Mathys (TJ)
Van Heerden
Full Stack Developer & SAP Certified Associate Integration Developer with 4+ years of cross-disciplinary experience spanning enterprise integration, industrial automation, and modern web delivery.
The person behind the code
Full Stack Developer and SAP Certified Integration Developer, currently building production systems at Robotic System Solutions while completing a Bachelor of Computing (NQF Level 8) with 9 distinctions.
My background spans three continents and three disciplines: enterprise software integration (SAP CPI, Node.js, Supabase), modern web delivery (React, TypeScript, Capacitor), and industrial automation (Kawasaki robotics, Allen-Bradley PLCs). I've built SAP integration flows serving 150+ employees, programmed 100+ industrial robots on Ford Motor Company production lines, and shipped consumer apps to the Google Play Store.
Outside of code, I'm multilingual (English, Afrikaans, Spanish), competed in rugby, cricket, and baseball across three countries, and volunteered as an English teacher in rural New Delhi.
A design system, live from this page
I'm an engineer, not a career-trained UI/UX designer. Four years of turning SAP integration flows, robot programming logic, and a SaaS product into interfaces people can actually use taught me this craft. Nothing below is a mockup. It's pulled straight from the CSS running this page, click a swatch to copy its hex.
Color
Type scale
Spacing rhythm
Motion
Professional journey
Junior Full Stack Developer
Robotic System Solutions (Pty) Ltd
Krugersdorp, South Africa
- Designed, built, and deployed HerdSync, a multi-tenant livestock management and traceability SaaS platform, live in production at herdsync.co.za.
- Shipped the HerdSync Android app through Google Play closed testing, handling the full Play Console setup: data safety declarations, store listing, and staged tester rollout.
- Engineered an RFID hardware integration gateway on Raspberry Pi, with a secure heartbeat Edge Function, device auto-registration, and timing-safe token authentication for livestock scanning.
- Implemented a multi-tenant PostgreSQL architecture with Row Level Security policies, database migrations, and scheduled data retention via pg_cron.
- Authored a NIST SP 800-61 aligned incident response procedure with defined roles and SLAs, alongside client-facing web projects delivered under NDA.
SAP Integration Developer Intern
EPI-USE
Pretoria, South Africa
- Developed 4 SAP CPI integration flows for automated compensation letter generation, reducing manual processing time by 80% and serving 150+ employees using Groovy scripting and XSLT transformations.
- Built end-to-end Workday synchronization application using SAP Fiori frontend and Node.js CAP services backend, enabling real-time HR data integration via OData APIs.
- Engineered SuccessFactors to SharePoint pipeline via Microsoft Graph API, automating document storage and reducing manual file handling by 90%.
- Designed Apache NiFi ETL flows for processing password-encrypted Excel attachments from Gmail with automated data validation and transformation.
- Earned SAP Certified Associate Integration Developer certification during the internship, validating production-grade CPI competency.
Junior Robotic Programmer
Robotic System Solutions (Client: Ford Motor Company via Defalca)
Pretoria, South Africa
- Programmed 100+ Kawasaki industrial robots across multiple Ford Motor Company production lines, ensuring precise automation sequences for vehicle assembly.
- Integrated Allen-Bradley PLCs with Coherix Predator3D vision systems, enabling real-time 3D quality inspection and reducing defect rates on assembly lines.
- Configured Coherix 3D vision cameras for automated bead inspection, achieving a significant reduction in quality defects on assembly lines.
- Optimized robot cycle times for Twinsaver manufacturing client, improving production throughput and operational efficiency.
- Performed independent on-site troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, and system commissioning across multiple manufacturing facilities.
Data Capturer
Platinum Life
Pretoria, South Africa
- Captured and verified client data with high accuracy standards, maintaining strict data confidentiality and regulatory compliance.
"Mathys consistently demonstrated professionalism, dedication, and a strong aptitude for learning and applying new concepts. He helped with contributions to projects and showed a solid understanding of technical principles. Mathys approached tasks with care and attention to detail, and his collaborative attitude made him a valued member of the team."Dirk Naude, Associate Manager at EPI-USE View Reference Letter
Technical toolbox
Frontend
Backend
Data & Cloud
Automation & DevOps
Design & UX
Things I've built
HerdSync
Multi-tenant livestock management and traceability SaaS with RFID hardware integration, deployed to production web and Google Play closed testing.
CodeBuddy
AI-powered teaching assistant for first-year programming courses, using machine learning to provide personalised, context-aware coding guidance and feedback to students.
Real-Time Translation App
C# desktop application for multilingual communication, using REST APIs to translate conversations in real time across multiple language pairs.
Portfolio Website
This site. A responsive personal portfolio designed and built from scratch, with every animation, layout, and accessibility detail tuned by hand.
Credentials
SAP SE
SAP Certified Associate
Integration Developer
Production-grade competency in SAP Cloud Platform Integration (CPI), earned during a year-long enterprise integration internship at EPI-USE, Pretoria.
Professional Development
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Complete Course and Practice Exam
The Complete Cyber Security Course, Volume 1: Hackers Exposed
Academic foundation
Bachelor of Computing (NQF Level 8), majoring in Software Engineering
Belgium Campus iTversity
Pretoria, South Africa
Key Coursework: Software Engineering, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Business Intelligence, Database Development, Web Development, Information Systems, Project Management, Statistics.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma
The British International School
New Delhi, India
Internationally recognised programme completed while living abroad in New Delhi, building a foundation of analytical thinking and cross-cultural adaptability.
Beyond the code
Three Continents
Lived and worked across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, building an adaptable cross-cultural perspective that shapes how I collaborate and problem-solve.
Multilingual
Fluent in English and Afrikaans, conversational in Spanish. IB education in New Delhi deepened global awareness and academic rigour.
Community
Volunteer English teacher in rural New Delhi. Organized NGO sports events. The belief that technology should serve people extends far beyond the screen.
Athletics
Competitive rugby, cricket, and baseball. Played varsity baseball in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where the discipline and teamwork transferred directly to engineering.