Systems Engineer
Mission-Critical HMI development using C++ & Qt
I specialize in the development of Naval Combat Management Systems (NCMS), building performant, mission-critical software. My work spans systems architecture, performance optimization, and engineering interfaces that adhere to rigorous international maritime standards. Beyond the codebase, I modernize engineering cultures by implementing robust development workflows and on-premise DevOps solutions.
I designed and implemented a new interface for a Naval Combat Management System using C++ and Qt, utilizing IEC 62288, IHO standards, and APCA guidelines to ensure legibility during Day/Night operations, as well as Microsoft's Fluent 2 design system for a modern look. The project replaced unstructured legacy displays with a sleek and modern aesthetic, specifically engineered to reduce operator cognitive load in tactical environments and streamline overall functionality.
To solve latency in a map library lacking hardware acceleration, I implemented a workaround using Qt Pixmap transformations. By rendering a fluid visual proxy during user interaction and deferring resource-heavy chart loading, I brought real-time responsiveness to a system that previously could not provide user interaction feedback due to performance constraints. This UX-focused solution avoided a costly and time-consuming library migration.
I took the initiative to overhaul our department’s internal development workflow by deploying a self-hosted Gitea instance. Moving away from legacy systems allowed me to introduce modern practices such as Pull Requests and Peer Code Reviews to the team. This established a modern, collaborative "software forge" tailored to our specific air-gapped security constraints.
I graduated from the University of South Africa
I spend much of my time with design and systems logic. This ranges from building accessible color themes using OKLCH and Oklab spaces to planning complex hardware-software architectures. I enjoy building Linux systems from a barebones Arch distro, customizing application interfaces with CSS, building hardware devices such as LED audio-visualizers or guitar pedals, and experimenting making applets with modern web frameworks like Svelte 5 and Astro.
Outside of engineering, I play fingerstyle and electric guitar. I’m a regular reader of fantasy books, I recently finished The Assassin's Apprentice and The Voyage of the Basilisk, now I'm reading The Jade City. I also enjoy listening to music, currently listening to Symphonic Metal. Particularly Nightwish, Battle Beast, and Visions of Atlantis.