Hi, I'm Christiaan Visagie
Software Engineer • Problem-Solver • Recreational Pilot
Full-stack Engineer specializing in resilient software systems, secure server architecture, and DevOps automation.
About
I'm Christiaan Visagie, a software engineer based in Johannesburg, South Africa. I help teams turn ambiguous business needs into scalable, production-ready software. Beyond building applications, I design and set up secure, multi-environment server architectures that support development, staging, and production workflows with confidence.
Having worked across both the technical and business sides of organizations, I bring a rare ability to translate complex engineering concepts into clear business value. This enables me to close the gaps in understanding between departments, align goals effectively, and ensure that projects move from idea to deployment without costly misinterpretation.
Experience
Software Engineering Consultant
Visagie & Co
Johannesburg, ZA
- Bridged business and tech teams by ensuring requirements were captured in signed Business Requirement Specs (BRS) and formal change requests before development began, cutting costly back-and-forth and reducing time-to-market.
- Designed and managed secure multi-environment server stacks (dev, staging, prod) using Docker, Traefik, and environment-based secret management.
- Hardened infrastructure security with SSL, reverse proxies, port lockdowns, Cloudflare integration, and active intrusion prevention tools like Fail2Ban.
- Automated builds and deployments with GitHub Actions, streamlining CI/CD workflows and enabling faster, more reliable releases.
- Optimized Laravel applications with caching strategies, resulting in faster web app performance and improved scalability.
- Led and mentored developers, introducing coding standards and documentation practices that improved team alignment and delivery quality.
Senior Full-stack Engineer (Contract|Project Specific)
PPM
Remote
- Implemented UK-compliant payment flows by integrating with NuaPay for direct debits, recurring payments, and secure money collection.
- Developed financial services features on the Laravel backend, aligning with strict banking regulations and ensuring data integrity.
- Enhanced the public-facing React application with performance optimizations and UX improvements for customers interacting with payment systems.
- Collaborated across business and technical teams to capture financial requirements and deliver accurate, production-ready solutions under tight deadlines.
Senior Full-stack Engineer (Contract|Project Specific)
WWAS
On Site
- Led a cross-country development team of 7 engineers and QA testers, driving delivery of core features for an Automated Insurance Management System (AIMS).
- Delivered end-to-end insurance workflows covering policy setup, premium payments, claims submission, and back-office administration.
- Implemented multi-tenant architecture and role-based access control using Laravel Sanctum to ensure data isolation and secure user management.
- Collaborated with stakeholders across business and technical teams to translate insurance requirements into accurate, production-ready software.
- Improved system reliability and performance through Redis caching, frontend optimizations, and process refinements.
Head Of Software Engineering
Labmin
Hybrid
- Led a 10-person engineering team including developers, QA, and a project manager; established coding standards, ran code reviews, and drove delivery excellence.
- Architected secure, scalable infrastructure and systems for laboratory information management platforms, ensuring long-term maintainability and security compliance.
- Directed development of Human Genetics LIMS, Veterinary Genetics LIMS, and an ISO-compliant Quality Assurance System, reducing client costs and accelerating time-to-market.
- Worked directly with laboratory stakeholders, traveling on-site to capture requirements, align business needs with software design, and ensure regulatory compliance (ISO, GDPR, POPIA).
- Championed security-first engineering, embedding data protection and compliance into every stage of system design and delivery.
Full-stack Engineer
Labmin
On Site
- Developed core modules for laboratory information management software (LIMS), integrating with lab hardware such as barcode scanners, scales, and other testing devices.
- Built a custom PHP framework with Bootstrap to support role-based access, notification systems, and modular extensions.
- Implemented secure workflows to ensure ISO, GDPR, and POPIA compliance across sensitive lab data and processes.
- Collaborated within a cross-functional team to design, test, and deploy LIMS features supporting human and veterinary genetics labs.
