AI Engineer & Solutions Architect
Hi, I'm Kraai Du Toit — I build applied AI that ships.
I turn business problems into production-ready AI: generative AI, computer vision, RAG and digital twins — backed by 20+ years of software engineering and solution architecture across Azure and AWS.
About me
Engineer by craft, architect by experience, storyteller at heart.
I'm an AI Engineer and Solutions Architect based in the Netherlands, originally from South Africa. I focus on building applied AI — generative AI, computer vision, NLP, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and digital-twin experiences — and making sure they're production-ready, secure and scalable, not just notebook prototypes.
At Cyclomedia I work on the AI side of full-stack delivery, combining 20+ years of engineering and architecture with the Azure AI Engineer skillset. My cloud background (Azure Solutions Architect Expert, AWS, Terraform, TOGAF) is the foundation that keeps what I build deployable and reliable.
Beyond tech, I've performed stand-up comedy alongside Trevor Noah and released music as "Kraai" — experiences that taught me storytelling, presence and the value of connecting with an audience. I bring that same creativity to engineering.
English · Afrikaans · Dutch (A1)
- AI Tools Portal — a curated gateway to the best AI tools & tutorials · aitoolsportal.ai
- Mental Priming — focus & habit experiments · mentalpriming.com
- 3D Portfolio — an interactive office you can walk through · open the 3D world
What I work with
Skills & technologies
AI leads, engineering delivers, architecture and cloud keep it production-ready.
AI & Machine Learning
Engineering
Architecture
Cloud & DevOps
Data
Career
Experience
Two decades from developer to architect — now focused on shipping AI. Tap a role to expand.
Cyclomedia Now
AI Engineer (Full-Stack)
- Lead AI-powered modernization of the operations portal using AI development tools (Claude, Claude Code), accelerating refactors that previously took weeks.
- Build AI features end-to-end: C# (Azure Functions, GraphQL APIs, Azure T-SQL) and Python (FastAPI, FastMCP), React/TypeScript front-ends, Azure AI Services + Azure OpenAI for inference.
- Upskill engineering staff on practical AI — coding assistants, prompt patterns and agentic workflows.
- Translate business problems into AI-shaped solutions; author architecture diagrams and maintain CI/CD pipelines.
Lionsville B.V.
AI Developer / Full-Stack Engineer
- Built digital-twin applications with FastAPI backends and React + three.js front-ends; live telemetry via Azure Digital Twin, IoT Hub and Event Grid, loading CAD models in the browser.
- Delivered AI proof-of-concepts: RAG models with Neo4j + React for retail, and computer-vision cow detection with Python + YOLO for agriculture.
- Containerised PHP + React workloads on AWS ECS Fargate (S3, API Management, full VPC); automated delivery with Terraform + GitLab CI/CD.
- Authored architecture artifacts (C4 diagrams, SLAs) and produced an AI promotional video as a product PoC.
CGI
Software Architect
- Built monitoring & observability integrations in C# (Azure Functions) across Azure DevOps, PagerDuty and Dynatrace.
- Delivered IT4IT tooling with Power Apps + Power Automate; provided architecture guidance for cross-team adoption.
Telesure Investment Holdings (TIH)
Solutions Architect → Developer
- Designed microservice architecture using Azure Functions (C#) on Docker — Rancher on-prem and Azure Containers in the cloud — with RabbitMQ and MSSQL.
- Applied TOGAF (ADM/BDAT), partnering with analysts and developers to produce PoCs and architecture designs; drove CI/CD on Azure DevOps.
- As Developer: C#, VB.NET and Angular front-ends, T-SQL/DB2 back-ends, ESB-integrated APIs.
Earlier roles
- Web Developer · HR-Focus Holdings (2008–2016) — web & Windows payroll/HR software for clients incl. African Bank, Edcon, Allan Gray.
- Database Developer · MBD Attorneys (2007–2008) — financial systems.
- Analyst Programmer · Cornastone / Dept. of Water Affairs (2006–2007) — water-distribution planning software.
- Delphi Programmer / Interface Manager · HR-Focus (at Edcon) (2003–2006) — led a team managing 3rd-party financial interfaces.
- Application Developer · ATM Solutions (2003–2005) — Postilion plugins & back-office reconciliation.
Selected work
Projects & builds
Products I'm building, open-source experiments, and free tools I've shipped.
Chronica Diary
A voice-first journaling app — speak freely and it transcribes your thoughts talk-to-text using an on-device local LLM. Live on Windows & Android.
