges.
- Top solutions: Turikumwe Initiative (winner), Avisa (1st runner-up), and Nzaba Fine (2nd runner-up) — digital tools for youth mental health and wellbeing.
Nov 2024 – Present · University of Rwanda
UR Projects Public Tender Committee Member
Appointed by the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance as a member of the Public Tender Committee (PTC) for University of Rwanda projects coordinated by the Single Project Implementation Unit (SPIU), effective 6 November 2024.
- Serve as committee member representing IT Specialist, UNIPOD.
- Contribute to public procurement oversight under Law N° 031/2022 and Ministerial Order n° 001/23/10/TC.
- Support transparent tender processes for grants and research projects under SPIU.
9–15 June 2024 · Gothenburg, Sweden
FUSE Maker Space Research Visit
Mission to Chalmers University FUSE Maker Space on behalf of GIIH and UniPod (UR-CST), with Lab Technician Jean Claude Kunde Suleiman. Focused on makerspace operations, access control, safety, scheduling, and tools used for project management and machine control.
- Access & safety: entry/exit protocols for students and visitors; safety procedures, emergency response, and training practices.
- Operations: makerspace scheduling, instructional techniques, and equipment workflows.
- Hands-on: woodwork and metal workshop skills transferable to UniPod labs.
- Application: adopt Chalmers practices to strengthen student lab access, practical programs, and sustainable UniPod operations at UR-CST.
4–17 June 2023 · Kerpen, Germany
Lucas Nuelle — Smart Grid Laboratory Training
Capacity-building mission as IT Officer (ACE-ESD) with Research Laboratory Engineer Aphrodis Nduwamungu at the Lucas-Nuelle Training Center, funded by ACE-ESD. Training supported operation of the Smart Grid High E-tech Laboratory at UR-CST, including a visit to HAN University using the same equipment.
- SCADA: Smart Grid SCADA functions and applications for real-time monitoring, control, and multi-user operation (Designer / Viewer).
- Protection & HVDC: configuring protection relays for grid systems; integration of HVDC lines, converter stations, and power/voltage control.
- MATLAB Simulink: power-electronics modeling, simulation, and control; integration of Simulink with SCADA design on Lucas Nuelle devices.
- Application: laboratory maintenance, troubleshooting, and new research projects with lecturers and students in the smart grid lab.
Aug 2022 – Present · College of Science and Technology
College Online Presence Committee — Secretary
Appointed by the Principal of UR-CST (Ref. 1066/2022) as Secretary of the College Online Presence Committee, representing ACE-Energy and Sustainable Development, under the Chairperson (Campus Director of ICT Services).
- Website: prepare and update directorate, school, and department content; publish events, research, trainings, and workshops; work with the College Webmaster.
- MIS: participate in training and record institutional data as required.
- E-learning: support lecturers in publishing and updating courses on the e-learning system.
- File sharing: upload and maintain directorate, school, and department content on the file server.
WPForms iVeri Integration
Secure payment processing integration between WPForms and iVeri’s hosted payment gateway.
https://github.com/armelix8/wpforms-iveri-integration/