Cornel Rautenbach

Hello.
My name is Cornel.

I'm a technology professional that loves creating easy-to-use, captivating, efficient and scalable software solutions to tackle complex problem – all while having fun doing so 🚀

Say hello
Cornel

17 years
Experience

Aug 2021 – present
Head of Technology
Bob Group
I oversee our technology infrastructure and software development processes to ensure they are stable, efficient, effective, and scalable. By leading a team of talented developers and engineers, we design, develop, test, and deploy software solutions to enhance everything ecommerce in South Africa.

Bob Group, created from the merger of uAfrica.com and bidorbuy, is responsible for developing:
  • Bob Pay: An online payment solution
  • Bob Shop: An online marketplace
  • Bob Go: A platform for order management and smart shipping
  • Bob Box: A courier-agnostic parcel locker network
  • Ship Logic: A courier SaaS solution utilised by couriers such as The Courier Guy
Dec 2019 – Aug 2021
Head of Development - Ship Logic
uAfrica.com
Led the development of an innovative shipping software solution that transforms parcel delivery in South Africa. Utilising React for the web frontend, React Native for the driver app, and Golang for the backend on an AWS serverless stack with PostgreSQL, the technology is designed for both rapid development and scalability.
Mar 2019 – Dec 2019
Solution Architect
ITSI Holdings
  • Conducting the analysis of and designing sustainable, scalable technical solutions based on the business requirements whilst overseeing that development efforts are aligned with the overall strategy.
  • Overseeing and participating in technology selection for new projects.
  • Development of a feature-rich web e-reader (PWA using Vue.js) to enable users to access all of their e-learning content on the go. This includes making highlights, drawing on PDFs, uploading content (similar to Google Drive), doing assessments and more.
  • Developing real-time analytics state verification (Node.js) to ensure app analytics are indeed correct.
  • Development of automated API integration tests using Mocha and Chai.
Mar 2017 – Mar 2019
Head of Mobile Application Development
ITSI Holdings
  • Leading and managing a team of Android, iOS and Windows developers – providing guidance, strategy and collaboration with other departments.
  • Maintaining an Android app (Java and Scala), implementing new features and optimizing the codebase to improve functionality on older devices.
  • Development of an app for parents (Xamarin) to view learner activity, calendar events and newsletters.
  • Implementation and coordination of automated UI test frameworks for native apps.
  • Development of a project management tool (Vue.js) to ensure teams are always up to date with tasks, milestones and commits.
Jan 2014 – Mar 2017
iOS Mobile Application Developer
ITSI Holdings
  • Implemented a feature-rich iOS e-reader (Objective C and Swift) that involves complex user interfaces, encryption, compression and server-communication (REST).
  • Developed libraries for highlighting, generating summaries and rendering a tree-view of data (JavaScript).
Mar 2011 – Oct 2013
Technical Consultant
EPI-USE America Inc.
Feb 2012 – Oct 2013
Full Stack Developer
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts
Led the discovery, design and development of various rich mobile web applications that integrate with a SAP backend (SAP ABAP, JSP, Java, Struts, HTML and JS).
Aug 2011 – Nov 2011
Flash Developer
Starwood Hotels, New York
Developed an e-learning engine (Flash) that hosts and tracks e-learning content, simulations and animations.
Apr 2011 – Aug 2011
Java Developer
Genentech and Roche, California
Developed a set of Content Migration Accelerators (Java) – tools built to automate content migration from legacy systems to the SAP LSO AE.
Jan 2010 – Mar 2011
Java Developer
GEW Technologies
Development (Java) of signal intelligence tools, which include the following:
  • Video chat and voice calls using radio signals.
  • Battlefield planning based on signal intelligence.
Jul 2007 – Dec 2007
Assistant Lecturer
University of Pretoria, South Africa
Assisting with and teaching the "Multimedia for the Web" course.

Forever learning
Education

Aug 2018 – Sep 2018
Agile Project Management
Torque IT
Jan 2015 – Dec 2017
MBA (Grade with distinction)
Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University, Scotland
This Masters programme covers key management disciplines, including people skills, economics, marketing, accounting, finance, strategic planning and project management.
Jan 2009 – Dec 2009
BSc (Hons) Computer Science (Grade with distinction)
University of Pretoria, South Africa
This degree focusses on a range of complex computer science topics such as artificial intelligence, advanced computer graphics and network security.
Jan 2006 – Dec 2008
BIS Multimedia (Grade with distinction)
University of Pretoria, South Africa
The BIS Multimedia degree combines the computer science and information science disciplines, focusing on software development and UI/UX design.

Forever trying
Startups

PICK a PET!
Node.js, Vue.js, MongoDB
Co-founded and developed a website and mobile app that consolidates pets from South African shelters, and provides users with easy access to search for a new furry friend to adopt.
Auction software
React, Go, PostgreSQL
Designed and developed an extensive auction management system that includes stock management, reporting, invoicing and integrating with Sage Pastel.
Hey Happy
Firebase, Expo (React Native)
Co-founded and developed a fun, free app that will teach you more about the emotional, behavioural, cognitive, alternative and nutritional ways to improve your mood.
Ticket Office
Node.js, Vue.js, MongoDB
Founded and implemented an online ticket selling platform, that provides users with an efficient and affordable way to purchase tickets to events. It includes a native app to make scanning tickets at entrances a breeze.
VistaPath Biosystems
React, Node.js
Improved the world’s first automated tissue grossing platform by adding new features such as communication with the computer vision using ROS (Robot Operating System), integrating with a Laboratory Information System, report generation and user management.
F0cal
React, Node.js
Developed a marketing website, as well as a complex markup tool to mark up images using squares, lines and labels.
Abattoir software
jQuery, PHP, MySQL
Designed and developed an extensive abattoir management system that includes stock management, manufacturing, invoicing and integrating with scales and scanners.
Wing Planner (now aircraftclubs.com)
jQuery, PHP, MySQL
Designed and developed an aviation club management system.