Hi, I'm

About Me

Hey there👋 I'm André Steyn, a passionate software developer based in Pretoria, South Africa. I started my journey in Chemical Engineering, earning my bachelor's degree with distinction in 2022. However, my true calling revealed itself during my studies, leading me to transition into the world of software development.

After discovering my love for coding, I dedicated myself to mastering the craft. I completed various Udemy courses and, in 2023, landed a role as a Junior Software Developer at Dariel. Currently, I'm honing my skills in ASP.NET Core, Angular, and AWS while striving to become a full-stack engineer. 💻

Exploring new technologies and solving real-world problems is what keeps me motivated. 🚀 I'm always eager to learn and embrace challenges in the ever-evolving landscape of software development.

Beyond the keyboard, I find joy in the beautiful game of football. As a member of the CBC Old Boys football club in Pretoria, I enjoy the camaraderie and thrill of the game. When the pixels beckon, I immerse myself in video games, with Doom Eternal ranking among my favourites. 🎮

In my free time, you might also find me experimenting with new coding projects or enjoying a cup of coffee while brainstorming innovative solutions. ☕️ Let's connect and share our coding adventures!

Experience

Johannesburg,

South Africa

Junior Software Developer

Feb 2023 to Present

Join me on my journey at Dariel Software, a prominent software consulting firm in Johannesburg, specializing in software development, integration, technology consulting, and digital transformation. They excel in creating tailored software solutions, managing the entire development lifecycle, and seamlessly connecting applications and data sources.

As a Junior Software Developer, my role at Dariel has been dynamic and challenging. I started my journey by being assigned to a private hospital company as a client. Here, I delved into the existing project by writing unit tests, gaining a deeper understanding of its functionality. Subsequently, I contributed to a CMS project by extending the functionality of the FHIR API, enhancing its capabilities.

My role further evolved as I took on different responsibilities, focusing on resolving critical bugs in the main application, ensuring its reliability and performance. The journey culminated as I took the lead in getting an inherited Angular application up and running, working collaboratively with the team to address and overcome numerous challenges.

Kroondal,

South Africa

Process Engineering Intern

Jan 2021 to Feb 2021

During my initial role at Minopex, I spearheaded a significant project investigating the efficiency of dense medium cyclones and optimizing ferrosilicon recovery, contributing to cost-effective process enhancements.

My collaboration with the junior metallurgist involved, innovative data analysis techniques to improve accuracy in flotation cell data management. Additionally, I demonstrated strong written communication skills in preparing various reports and documents, actively engaged in continuous improvement initiatives, upheld safety standards, and leveraged advanced Excel and Python expertise to streamline data analysis and reporting processes.

Process Engineering Intern

Jan 2022 to Feb 2022

During my second stint of vacation work at Minopex, I played an active role in optimizing the flotation section's operations.

My responsibilities encompassed tasks like airflow optimization, reagent preparation, and maintaining uninterrupted flow in pipelines. My primary project involved conducting bench flotation tests and in-depth particle size distribution analysis, utilizing established methodologies to evaluate their influence on process efficiency. Additionally, I leveraged Excel and Python for meticulous data analysis and interpretation, thereby improving the effectiveness of data-driven decision-making and making significant contributions to our team's objectives.

Education

Tertiary

Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering

University of Pretoria | Graduated: November 2022

Summary

I successfully completed my Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Pretoria with distinction. Throughout my academic journey, I excelled in relevant coursework, including Process Dynamics and Control, Chemical Engineering, Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Modelling and Data Analysis. Notably, I achieved my degree with distinction, showcasing my commitment to academic excellence.

My final year research project involved utilizing Python to model the dynamics of a froth flotation cell for a platinum concentrator operation. This project required applying software development principles to analyze and simulate complex chemical engineering processes. In my design project, I orchestrated the design of an ammonia plant, employing Python for modeling the design of the reactor, heat exchangers, and distillation column. These experiences not only contributed to my software development skills but also applied them to the optimization of chemical engineering processes.

As a participant in the Grinding Control Challenge organized by the 19th IFAC MMM 2022 symposium, my teammate and I utilized MATLAB to develop a control strategy for a grinding plant. Our implementation of a P&ID controller resulted in our team being awarded the Best Undergraduate Team. This experience demonstrated my ability to leverage software tools effectively in engineering competitions. In my final year control module, I designed and implemented a P&ID controller using Python, deepening my understanding of control systems and strengthening my programming skills, emphasizing my ability to bridge the gap between software development and chemical engineering.

Certifications

Contact Me

I would love to hear from you.

Connect with me on LinkedIn to stay updated on my professional journey. Explore my projects on GitHub to see my coding adventures. Otherwise, fill in the form below to send me an email.