Backend Engineer &
System Architect.

Hi, I'm Ian. I build production-grade Spring Boot applications and distributed systems. I'm passionate about clean code, scalable architecture, and teaching Java.

Ian Dancan Mongare

Technical Skills

Core Stack

Java • Spring Boot • Spring AI • Azure • Azure AI Foundry • REST APIs • SQL • CI/CD • Linux

Focus Areas

Scalable backend systems • Cloud architecture • DevOps • Developer advocacy

Experience

Dec 2025 - Present

Software Engineer and Instructor

Amigoscode • Remote

Support students in their Java and Spring Boot learning journey, helping them strengthen technical foundations. I work closely with learners to clarify core concepts and backend development patterns.

  • Conduct mock technical interviews and guide students through Data Structures and Algorithms.
  • Help learners identify and master common DSA and LeetCode patterns.
  • Mentor students on developing strong problem-solving skills and structured thinking/communication.
  • Facilitate the transition from learning concepts to applying them confidently in real-world scenarios.
Jan 2024 - Jun 2025

Backend Engineer & System Architect

ChamaDAO • Nairobi, Kenya
  • Architected Spring Boot backend for fintech platform processing 50K+ in monthly transactions, implementing secure payment flows and blockchain integration.
  • Built comprehensive security layer using Spring Security with JWT authentication and OAuth2, achieving zero security incidents.
  • Designed and optimized PostgreSQL database schema with complex JPA relationships, reducing query response time by 40%.
  • Developed 30+ RESTful API endpoints documented with Swagger/OpenAPI.
Mar 2025 - May 2025

Backend Developer & Technical Mentor

African Blockchain Championship • Nairobi, Kenya
  • Developed Spring Boot microservices for hackathon platform serving 100+ developers with robust error handling.
  • Created technical curriculum covering Spring Boot architecture, API design patterns, and database optimization.
  • Mentored developers on microservices communication and service discovery, resulting in 20% of participants launching production-ready systems.
Sep 2024 - Dec 2024

Project Manager & Technical Lead

Bitnorm • Nairobi, Kenya
  • Led agile development of Spring Boot microservices for 8-person team, achieving 99% on-time delivery across 12+ sprints.
  • Coordinated backend API development and database design, facilitating daily standups and technical design reviews.
  • Championed code quality initiatives including comprehensive unit testing with JUnit/Mockito, achieving 85% code coverage.
Oct 2023 - Oct 2024

Backend Developer

SpaceYaTech • Nairobi, Kenya
  • Built production Spring Boot REST APIs for Mentorlst platform serving 500+ users, implementing scheduling engine and matchmaking.
  • Optimized PostgreSQL queries and implemented Redis caching, improving API response times by 20%.
  • Documented 20+ RESTful endpoints using OpenAPI/Swagger, reducing frontend integration time by 15%.
Jan 2023 - Present

Founding Member & Community Lead

Kenyan Java User Group (JUG)
  • Grew a thriving community of 300+ developers, facilitating weekly learning sessions and knowledge sharing.
  • Lead Java for Everyone initiative, training 80+ developers in core Java, Spring Boot, and software architecture.
  • Organized JavaConnect, Kenya’s first Java-focused event, and hosted industry experts including Josh Long and Dashaun Carter.
  • Collaborated with Safaricom Developers to host impact-driven virtual sessions for the local tech ecosystem.

Recent Writing

View all
Dec 30, 2025

Making Java Fun Again (It's Possible)

Why modern Java (21+) feels like a brand new language compared to the Java 8 days.

Nov 12, 2025

Securing Spring Boot APIs with JWT

A deep dive into stateless authentication for microservices.