Software Engineer

Penjani Mkandawire

I build web and mobile software — mostly around fintech, payments, and developer tooling. This is a place to keep track of what I've been working on.

About

I'm a software engineer who works across the stack — from API and database design through to the interfaces people actually use.

Most of my work sits in fintech and developer tooling: payment integrations, MCP servers, and shipped products like Grocery Hero, IvyBackup, and PayScale. I like building reliable software that solves real problems.

Skills

Tools and technologies I work with

Frontend

ReactAngularTailwind CSSViteSSR

Backend

Node.jsNestJSGoPostgreSQLMongoDBRedisgRPCREST APIs

Mobile

FlutterDartBLoC

Infrastructure & Tools

DockerAWSAzureGitHub ActionsNginxMCP Servers

Projects

A selection of things I've built

Grocery Hero

Mobile shopping app to plan organized grocery lists, track spending in real time, and review trip summaries comparing estimated vs. actual costs — for individuals and households.

iOSAndroidClosed Source
Stack:FlutterNestJSReactPostgreSQLDocker

IvyBackup

Windows backup software with drive image, full, mirror, differential, and incremental backups — flexible scheduling, 256-bit AES encryption, and cloud destinations.

WindowsDesktopClosed Source
Stack:C++wxWidgetsWindows API

PayScale

Crowdsourced salary database for African professionals to benchmark compensation across industries and roles, normalized by currency and location.

Web AppFintechClosed Source
Stack:GoPostgreSQLReactDocker

Luta Rentals

Car rental marketplace for Zambia — hire a verified vehicle from trusted local owners, even for a single day, without multi-day commitments.

Web AppMarketplaceClosed Source
Stack:AngularNestJSPostgreSQLTailwind CSS

Interests

What I'm into

Fintech & PaymentsDeveloper ToolingAI & MCPOpen SourceMobile AppsProduct Design