Chimzuruoke Okafor

Artificial Intelligence Researcher @ Databricks

About

My journey into technology has always been shaped by curiosity, resilience, and a desire to build things that genuinely make life easier. Over the years, I’ve come to believe that if you look closely enough, even the chaos has a pattern, and that simple mindset has guided the way I approach engineering, product building, and AI innovation.I started my career as a Full-Stack Engineer, and spent up to four years building enterprise-grade AI products for major UK companies. In that time, I shipped over 50 production applications, from workflow automation systems to intelligent assistants used daily inside real organisations. One of the most defining projects I worked on was Felicity, a PropTech AI platform I helped architect and build end-to-end. Watching it grow into a full automation system and eventually attract millions of pounds in funding showed me what happens when strong engineering meets a real-world problem.That experience pushed me deeper into building agentic systems, multi-agent workflows, and AI-driven platforms that can reason, adapt, and automate complex processes. Today, I’m in a new chapter of my journey: building and scaling my own AI SaaS products. I’ve already launched several products that now earn around $300 MRR, and I’m focused on taking them even further.Along the way, I completed my M.Sc in Artificial Intelligence with distinction at the University of Surrey, where I worked on Self-Supervised Learning for 3D imagery, a project now pending publication at CVSSP/ICCV. I’ve also contributed to open-source ecosystems like TensorFlow, Ivy, and PyTorch.Recognition has been a humbling part of this journey. One of my most impactful contributions is a watermark-removal Machine Learning tool I built, which became one of GitHub’s Top 10 ML projects in 2022. It has earned over 5k stars, crossed 100k downloads, and has been cited in more than 50 blogs and research publications. I’ve also been honoured as a Top Rated Plus developer on Upwork, placing in the top 3% of freelancers, joined the Forbes BLK community, and spent over 1,500 hours mentoring on ADPList, something that continues to mean a lot to me.At the core of everything I build is the desire to create real impact. I’ve been guided by others along the way, and I try to pay that forward by creating tools, systems, and products that help people move forward. I’m always open to meaningful collaborations and conversations, if you’re building something impactful, feel free to connect.

Country

United Kingdom

City

London

Industry

Computer Software

Skill

Browser Automation, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), React.js, Algorithm Design, Computer Vision, Computer Science, DevOps, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Large Language Models (LLM), Back-End Web Development, TypeScript, Data Structures, Algorithms, Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD), Gitlab, Firebase, Docker, Node.js, Python (Programming Language), Machine Learning

Experience

Artificial Intelligence Researcher

Databricks

2025-6 - 2025-9 · 4 mos

London Area, United Kingdom

Built browser-powered LLM agents using LangGraph with Puppeteer that navigate real sites, handle iframes/shadow DOM, and take actions to gather live relocation rules & tariffs for each target city/office.

Lead AI Software Engineer

LightWork AI

2025-1 - 2025-5 · 5 mos

London Area, United Kingdom

AI Software Engineer

LightWork AI

2024-1 - 2024-12 · 1 yr

Software Engineering and AI Mentor

adplist.org

2023-3 - 2025-2 · 2 yrs

Worldwide

Artificial Intelligence Engineer

University of Surrey

2023-4 - 2023-9 · 6 mos

Guildford, England, United Kingdom

- Co-developed an interactive chatbot with Microsoft's Bot Framework SDK using Python and C#, becoming a vital resource for new university students. - Seamlessly integrated Azure OpenAI Embeddings QnA, RAG, into Microsoft Teams, leveraging Python for backend integrations and enhancing user accessibility. - Collaborated on LLM, managed vector embeddings in databases, and articulated their significance to non-technical IT personnel. Utilized Python for data management and C# for core bot functionality. - Achieved a 40% reduction in the student helpline load within the first month, showcasing the chatbot's efficiency and value. - Earned commendations for the innovative application of Azure products, subsequently enriching the university's digital communication ecosystem.

Software Engineer

Greach

2022-4 - 2023-9 · 1 yr 6 mos

- Co-developed a successful ride-hailing app with 1,000+ downloads on both App Store and Play Store shortly after release. - Engineered a backend with Python and Typescript, using microservices to manage extensive data. Leveraged PostgreSQL for structured data and analytics, while adopting MongoDB for flexible storage. - Designed UIs with Flutter (mobile) and React (web) for a consistent user experience. - Deployed custom shell scripts for server monitoring, ensuring high uptime. - Developed an efficient ride-matching algorithm based on foundational data structures and algorithms. - Regularly optimized app performance and UX based on user feedback and analytical insights.

Technical Writer

Draft.dev

2022-9 - 2023-1 · 5 mos

Chicago, Illinois, United States

- Authored clear and engaging technical content, distilling complex software development topics into easily understandable concepts. - Collaborated with engineers to validate technical accuracy, ensuring quality and reliability in the learning materials. - Actively engaged with tech communities, identifying needs and shaping content to address those, promoting a culture of continuous learning.

Content Creator and Software Engineering Mentor

Tunga

2021-4 - 2022-9 · 1 yr 6 mos

Netherlands

- Created the Data Structures and Algorithms Course in the Tunga Academy platform alongside the test. - Created the Introduction to Flutter Course in the Tunga Academy platform alongside the test

Software Developer

Tunga

2021-3 - 2022-8 · 1 yr 6 mos

Netherlands

- Built scalable mobile and web applications using flutter, python, nodejs with DevOps expertise https://tunga.io/dev-profile/1654/

Back-end Developer

Heckerbella

2021-12 - 2022-4 · 5 mos

Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria

Building modern web applications that proffer digital solutions using nodejs, and typescript, as well as managing the deployment and production lifecycle