- Contributed to client success by tailoring software directly to laboratory workflows, ensuring smooth adoption and operational efficiency.
Full-stack Engineer (Freelance)
Freelance
Remote
- Delivered custom software solutions including e-commerce platforms, booking systems, business dashboards, and corporate websites for a range of clients.
- Specialized in backend engineering with Laravel and a self-developed MVC PHP framework, providing tailored architectures and secure data workflows.
- Implemented full-stack features from user authentication to payment integrations, ensuring GDPR/POPIA compliance across projects.
- Managed infrastructure and deployments on VPS and shared hosting, handling SSL, environment configs, and server hardening.
- Worked directly with clients to gather requirements, scope projects, and deliver production-ready systems while minimizing costs and delivery times.
Various Roles (Pre-Tech Career)
Various
Remote / On Site
- Gained cross-industry experience across multiple roles prior to transitioning into software engineering.
- Developed strong business communication skills through direct client interaction, stakeholder engagement, and cross-department collaboration.
- Built a foundation in leadership and process improvement, contributing to team efficiency and goal alignment.
- Acquired problem-solving and adaptability skills by working in diverse environments and managing varied responsibilities.
- Leveraged business insights that later enabled effective translation between technical and non-technical teams.
Projects
Hospitality booking platform
A SaaS platform for small resorts and villages to manage reservations. Includes role-based dashboards, secure booking flows, PayFast payments, and containerized multi-environment infrastructure.
Tour Booking Platform
A cloud-native platform tailored for tourists to discover, book, and manage marine excursions, ranging from private boat and yacht charters to guided sightseeing tours, across the Caribbean.
Time & project management software
Built a web application for time tracking, project scheduling, and reporting. Features include user roles, automated reporting, and secure multi-tenant architecture.
Quoting & invoicing system
Developed a financial management tool with quoting, invoicing, and payment tracking. Includes PDF generation, client portals, and custom tax logic.
Bible App
GOTG is a web app built using Next.JS, Tailwind, PHP and MySQL. It enables users to rate, save and share all their favourite verses from the Bible.
Cake studio website
Designed and developed a brand website for a boutique cake business, with custom quote request flows, responsive design, and SEO optimization.
Aviation management system
Contributed to a platform supporting aviation operations, including scheduling, pilot logs, and compliance workflows. Focused on secure role-based features and integrations.
Shopify e-commerce store
E-commerce brand specializing in handmade skincare. Delivered a Shopify storefront with SEO-optimized content, custom imagery pipelines, and marketing automation.
Skills
Education
Commercial Pilot Studies
Flight Training College, George
Focused on advanced aviation theory and flight training toward a Commercial Pilot License (CPL).
Private Pilot License
Foster Aero, Lanseria
Completed flight training and ground school, earning a Private Pilot License (PPL).
High School Diploma
Hoërskool Randburg, Johannesburg
Subjects: Information Technology, Mathematics, AP Mathematics, Science & Chemistry, Geography, English, Afrikaans, Life Orientation.
Certifications
JavaScript Algorithms and Data Structures
freeCodeCamp
Data Scientist Career Path
Codecademy
Learn Data Analysis with Pandas
Codecademy
How to Clean Data with Python
Codecademy
Learn C#
Codecademy
Learn Bootstrap
Codecademy
Learn CSS
Codecademy
Learn HTML
Codecademy
Object-Oriented PHP
Udemy
Statistics Fundamentals (Part 1)
Codecademy
Statistics Fundamentals (Part 2)
Codecademy
Web Development
Udemy
Web Scraping with Python
Codecademy
Advanced React
Coursera (Meta)
Introduction to Front-End Development
Coursera (Meta)
Programming with JavaScript
Coursera (Meta)
React Basics
Coursera (Meta)
Principles of UX/UI Design
Coursera (Meta)
HTML and CSS in Depth
Coursera (Meta)
Version Control
Coursera (Meta)
Contact
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