Current seat
Intermediate Software Engineer
Glucode, fully remote from KwaZulu-Natal
Currently shipping premium Android work at Glucode
Remote from South Africa
Mpho Ndlela
I build Android products that feel premium and stable.
Kotlin-first Android engineering is the core lane. I also shape product websites, client platforms, and delivery systems when the experience around the code needs the same level of care.
4+
years building mobile and web products
50+
client launches, experiments, and shipped projects
15+
core tools and frameworks used in production
03:42
Live hero device
Interactive portfolio phone
Fully remote at Glucode
Kotlin-first Android
Build mode
Android engineer with product taste and delivery discipline.
This mockup is live: switch tabs, drag sliders, toggle detail mode, and use the side keys to move through the story.
Android88%
Kotlin, Compose, release-ready implementation.
Web78%
Sharp product sites with stronger hierarchy and flow.
Delivery68%
Calmer shipping, clearer ownership, tighter loops.
Control deck
Tune the energy in the interface.
Inside the phone
Use the side keys, tabs, and control deck inside the device to move through the story without leaving the hero.
Best fit
Product engineering roles, Android teams, and freelance builds that need more polish than boilerplate.
Availability
Open to full-time opportunities and focused freelance work where product quality matters.
What the first conversation is usually about
Android product quality, clear delivery, and interfaces that earn trust quickly.
Primary lane
Android engineering
Kotlin, Jetpack Compose, architecture-first delivery
Secondary lane
Product websites
Astro, React, Tailwind, Firebase, SEO-aware builds
Working style
End-to-end ownership
Planning, build quality, release flow, and iteration
Kotlin-first Android delivery /
Jetpack Compose interfaces /
Clean Architecture systems /
Offline-aware product thinking /
React and Astro frontends /
CI/CD automation /
Firebase and REST integrations /
SEO-aware client launches /
Kotlin-first Android delivery /
Jetpack Compose interfaces /
Clean Architecture systems /
Offline-aware product thinking /
React and Astro frontends /
CI/CD automation /
Firebase and REST integrations /
SEO-aware client launches
Story-driven overview
Move through the career in chapters, not isolated job cards.
The page below is still a portfolio, but this section behaves more like a guided narrative. It shows how the work evolved from technical foundations to product delivery to studio-grade mobile engineering.
Auto-advancing until you take over
Chapter one2008 - 2020
The systems mindset came before the polished portfolio.
An early IT foundation trained me to think in flows, dependencies, and user friction before I ever had premium visuals wrapped around the work.
What changed here
This is where debugging, structure, and calm execution started to matter.
Systems thinkingDebugging instinctUser empathy
Chapter details
The practical shifts that shaped the next stage.
01
Built an early grounding in programming, networking, and database thinking at Alexandra High School.
02
Learned to look past surface-level UI and understand how the moving parts underneath hold a product together.
03
Developed the habit of translating technical complexity into something more usable for the person on the other side.
Evidence
The story only works if the work underneath it holds up.
These roles, responsibilities, and education milestones are the evidence behind the narrative above. They show the progression from fundamentals to client delivery to product engineering with higher standards.
What teams keep getting
- Android engineering grounded in clean architecture and maintainability.
- Comfort moving across design intent, backend realities, and delivery pressure.
- Client and stakeholder communication that stays practical and outcome-focused.
Glucode
Intermediate Software Engineer
Sep 2025 - Present Remote from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Premium mobile engineering studio delivering Android and iOS products for clients that expect high polish and dependable delivery.
Core stack
KotlinJetpack ComposeClean ArchitectureCI/CD
- Ship Android features with Kotlin, Jetpack Compose, and clean architectural patterns.
- Tune Compose rendering and state flows for smoother user experiences.
- Collaborate with backend, design, and QA teams to plan releases and maintain quality.
- Support CI/CD and diagnose pipeline issues before they slow the team down.
Saya Setona
Intermediate Software Engineer
Feb 2025 - Aug 2025 Johannesburg, South Africa
Civic-tech team behind Let's Talk, a UNDP-backed platform aimed at improving engagement between citizens and government.
Core stack
React NativeTypeScriptFirebaseAccessibility
- Built the Let's Talk mobile app with React Native, secure APIs, and offline-aware UX.
- Delivered the Vite web portal with performance and SEO in mind for low-bandwidth regions.
- Worked across multilingual UX testing, accessibility checks, and live reporting.
Skyner Development
Mobile Developer
Feb 2023 - Jan 2025 KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Software solutions company focused on bespoke native and hybrid mobile applications for client work.
