Curriculum Vitae

Nicael Jooste
Digital Water Systems & Platform Engineering
Internal Platforms · Simulation Workflows · Applied AI
Professional Summary
I bridge complex water operations with modern software engineering, combining hydrology, GIS, drinking-water treatment context, operational data, and AI-assisted development to build internal platforms, SDKs, APIs, simulation-oriented workflows, and decision-support tools. My strongest work is translating ambiguous domain knowledge into inspectable software foundations that can survive beyond a pilot. Recent work includes digital-twin platform capabilities for drinking-water treatment and distribution, internal Python SDKs, and PHREEQC/EPANET-oriented simulation workflows.
Selected Systems & Capabilities
Zero-to-One Infrastructure Software
From undefined operational problem to working internal platform: data model, API boundary, validation logic, user workflow, documentation, and rollout plan.
Internal Python SDKs & Data Foundations
Create and maintain internal Python SDKs that standardize access to data systems, wrap APIs, encode reusable domain logic, and give teams a shared interface for analytics, automation, and internal software.
Simulation & Scenario Workflows
Python/API integration patterns for water-domain solvers such as PHREEQC and EPANET, with attention to validation, reproducibility, and decision-support usability.
Governed GenAI Adoption
Early LLM experimentation, a multidisciplinary focus group, practical pilots, management briefings, responsible-use guidance, Copilot adoption work, and AI-assisted engineering patterns shaped around governance and risk.
Technical Skills
Programming & Frameworks
Decision Support & Adoption
Data & AI
Cloud & DevOps
Domain Expertise
Strategy & Leadership
Programming & Frameworks
Decision Support & Adoption
Data & AI
Cloud & DevOps
Domain Expertise
Strategy & Leadership
Professional Experience
- Initiated and built early digital-twin platform capabilities for drinking-water treatment and distribution, translating telemetry, laboratory measurements, topology, treatment context, operational assumptions, and validation logic into inspectable software workflows
- Designed live-state, historical replay, scenario-analysis, and reporting workflows around operational telemetry, lab data, treatment context, distribution topology, source metadata, and data-quality flags
- Create and maintain internal Python SDKs that bridge enterprise data platforms and end-user workflows through standardized data access, API wrapping, reusable domain logic, and automation
- Build internal applications and services with FastAPI, React/Next.js, TypeScript, SQL, Azure services, cloud functions, Docker, and CI/CD pipelines, using Power BI where an operational reporting surface is the right fit
- Work on Python-based integration patterns for domain solvers such as PHREEQC and EPANET, connecting scientific models to web-based decision-support and scenario workflows
- Helped move internal data work toward stronger software practices by making validation, maintainability, code review, typed interfaces, documentation, deployment discipline, production ownership, and SDLC requirements explicit
- Identified LLMs early as a transformative technology, initiated a multidisciplinary LLM focus group, helped shape practical ChatGPT/Copilot experimentation, and co-founded an internal innovation group
- Developed ETL pipelines, dashboards, and machine-learning models for clients in horticulture and retail
- Worked directly with clients to understand operational needs, scope projects, and deliver usable analytics solutions
- Automated data workflows with Python, SQL, and Power BI
- Took part in proposal writing, workshops, and recruitment efforts alongside a small, agile team
- Supported course development by filming lectures, editing video, and building MOOC content
- Graded assignments and exams, created promotional materials, and helped organize faculty events
- Learned from working with dedicated researchers and students in a high-paced academic environment
Education
MSc Water Management
Delft University of Technology · 2016 – 2019
Specializations: Water Resource Management, Hydrology
Thesis: Investigating the MetOp ASCAT vegetation parameters with clustering
Multidisciplinary project: Testing mobile data gathering in the Phetchaburi river basin and possible applications
Field Experience




BSc Civil Engineering
Delft University of Technology · 2011 – 2016
Field Experience





Let's talk
I'm interested in serious conversations about digital water, internal platforms, AI-assisted engineering, and decision-support systems for infrastructure teams.


