# GASPAR MARIO CHICHAVA

**Software Engineer | Backend Developer**

Maputo, Mozambique | +258 853 692 104 | [gasparc.chichava@gmail.com](mailto:gasparc.chichava@gmail.com)
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gchichava | GitHub: github.com/therakius

---

## PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Software Engineer with hands-on experience building and maintaining backend systems, REST APIs, asynchronous workflows, and automation platforms.

Currently working on a production invoice-processing system, where I develop backend and frontend features, troubleshoot complex processing and calculation issues, work with OCR pipelines, databases, Docker, and asynchronous messaging, and investigate system performance and scalability problems.

Previously worked as a Backend Development Intern building APIs and asynchronous workflows for internal and banking back-office systems, including systems involving FNB. Experienced with Python, Node.js, PostgreSQL, MySQL, RabbitMQ, Docker, and Linux, with additional experience in React.js and event-driven architectures.

Strong interest in backend engineering, distributed systems, DevOps, automation, and software architecture.

---

## TECHNICAL SKILLS

**Languages & Frameworks:** Python, JavaScript, Node.js, Express, Flask, FastAPI, React.js, Vite

**Databases:** PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL

**Messaging & Streaming:** RabbitMQ, Apache Kafka, Debezium

**DevOps & Infrastructure:** Docker, Docker Compose, Linux, Git

**APIs & Tools:** REST, OpenAPI/Swagger, Postman

**Automation & AI:** OCR, Tesseract, ChromaDB, Sentence Transformers, AI API integration

**Engineering:** Asynchronous Processing, Event-Driven Architecture, Microservices, Debugging, Regression Testing, Performance Analysis

---

## PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

### Developer / Software Developer

**SmartBP — Maputo, Mozambique**
**2026 – Present**

* Develop and maintain **DU360**, a production invoice-processing and automation platform.
* Build and maintain backend functionality using **Python, FastAPI, Node.js, PostgreSQL, and MySQL**.
* Develop web interfaces and functionality using **React.js and Vite**.
* Develop and maintain invoice parsers for different suppliers and invoice formats, including handling format variations and edge cases.
* Investigate and resolve issues involving invoice parsing, calculation logic, OCR extraction, and inconsistent processing results.
* Perform regression testing using real-world invoice cases to identify and prevent processing failures.
* Troubleshoot differences between local and production environments involving Docker containers, dependencies, OCR behavior, and application configuration.
* Investigate performance bottlenecks affecting concurrent requests and identify synchronous processing of large invoices as a system-level bottleneck.
* Designed and prototyped an **asynchronous OCR processing architecture using RabbitMQ**, decoupling resource-intensive document processing from the main application.
* Analyze resource and scalability constraints involving CPU, memory, concurrent users, and background workers.
* Work across the application stack, from frontend and backend development to Docker-based deployment and server troubleshooting.
* Communicate technical findings, root causes, architectural proposals, and implementation plans with the development team.

---

### Backend Development Intern

**Tablu Tech — Maputo, Mozambique**
**Aug – Dec 2025**

* Developed **RESTful APIs in Python (Flask)** integrated with MySQL and PostgreSQL for internal back-office systems.
* Built endpoints focused on system observability, including system logs, invitation history, and client-operator relationships.
* Developed services for **FNB's banking back-office**, investigating and resolving inconsistent system states and application errors.
* Designed and implemented **asynchronous workflows using RabbitMQ**, including retry and resubmission mechanisms for failed transactions.
* Contributed to a real-time **Change Data Capture (CDC)** pipeline using **Apache Kafka and Debezium**.
* Worked with Docker and Git in a collaborative development environment.
* Investigated backend failures and implemented fixes while maintaining communication between multiple system components.

---

## SELECTED PROJECTS

### Leena — AI-Powered Sales Assistant

**Mar – Apr 2026**

**1st Place — Coding Sprint Presentation**

* Designed and developed a backend system that analyzes sales, inventory, and external factors to generate purchasing recommendations.
* Implemented demand analysis using **7-, 14-, and 30-day sliding windows** to identify trends and inventory risks.
* Built a WhatsApp-based interaction workflow for real-time data input and decision support.
* Applied data-driven recommendations to improve inventory planning and reduce the risk of excess stock.

---

### Moz Demog API

**Apr – Jul 2025**

* Designed, developed, and deployed a **REST API** serving demographic data for Mozambique from 2017–2026.
* Refactored **20+ endpoints into 5 flexible endpoints** with filtering capabilities, simplifying API integration.
* Documented the API using **OpenAPI/Swagger**.
* Designed the API with maintainability and ease of integration in mind.

**GitHub:** github.com/therakius/moz-demog-api

---

## EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

**Web Development — Higher Education**
Mozambique | Ongoing

**The Complete Python Pro Bootcamp** — The App Brewery

**The Complete Web Development Bootcamp** — The App Brewery

**The Ultimate MySQL Bootcamp** — Udemy
Currently in progress

---

## AREAS OF INTEREST

Backend Engineering · Software Architecture · Distributed Systems · DevOps · Cloud Infrastructure · Event-Driven Systems · Automation · AI Engineering · System Scalability