Core stack
SwiftKotlinFirebaseREST APIs
- Created Swift and Kotlin apps aligned with platform design standards.
- Integrated Firebase services including authentication, analytics, and notifications.
MCN-Digital
Private Contractor / Lead Developer
Feb 2021 - Jan 2023 KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Independent consultancy across websites, smart home automation, and technical marketing support for SMEs.
Core stack
ReactIoTWordPressSEO
- Designed and launched custom React, WordPress, and Tailwind websites for multiple brands.
- Installed and integrated IoT devices for automation, climate control, and security setups.
Education
Varsity College
Bachelor of Computer and Application Development
2022 - 2024
Coursework centered on software engineering, IoT systems, and AI-informed product development.
Education
Alexandra High School
Information Technology
2008 - 2020
Built an early foundation in programming, networking, and database thinking.
Craft
I am most useful where product quality, execution speed, and engineering clarity all matter at once.
Think of these as operating modes instead of static skills. The board below changes how the work is framed depending on the job that needs to be done.
Mobile
Android apps that hold up in production
I build Kotlin-based mobile experiences with clear architecture, reliable state handling, and performance work that survives real users and real release cycles.
- Compose UI systems with scalable state management
- MVVM or MVI structures shaped for maintainability
- Testing and release hygiene built into delivery
Frontend
Fast, polished websites for growing brands
For product teams and SMEs, I design and ship websites that load quickly, communicate clearly, and convert without feeling generic or overbuilt.
- Responsive layouts tuned for mobile-first traffic
- Astro, React, Vite, and Tailwind delivery
- SEO, analytics, and content structure baked in
Delivery
Cross-functional execution, not just code
I work comfortably across product, design, backend, QA, and deployment. That makes the handoff smoother and the final build sharper.
- API integration and data flow planning
- CI/CD support and build troubleshooting
- Clear communication with clients and teams
Interactive capability board
Switch the lens and watch the priorities change.
This is less about naming tools and more about showing how I think. Different projects pull different strengths to the front.
Core focus
Android Systems
Kotlin-first Android delivery with architecture, performance, and release quality treated as first-class concerns.
Decision lens
I optimize for stability first, then polish. Premium mobile work breaks down quickly when state, architecture, and release flow are loose.
Stabilizing an Android codebase that has grown messy under delivery pressure.
Building Compose interfaces that need to feel fast without becoming brittle.
Joining a team that needs stronger release discipline and implementation clarity.
What this mode optimizes
The capability profile changes depending on the job to be done.
Architecture94%
Performance88%
Release confidence90%
In practice
Best fit when a team needs someone who can work inside an existing Android codebase and raise its engineering bar.
Outcomes teams usually feel
Cleaner state and architecture decisions.
More predictable performance under real usage.
Higher confidence going into release cycles.
Kotlin
Jetpack Compose
Coroutines
Flow
Room
Hilt
Firebase
MVVM / MVI
Work
A mix of production websites, platforms, and product experiments.
The showcase below now behaves more like a scene selector than a grid. Move through projects, inspect the challenge, see what I shaped, and jump out when it is useful.
Mix
Android, business sites, marketplaces, civic tech
Delivery
Production launches plus open-source work
Focus
Clear interfaces, strong structure, reliable implementation
Scene 1 of 7
HealthcareWebsite2024Live
Trust and clarity
NGM Psychological Services
Professional mental health website with appointment booking, service overviews, and trusted resources.
Challenge
The experience needed to feel calm, credible, and easy to act on from the first few seconds.
What I shaped
Structured the content and interface around service clarity, trust signals, and enquiry readiness.
Result
The final site feels more reassuring than brochure-like, with a clearer path into appointments and contact.
HTMLCSSJavaScript
Visit live siteProject frame
Live production launch with business goals
Trust and clarity
Best described as
Website
Status
Live
Year
2024
Highlights
Service-led information architecture for trust and clarity
Appointment-ready experience tailored to client enquiries
Clean brochure-site delivery for a professional services brand
Connect
If you need a builder who can think through both the product and the implementation, reach out.
I am open to product engineering roles, Android opportunities, and freelance projects where execution quality matters. The fastest way to start is usually a short message with the context and the problem to solve.
Phone
062 171 1265
mpho.c.ndlela@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/mpho-ndlela
Studio
mcn-digital.co.za
Best fit
Full-time or contract Android work
Product sites that need stronger design and structure
Technical freelance delivery for SMEs and agencies
Teams that want cleaner systems and calmer shipping
Message form
Send the brief directly.
Usually replies within a reasonable working day