About

I am a Senior Software Engineer specializing in Backend Systems, Blockchain, and Web3 with over 8 years of experience in architecting secure, scalable, and high-performance environments. My expertise bridges traditional backend development (Node.js, Java, Rust) with deep decentralized technical knowledge, including consensus mechanisms, cryptographic primitives, and smart contract security.

Technical Focus:

  • EVM Ecosystem: Proficient in Solidity, Hardhat, Foundry, and OpenZeppelin standards.
  • Cardano Ecosystem: Expertise in Plutus (Haskell), Aiken, Lucid-Evolution, and MeshJS.

What I Deliver:

  • End-to-end design and implementation of smart contracts and robust REST APIs.
  • Seamless backend integrations for decentralized applications.
  • High-assurance, secure wallet solutions and financial primitives.

I am driven by the transformative potential of DeFi and decentralized systems. I excel at transforming complex requirements into production-ready systems, optimizing for performance at scale, and ensuring the absolute security and reliability of Web3 applications.


"Be a student as long as you still have something to learn, and this will mean all your life."Henry L. Doherty

Experience

TX Meta

Senior Backend Developer

06.2024 - Present
  • Architected a secure, multichain wallet infrastructure supporting 10+ digital assets with dynamic token management.
  • Built a high-performance payment gateway integrating stablecoins (USDT/USDC) and mobile money for cross-border remittances.
  • Developed a high-throughput transaction module for both on-chain and off-chain operations, ensuring low-latency processing.
  • Mentored a team of developers and implemented rigorous CI/CD practices, significantly improving deployment reliability.
TypeScript Node.js Zustand BullMQ Redis PostgreSQL Docker AWS

C2C Advisory Services

Lead Platform Engineer (Contract)

06.2024 - 02.2025
  • Designed Java-based microservices for a large-scale financial platform serving 2M+ users, managing complex payment logic.
  • Optimized transaction processing speed (TPS) by 40% through Kafka-based queueing and M-Pesa integration.
  • Improved system performance by 35% using strategic database indexing and Redis-based caching layers.
  • Managed containerized infrastructure on Kubernetes across GCP and Bitbucket pipelines.
Java Spring Boot Kafka Kubernetes GCP Redis PostgreSQL MongoDB

Africa Blockchain Centre

Senior Backend & Blockchain Engineer

01.2022 - 05.2024
  • Developed HIPAA-compliant smart contracts on Cardano for secure medical data sharing on the AfyaRekod platform.
  • Led the technical delivery of TraceLedger, a blockchain-based supply chain solution for coffee bean transparency.
  • Built robust REST APIs bridging Cardano (Plutus) smart contracts with traditional off-chain business applications.
  • Guided an agile team of five developers, reducing delivery timelines by 30% through improved code review processes.
Node.js Cardano Aiken MeshJS Solidity PostgreSQL Docker

BandaHealth

Software Developer

08.2017 - 12.2021
  • Scaled the BandaGo mobile health application middleware, reaching a 50% reduction in response times after migrating from Java to Go.
  • Optimized API performance by 30% through advanced data caching strategies for low-resource environments.
  • Designed and maintained secure REST APIs for sensitive patient data management, ensuring strict healthcare privacy standards.
Go Java React Spring Boot PostgreSQL ERP Systems

JKUAT University

IT Support Specialist

01.2011 - 07.2017
  • Spearheaded the transition from manual to digital workflows by developing a web-based research management system.
  • Significantly increased research submission rates by providing a user-friendly digital proposal submission platform.
Web Development Database Management IT Support System Administration
Ken Kelly's avatar
Engineering the future of decentralized systems

Ken Kelly

Software Engineer – Blockchain, Web3 & Backend Systems

I build software. TX Meta Let's connect on LinkedIn Check out my repos on GitHub