AI Engineer & Cloud Solutions · Nairobi, Kenya

Denise Sophy Ondiso Mutayi

AI Engineer building intelligent systems, agent workflows, and secure cloud solutions.|

Python · LLMs · Agentic AI · RAG · Cloud · Security — currently AI Engineer at Romel Ventures, building Akili, a Claude-powered operations platform live across three clients.

↗ Get in touch View my work
$ system_status
AKILI        ● ONLINE
CLIENTS      03
ARCHITECTURE v12
LLM         Claude
STACK       Python / n8n / Slack / Fireflies
About me

Building AI systems
businesses run on

I'm an AI Engineer based in Nairobi, Kenya, currently building Akili — a Claude-powered operations platform integrating Slack, Fireflies, and Google Workspace across a live 15-channel workspace for Romel Ventures.

My work spans agent architecture, RAG-based knowledge retrieval, context engineering, and multi-step AI workflows — translating business requirements into production systems for real clients, including AI consulting work for portfolio companies.

That AI work is backed by a security-conscious foundation: a Diploma and BSc in Information Technology from JKUAT, internships at ICT Authority and Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, and hands-on cloud security training through CyberShujaa. I design AI and cloud solutions with security built in, not bolted on.

I don't just build AI systems — I think about what happens when they meet production. IAM · data handling · cloud security · threat detection · secure architecture.

12+
Akili architecture versions
3
Live AI client deployments
13+
Technical write-ups
6
Certifications
Technical arsenal

Skills & Technologies

AI Engineering
PythonLLMsClaude APIAgentic AIRAGContext EngineeringCrewAI
AI Systems
Agent ArchitectureWorkflow OrchestrationAPI IntegrationAutomationFault IsolationMCPAgent EvalsStrands AgentsAudit & PII Masking
Cloud & Infrastructure
Microsoft AzureAWSREST APIsGitCloud ArchitectureAWS LambdaCloudWatchGitHub Actions CI
Security
Cloud SecurityIAMMicrosoft SentinelDefender for CloudNetwork Security
Foundations
NetworkingLinuxSQLJavaScriptBash
Career journey

Work Experience

Jun 2026 – Present · Remote
AI Engineer
Romel Ventures
  • Own end-to-end development of Akili, a multi-module AI operations system integrating Claude, Slack, Fireflies, and Google Workspace across a live 15-channel Slack workspace
  • Designed and iterated Akili through 12+ architecture versions, evolving from a brittle keyword-matching prototype into a modular, fault-isolated architecture
  • Deliver AI consulting work for portfolio companies, including an AI-powered CV screening proof of concept for an enterprise workforce management client
  • Produce technical architecture documentation and executive handover materials translating AI capabilities for non-technical stakeholders
Feb 2026 – May 2026 · Remote
Cybersecurity & IT Monitoring Intern
Future Interns
  • Monitored security events and supported incident investigation using Microsoft Sentinel, Splunk, and Azure Defender
  • Applied cloud security concepts to identify, analyse, and investigate unexpected system behaviour
  • Supported vulnerability assessment and incident-response activities within a remote security operations environment
Sept 2023 – Dec 2023 · Nairobi, Kenya
Network Operations Centre (NOC) Intern
ICT Authority
  • Monitored enterprise infrastructure using NMS, U2000, LibreNMS, Nagios, and Cacti across a live government network
  • Supported troubleshooting and escalation of connectivity and infrastructure incidents under operational conditions
  • Developed practical exposure to network architecture, TCP/IP, switching, routing, and service availability
Oct 2021 – Dec 2021 · Nairobi, Kenya
Technical Support Intern
Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC)
  • Provided cross-department technical support and troubleshooting for users and IT systems
  • Installed, configured, and maintained technical systems and supported day-to-day IT operations
What I've built

Projects

Project 01 · 2026
Akili — AI Meeting Intelligence & Operations System
Claude-powered operations platform integrating Slack, Fireflies, and Google Workspace, serving 3 live clients across RAG-based knowledge retrieval, intent classification, and automated reporting. Iterated through 12+ architecture versions applying fault isolation and context engineering.
Claude APIRAGPythonn8nAgent Architecture
Project 02 · 2026
AI Recruitment Screening Proof of Concept
Built an AI-assisted CV screening workflow for a recruitment client, translating requirements into an automated candidate evaluation and ranking system with a weighted scoring rubric.
LLMsAI AutomationDocument AnalysisClient Discovery
Project 03 · 2026
Multi-Agent AI Travel Planner
Multi-agent application using CrewAI to coordinate specialised agents for destination research, activity planning, and budget analysis — applying task decomposition and LLM-based reasoning.
CrewAIPythonAgentic AILLMs
Project 04 · 2025
Cloud Infrastructure Implementation on Azure
Deployed and secured a full cloud compute environment on Microsoft Azure as part of the CyberShujaa Cloud & Network Security programme. Configured VNets, VPNs, application gateways, Azure Defender, and Sentinel.
Microsoft AzureAzure DefenderSentinelVNet / VPNIAM
Project 05 · Ongoing
SOC & Security Operations Practice — 100 Days of Cybersecurity
Ongoing personal challenge simulating real-world SOC environments. Performing log analysis, packet inspection, and anomaly detection using SIEM tools and PCAP files.
SIEMWiresharkIncident ResponseThreat Detection
Field notes & write-ups

From the lab to the page

M Read all on Medium ↗
Writing about: Phishing analysis · PCAP investigations · C2 traffic hunting · Azure Sentinel · Zero Trust · Bash for analysts · 100 Days of Cybersecurity
Follow on Medium ↗
Always learning

Learning Platforms

☁
AWS Skill Builder
Technical Essentials · Cloud Practitioner Essentials · Solutions Architect Fundamentals · Generative AI Developer · In progress
⚡
Microsoft Learn
Azure Fundamentals (in progress) · Sentinel · Defender for Cloud · M365
🛡
ISC2
CC Domains 1–5 · Network security · Security ops & data handling
📊
Splunk
Intro to Splunk · Log management · Threat detection & incident response
🌐
Cisco NetAcad
Ethical Hacking · Pen testing methodologies · MITRE ATT&CK · OWASP · NIST
🎯
Hack The Box
Linux labs · Bash automation · System hardening · CTF challenges
🇰🇪
Cyber Shujaa
Cloud & Network Security · Azure VNets · Firewalls · Sentinel deployment
💡
IBM SkillsBuild
Cybersecurity Fundamentals · Threat analysis
🔒
Fortinet Training
NSE 1, 2 & 3 certified · Network security
📅
100 Days of Cybersecurity
Started Sep 16, 2025 · SOC · SIEM · Cloud · Threat modelling
Credentials

Certifications & Training

ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
● Active · 2026
IBM Cybersecurity Fundamentals
● Active · 2026
Fortinet NSE 1 — Network Security
● Active · 2026
Fortinet NSE 2 — Network Security
● Active · 2026
Cyber Shujaa Cloud & Network Security
● Active · 2025
Fortinet NSE 3 — Network Security
● Active · 2026
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals
◌ In Progress
AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials
◌ In Progress
AWS Solutions Architect Fundamentals
◌ In Progress
Let's connect

Get in touch

Open to AI engineering, cloud & AI solutions, and technical consulting roles. Also happy to connect with other builders, share resources, or talk shop about Claude, agent architecture, Azure, or SIEM tools.

𝕏 @Denise_Sophy_ M Medium — @Denise-Sophy ⌨ denise-sophy.github.io in LinkedIn Profile