Alvin Maina.

From circuit boards to AI.

Tech lead, full stack engineer and electronics technician. I build production systems in PHP and JavaScript, ship AI into real businesses, and still know my way around a soldering iron.

Areas of Expertise

specializations: {

aiEngineering

fullStackDevelopment

hardwareAndElectronics

serverInfrastructure

technicalLeadership

}

Key Technologies

  • PHP
  • Laravel
  • JavaScript
  • TypeScript
  • React
  • NextJS
  • NodeJS
  • Python
  • MySQL / MariaDB
  • Redis
  • Firebase
  • Nginx
  • Linux
  • Docker
  • Git
  • Arduino
See my work on GitHub

Synopsis

About Me

I started at the repair bench, fixing phones, consoles and computers down to the component. That taught me how systems really work. I took that into software, then into leading teams and building with AI. Hardware, software, AI: I work across all three.

myphoto

Who I am

I'm a tech lead based in Nairobi. Today I lead engineering on Orderly, a full restaurant operating system with an AI copilot built in, and I run the e-commerce platform at Crosstech. PHP and JavaScript are my home ground. I think in both circuits and code, so I can take a product from the device on the counter to the server it talks to and the AI model behind it. Outside of work I enjoy swimming and cycling.

How I lead

The part I enjoy most is planning a system's architecture: how the modules fit, how it survives updates, how it scales, and where AI can do useful work. I also mentor, review code, and give clients a straight answer on what will work.

  • System Architecture
  • AI Integration
  • Team Leadership
  • Code Review
  • Design Systems
  • Product Strategy
  • Operations

My Expertise at a Glance

Proficiencies

Hardware, software and AI, all under one roof.

From electronics to code to AI

I work across the whole stack, from the circuit board up. I can diagnose a dead motherboard, stand up and harden a Linux server, write the PHP and JavaScript that runs on it, and connect a large language model that does real work for a business. Few engineers cover all of it. I do, and it lets me solve problems other people would pass along to someone else.

AI Engineering

I build AI into production products, not demos: tool-calling agents, multi-provider LLM engines with guardrails and audit logs, background watchers that catch problems early, and AI-assisted diagnostics. I also use AI coding tools every day to ship faster.

  • Claude / Anthropic
  • OpenRouter
  • Gemini / Genkit
  • LLM Tool Calling
  • Agent Design
  • AI Guardrails & Audit
  • Claude Code

Hardware & Electronics

Years at the repair bench, where I diagnosed and repaired computers, gaming consoles and mobile phones down to component level. That grounding in how hardware fails is why I debug software the way I do.

  • Board-level Repair
  • Soldering & Rework
  • Phone Repair
  • Console Repair
  • PC & Laptop Repair
  • Diagnostics
  • Servers & Networking
  • POS Hardware

Tools I use

With 5+ years building digital products, I use a wide set of tools to design, build and ship efficient, scalable solutions.

  • Photoshop
  • Illustrator
  • Figma
  • VSCode
  • Postman
  • Click Up
  • Ableton
  • After Effects
  • Premiere Pro

Technologies I build with

As a creative professional, I thrive by using a wide range of tools languages and frameworks to bring ideas to life.

  • JavaScript
  • NodeJS
  • React
  • NextJS
  • jQuery
  • PHP
  • Laravel
  • TypeScript
  • Vue
  • Python
  • Redis
  • Firebase
  • WordPress
  • WooCommerce
  • GA4/GTM
  • HTML5
  • CSS3
  • SASS
  • Git
  • MySQL
  • MongoDB
Data Strings 01 by Colorpong: https://ywft.us/2177b695b

Career

Experience

A timeline of my professional and technical journey.

Orderly

Tech Lead

2025 - Present

Nairobi, Kenya

Orderly is a restaurant operating system covering customer ordering, point-of-sale, kitchen display, tableside service, back-office management and delivery dispatch, with an AI copilot built in.

Tech Lead & AI Architect

2025 - Present

I lead the technical direction of the platform across its web, mobile and desktop apps: architecture, infrastructure, payments, compliance and AI.

  • Designed an update-safe module architecture so custom features survive upstream platform upgrades.Shipped M-Pesa, Paystack, KRA eTIMS, OTP and inventory modules.
  • Built Orderly AI, a multi-provider LLM engine with tool-calling agents for customers, kitchens and admins.Includes guardrails, encrypted keys, usage metering, audit logs and automated watchers for stuck orders.
  • Run production infrastructure on Linux, nginx, Cloudflare, MariaDB and Redis.Delivered a single design system across five product surfaces.
  • PHP
  • Yii
  • JavaScript
  • Vue / Quasar
  • MariaDB
  • Redis
  • Firebase
  • Nginx
  • Linux
  • LLMs / AI Agents

Crosstech.ke

Permanent Full-time

Apr 2022 - Present

Nairobi, Kenya

Crosstech is a leading destination for cutting-edge electronics and tech essentials in Kenya, committed to innovation and customer satisfaction through a diverse range of products and expert guidance.

Lead E-commerce Developer

Apr 2022 - Present

As the lead developer, I oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of the company's e-commerce platform. My role involves managing all online operations, ensuring a seamless and efficient digital experience for our customers.

  • Spearheaded the ideation, design, development, and ongoing maintenance of the Crosstech e-commerce website.Built a scalable and robust online store from the ground up.
  • Implemented new user-facing features and backend improvements to enhance the shopping experience and streamline operations.Increased user engagement and conversion rates.
  • Managed the full technology stack, including the front-end interface, back-end APIs, and database management.Ensured 99.9% uptime and optimal site performance.
  • JavaScript
  • NodeJS
  • React
  • NextJS
  • PHP
  • WordPress
  • WooCommerce
  • HTML5
  • CSS3
  • SASS
  • Git
  • MySQL
  • MongoDB

Freelance Software Developer

Contract

Dec 2023 - Present

Remote (via Guru.com)

Delivered high-quality software solutions for a diverse range of clients on the Guru.com platform. I was responsible for the full project lifecycle, from initial client consultation and requirements gathering to development, testing, and deployment. Projects included custom website development, e-commerce integrations, and feature enhancements for existing applications.

  • Laravel
  • PHP
  • MySQL
  • PostgreSQL
  • JavaScript
  • React
  • WordPress
  • Git

Dexters Electronics

Permanent Full-time

Jan 2020 - Apr 2022 · 2 yrs 4 mos

Nairobi, Kenya

Diagnosed, troubleshot and repaired a wide range of electronic devices, including computers, gaming consoles and mobile phones, down to board and component level. This is where my engineering started: a deep, practical understanding of hardware, system diagnostics and methodical problem-solving that I still bring to every software project.

  • Board-level Repair
  • Soldering
  • Phones
  • Consoles
  • Computers
  • Diagnostics