Microsoft Store · Google PlayAI Tools Portal
A curated gateway to the best AI tools, GitHub projects and tutorials — my own AI product.
Visit site · YouTubeMental Priming
Focus, habit and priming exercises to improve daily performance. Web + Android app.
Visit site · Play Store3D Interactive Portfolio
Walk through a fully interactive 3D office built with three.js — arcade machine, whiteboard and all.
Enter the 3D worldOpen source on GitHub
C4 Diagram RAG
Generate C4 architecture diagrams with RAG.
Chat with Max
Conversational AI demo & tooling.
YOLO Cow Detection
Real-time livestock object detection.
YOLO Cam Monitoring
Camera monitoring with YOLO.
CV2 Face Recognition
OpenCV face-recognition experiments.
Webcam Face Detection
Webcam integration & detection.
Microservice Builder
Templates & scaffolding for microservices.
AWS Session Manager
Manage EC2 via SSM; CLI & docs.
Free browser tools
Toolbelt
All tools in one place.
Simple C4
C4 architecture diagrams.
DB Schema Visualizer
Visualise database schemas.
Value Proposition Canvas
Map customer value.
Business Model Canvas
Plan a business model.
Mindmap Tool
Brainstorm visually.
Stakeholder Diagram
Map stakeholders.
QR Code Generator
Generate QR codes.
Desktop apps: Priority Matrix (Win) · Mindmap Creator (Win) · macOS · Linux
Try it on your phone
Augmented Reality experience
Scan, allow your camera, and watch it come to life in AR — right in the browser, no app to install.
Scan this for the AR Experience
This links to a page on your phone — accept the camera to continue.
Open AR experienceWorks best on a phone in good light. The camera runs only on your device — nothing is recorded or uploaded.
Credentials
Certifications & education
50+ certifications, courses and qualifications across AI, cloud, architecture and data — including 16 Microsoft certifications. Verify on Credly → Tap a group to expand.
Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102)
Microsoft · Mar 2025AI Fluency: Framework & Foundations
Anthropic · May 2026National Diploma: Computer Systems (Information Technology)
Coursework: C++, Java, PHP & MySQL, Web Development, Operating Systems, Software Analysis, Networking, Digital Process Control, Digital Systems, Turbo Assembler, PIC Assembler (MCS-51), Database Development, Electronics & Electrical Engineering.
Microsoft 16 certifications
AI — Anthropic 5 certificates
Amazon Web Services 2 certifications
Neo4j & graph 6 certificates
Architecture, Agile & DevOps 6 credentials
Courses — LinkedIn Learning & edX 5 courses
Education & training formal study
My journey
Interactive timeline
Two decades of certifications and milestones — newest first. Scroll sideways; click any point to verify the credential.
Drag or scroll horizontally — points above and below the line are clickable.
The human side
Stage — music & comedy
I won the 2018 "Grab the Mic" open-mic competition and toured with Trevor Noah on Nationwild, and was a 2023 Comedy Talent Award finalist (1 of 6 — Utrecht, NL). My work has featured on Comedy Central, kykNET, Vuse Amp, Jacaranda FM and the SAcomedian podcast — and I release music as "Kraai".
Different Tongues
Listen on your favourite platform.
AlbumVerlore in die geraas
Listen on your favourite platform.
AlbumDie Kraai Nes
Listen on your favourite platform.
AlbumMy Doellose Lewe
Listen on your favourite platform.
AlbumIn die Mistige Woud
Listen on your favourite platform.
SingleSnaakse Gevoelens
Listen on your favourite platform.
Latest creative film & video
Recent film, music-video and creative work. See all on YouTube →
More
Videos, writing, games & training
AI Tools Portal — YouTube
AI tools, tutorials & coding walkthroughs.
Comedy & musicKraai — YouTube
Stand-up clips & music videos.
BlogSlot-safe React builds
Patterns for safer component composition.
BlogThe definitive guide to SQL
A compiled, practical SQL reference.
GameBalloon Shooter
A browser arcade game.
GameTetris Sim
Classic blocks, in your browser.
CourseUdemy: AZ-900
Azure Fundamentals exam prep.
CourseUdemy: Brain Hacks
Focus & performance, with/without nootropics.
Let's talk
Open to AI Engineer, AI Developer & AI Solutions Architect roles
Building something with applied AI, or hiring for it? I'd love to hear from you.