Keelan Govender

Keelan Govender

Expert in Designing Scalable, Robust, and Business-Enhancing Data & AI Systems.

Specializing in Data Engineering, Machine Learning, Cloud Architecture, and DevOps.

Connect With Me

Hello! I'm Keelan.

As a Senior Machine Learning Engineer, I thrive on architecting and implementing high-impact, scalable, and cost-efficient systems that drive tangible business value. My expertise lies at the critical intersection of advanced cloud technologies (Azure & AWS), sophisticated system architecture, practical MLOps, and meticulous data engineering.

My academic achievements, including a Magna Cum Laude distinction for my BSc Honours in Computer Science from the University of the Western Cape, provide a strong analytical foundation for my innovative and pragmatic approach to solving complex technical challenges.

Beyond my professional work, I'm deeply invested in fostering the AI/ML ecosystem. I actively contribute as a Host and Organizer for the MLOps.Community Cape Town chapter. This role allows me to connect with fellow enthusiasts and professionals, share knowledge, and stay at the forefront of the rapidly evolving field of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence within our vibrant international community.

Signature Systems & Models

Contextual Bandits & Real-Time ML (Kingmakers)

Areas: ML Engineering, System Architecture, Cloud (Azure), MLOps

Engineered a scalable, end-to-end contextual bandits infrastructure featuring real-time inferencing and automated Databricks workflows. This robust system is designed for high-throughput personalized user experiences, enhancing engagement and business metrics.

Keywords: Real-Time ML, Scalable Architecture, Azure, Databricks, MLOps, Personalization

"Next Best Actions" Recommender Engine (Capitec Bank)

Areas: ML Engineering, System Design, Data Engineering

Led the design and implementation of a "Next Best Actions" recommender system. This business-enhancing solution personalized product recommendations within the app, significantly boosting customer engagement and interaction.

Keywords: Recommender Systems, Personalization, User Engagement, Scalable Deployment

Cloud Computing Platform Enablement (Capitec Bank)

Areas: Cloud Engineering, System Architecture, DevOps

Spearheaded the establishment of a robust and efficient cloud computing platform. This foundational system empowered data scientists and analysts, streamlining model development, analysis, dashboarding, and deployment processes, enhancing overall productivity.

Keywords: Cloud Platform, Azure/AWS, Scalability, Data Science Enablement, Efficiency

Generative AI & Automation Solutions (Kingmakers)

Areas: ML Engineering, GenAI, System Design, Automation

Developed innovative recruitment automation tools and proof-of-concepts for market research using modern GenAI frameworks (CrewAI, LangChain). These solutions aimed at improving operational efficiency and unlocking new business insights.

Keywords: Generative AI, LangChain, CrewAI, Automation, Efficiency, Business Process Optimization

Contactless Computer Vision Store System (Shoprite)

Areas: ML Engineering, System Architecture, Cloud Engineering, Data Engineering

Contributed to the development of a contactless computer vision store project, including designing the supporting scalable cloud infrastructure and creating diverse training datasets using Unity 3D for enhanced object recognition, ensuring robust system performance.

Keywords: Computer Vision, Unity 3D, Scalable Cloud Infrastructure, Data Augmentation, Edge

Data Engineering for Pricing Optimization (Shoprite)

Areas: Data Engineering, ML Engineering

Established robust data engineering pipelines and implemented machine learning models to refine and optimize pricing strategies. This involved crafting innovative solutions for data retrieval, contributing directly to strategic business decision-making.

Keywords: Data Pipelines, Pricing Models, ETL, Data Retrieval, Business Intelligence

My Expertise: Building Future-Ready Systems

  • System Architecture & Design

    Crafting resilient, scalable, and maintainable system blueprints as the bedrock for high-performance applications. My designs prioritize long-term adaptability and efficiency to meet evolving business demands and enhance operational stability.

  • Data Engineering & Management

    Building robust, efficient, and scalable data pipelines; creating high-quality, diverse training datasets; and managing complex data infrastructures. This fuels advanced analytics and machine learning, directly enhancing data-driven decision-making and business insights.

  • Machine Learning & AI Solutions

    Developing and deploying intelligent models (recommender systems, contextual bandits, GenAI, computer vision) that optimize critical processes, personalize user experiences, and uncover valuable insights, consistently driving tangible business growth and innovation.

  • Cloud Engineering (Azure & AWS)

    Leveraging the full potential of Azure and AWS to architect and implement secure, cost-effective, and highly scalable cloud-native solutions. From foundational platforms to complex distributed application deployments, ensuring business agility and operational excellence.

  • DevOps & MLOps Excellence

    Championing automation, CI/CD, Infrastructure-as-Code (Terraform), and comprehensive MLOps best practices. This accelerates development cycles, enhances system reliability, and ensures the seamless, efficient deployment of both software and machine learning models.

Career Journey

Kingmakers

Senior Machine Learning Engineer (June 2024 - Present)

Spearheading Azure cloud infrastructure, contextual bandits, GenAI solutions, and MLOps practices for the AI team. Focused on scalable and efficient system design.

Capitec Bank

Intermediate Machine Learning Engineer (Sep 2022 - May 2024)

Key contributions included establishing robust cloud platforms, leading the "Next Best Actions" recommender engine, and optimizing model performance for business impact.

The Shoprite Group of Companies

Machine Learning Engineer (Jan 2022 - Sep 2022) & Data Science Apprentice (Feb 2021 - Dec 2022)

Developed innovative contactless computer vision store solutions, built supporting scalable cloud infrastructure, established robust data engineering pipelines, and deployed ML models for pricing optimization.

Technical Prowess

Cloud Platforms & DevOps:

  • Microsoft Azure
  • AWS (Amazon Web Services)
  • Terraform
  • Docker
  • Kubernetes
  • CI/CD Pipelines
  • MLOps
  • Azure DevOps
  • GitHub Actions
  • Databricks

Coding Languages:

  • Python
  • C
  • Java
  • C#
  • Rust
  • HCL (Terraform)
  • JavaScript

ML & Data Tools:

  • SQL
  • PyTorch
  • TensorFlow
  • Scikit-learn
  • LangChain
  • CrewAI
  • Pandas
  • Apache Spark
  • Apache Airflow
  • Apache Kafka

System Design & Architecture:

  • Microservices
  • Event-Driven Architecture
  • Distributed Systems
  • API Design & Development
  • Data Modeling
  • Scalability Patterns

Certifications:

View all my verified badges on Credly

  • AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
  • Hashicorp Terraform – Associate
  • Azure Fundamentals
  • AWS Cloud Practitioner
  • IBM Cloud Application Developer – Mastery
  • IBM Cloud Application Developer – Explorer

Let's Architect the Future Together

I am passionate about leveraging cutting-edge technology to design and build systems that solve complex problems and drive significant business value. If you're looking for expertise in scalable and robust Data & AI system design, let's connect.