I'm
Lerato Tlhako
Senior Software Developer, Java & Spring Boot Engineer, Enterprise Systems Engineer, API & Integration Specialist, Emerging Technical Lead, Architecture Track
I’m a Senior Software Developer focused on building, modernising and supporting enterprise systems in live production environments.
I work across Java, Java EE, Spring Boot, REST APIs, SQL, microservices and platform integrations, with a strong
focus on automation, observability, reliability, API governance and maintainable system design.
My work spans hands-on engineering, production support, deployments, disaster recovery, system modernisation,
technical documentation, backlog planning and team enablement. I enjoy solving problems that remove repetitive
manual work, improve system visibility and make enterprise platforms easier to operate and scale.
I’m building toward technical leadership and architecture, supported by Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification
and ongoing TOGAF study. I also participate in innovation challenges, with 15+ hackathon and innovation awards
and a recent solo win in FNB’s Papercut Challenge for the True Balance innovation.
Production Systems
Enterprise systems delivered and maintained across development, testing and live environments.
Innovation & Hackathon Awards
15+ recognised innovation and hackathon achievements across technical, business and social-impact challenges.
Recurring DL Query Reduction
Enterprise Go-Lives & Release Validations
Executive Presentations
A focused view of the professional impact behind my engineering work across Discovery Health Systems and FNB.
A detailed portfolio of my engineering impact across Discovery and FNB, including automation, cost savings, system migration, observability, production stability, governance and leadership contributions.
Senior Software Developer · Emerging Technical Team Lead
First National Bank
2025 July - Present
Java/Java EE
Spring Boot
REST APIs
SQL (Postgres)
Microservices
Logging
Grafana
JWT / Certificates
Docker
Junior Software Developer
Discovery Limited
2023 February - 2025 June
Java
Spring Boot
Angular
TypeScript
AWS S3
SQL Databases
REST APIs
Kubernetes
Git
Testing & Debugging
Solutions Developer, Tutor & Student Assistant
University of Johannesburg
2022 June - 2023 January
HTML
CSS
PHP
JavaScript
JQuery
Full Stack Developer
Freelance & Hackathon Participations
2021 September - 2022 November
Canva
Figma
HTML
CSS
PHP
JQuery
JavaScript
TensorFlow
Firebase
Arduino
Advanced Diploma in Information Resource Management
University of South Africa
2025 February - 2026 December
ITSM & Governance
Strategic Engineering
Service Excellence
Diploma in Business Information Technology
University of Johannesburg
2020 February - 2023 January
Systems Engineering
Data Management
Business Intelligence
Diploma in Cybersecurity
Oxford Home Study
2022 October - 2023 February
CyberSecurity
Secure Infrastructure Design
Security & Governance
Certifications are verifiable through official providers where available.
Built a structured process-improvement foundation from White Belt and Yellow Belt through Green Belt and Black Belt, while progressing into enterprise architecture through TOGAF study.
Strengthening capabilities in process optimisation, enterprise architecture, governance and large-scale system design to support technical leadership and architecture-focused roles.
4 Best Female Geek / Hacker Awards
6 First Place Awards
4 Runner-Up Awards
1 Fourth Place Award
Software Architecture: The REST API Design
Meta Front-End Development (Coursera)
Software Development Process (Udacity)
Papercut Challenge Winner — True Balance
Internal Innovation Submissions
Shortlisted for EXCO-Level Presentation
Presented Solutions to Executive / Tech EXCO Leadership
Urban Futurism: Crafting the Next Generation of Smart Cities
Former UJ TPC Ambassador
Speaker: UJ TPC Welcome Ceremony 2022
Hybrid application assisting universities with auditing, monitoring and distributing food parcels to students in need.
Smart community platform improving urban safety and civic engagement through proactive incident management.
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Hybrid secure platform enabling citizens to access financial services using an encrypted digital ID and QR code.
Designed a Gen Z mobile banking app with smartwatch access, awareness tools, transaction reversal, and corporate security.
Web app for reporting water leakages; plumbers detect rusted pipes, access learning resources, and promote services.
Web app using graphic passwords to reduce SIM swap fraud: secure actions, history tracking, and alerts.
AI platform for daily emotional check-ins via chatbot; detects fear signals and alerts emergency contacts/authorities.
Transparency platform for tracking government projects: proposals, budgets, and satellite verification.
Hybrid app using AI/ML + drones for monitoring crop/livestock health, disease detection, irrigation and marketplace features.
Client-based web/mobile builds during university: design, implementation and delivery across multiple real-world briefs.
Platform connecting patients with doctors during emergencies: virtual consults, dispatch, and GBV support.
Python analytics tool to predict and visualise crime trends across regions, including international data integration.
Got a project in mind, a collaboration opportunity, or just want to chat tech? Feel free to reach out — I’m always happy to connect!