Mohamed HafezAI · software · mobile
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AI/ML Engineer

I’m Mohamed Hafez.I build privacy-aware NLP, grounded AI, and reproducible machine-learning systems from research through deployment.

AI/ML Engineer · Toronto, Canada · Open to new roles

I also work acrossSoftware Engineer · Android Developer · TA / Instructor

Download AI/ML Engineer résumé
16Android apps delivered
4Previously shipped to Google Play
10+Applied ML projects
200+Teaching hours
3.72Undergraduate GPA

AI/ML Engineer

A focused view of my work

I build end-to-end ML and NLP pipelines for information extraction, named-entity recognition, retrieval-augmented generation, and model evaluation. My work spans dataset construction, preprocessing, fine-tuning, inference, benchmarking, and reproducible experimentation across encoder, encoder-decoder, and decoder-only architectures. My M.A. research at York University produced ASC-PIE and the SPRINT-PP method, while my applied work includes more than ten ML projects and ML-integrated mobile systems.

Selected projects

These are the four I would walk you through first for this kind of work. Each one opens into a full case study: the problem, what I built myself, and what I would change.

AI/ML · Research

M.A. thesis · York University

ASC-PIE

Every PII dataset spoke its own language. I built a shared one, then put seven models through the same exam.

I developed this PII-aware named-entity recognition corpus and evaluation framework for my M.A. thesis, harmonizing four public corpora plus my own synthetic augmentation under a shared 19-type schema.

  • 333,109examples
  • 99.1%best strict F1

My roleDesigned and built the research pipeline, schema and evaluation framework.

  • Python
  • PyTorch
  • Hugging Face Transformers
  • Hugging Face Datasets
  • scikit-learn

Thesis · awarded 2026

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AI/ML · Research

M.A. thesis research · York University

SPRINT-PP

My model forgot everything it learned. The fix had to work without keeping anyone’s personal data.

I designed and built SPRINT-PP, a privacy-safe continual-learning method that lets a PII-extraction model learn new entity types across stages without storing any raw historical text.

  • 83.5%accuracy
  • 0raw examples stored

My roleDesigned the protocol, implemented all four strategies, developed the method.

  • Python
  • PyTorch
  • RoBERTa-large
  • Hugging Face Transformers

Accepted · CASCON 2026

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AI/ML · Software

Independent RAG engineering project

Northstar RAG System

An assistant that would rather say “I don’t have enough evidence” than make something up.

I independently built Northstar end to end, a hands-on RAG engineering project: a retrieval-augmented assistant that grounds every answer in a nine-document corpus and refuses rather than guessing when the evidence doesn’t support an answer.

  • 9corpus documents
  • 700characters per chunk
  • 3source formats

My roleBuilt the RAG system end to end, from ingestion to Docker deployment.

  • Python
  • FastAPI
  • LangChain
  • sentence-transformers
  • Chroma

Independent build

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AI/ML · Client delivery

Applied ML delivery · 2021–2023

Applied Machine Learning Portfolio

Eleven business questions, one delivery discipline: from “can we predict this?” to something someone else can run.

I delivered more than ten applied machine-learning projects at DotPy, covering forecasting, segmentation, recommendation, sentiment analysis, fraud detection, and image classification.

  • 11applied ML projects
  • 2021–2023delivery period

My roleOwned each project from problem definition to technical handover.

  • Python
  • pandas
  • scikit-learn
  • TensorFlow/Keras
  • PyTorch

Applied ML · DotPy

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Professional experience

Experience across research, products, and teaching

Hands-on experience across graduate research, enterprise systems, client delivery, and technical instruction.

  1. 2026 — present

    Founding AI Engineer

    Eklan

    • I am currently working as Founding AI Engineer at Eklan.

  2. Sep 2024 — Apr 2026

    Graduate Researcher — Machine Learning & NLP

    York University · CERAS Lab · Toronto

    • I designed end-to-end ML/NLP pipelines for privacy-aware information extraction using Python, PyTorch, and Hugging Face.
    • I built ASC-PIE, standardized heterogeneous datasets under a shared 19-entity schema, benchmarked multiple model families, and developed the privacy-safe SPRINT-PP continual-learning method.
    • I created reproducible research artifacts covering schemas, prompts, configurations, evaluation summaries, and prediction traces.

  3. Jun 2021 — Aug 2023

    AI & ML Specialist

    DotPy · Cairo

    • I delivered applied ML projects across forecasting, segmentation, recommendation, sentiment analysis, fraud detection, and image classification.
    • I owned workflows from problem definition and data preparation through evaluation, API or Docker packaging, documentation, and technical handover.
    • I also designed AI/ML, data-science, Python, and mobile-integration workshops and mentored junior developers.

  4. Aug 2023 — Sep 2024

    Software Engineer — ECM Consultant

    BASS · Cairo

    • I implemented and supported OpenText Documentum workflows for document intake, review, routing, archival, and retention in regulated environments.
    • I built Java and Python utilities, REST prototypes, DQL validation controls, PDF-processing workflows, and structured diagnostics for production support.

  5. Jul 2019 — Jun 2024

    Freelance Android Developer

    Client projects · Remote

    • I delivered 16 Android applications using Kotlin and Java, MVVM/MVP, Retrofit, Room, WorkManager, Firebase, Maps, notifications, and offline-first data flows.
    • Four apps were previously published on Google Play: three under client-owned listings, no longer maintained by the clients, and one as part of my ITI training.
    • I integrated OCR, computer vision, API-based ML, text-to-speech, and location-aware workflows into mobile experiences.

  6. Jan 2023 — Aug 2024

    Private Instructor — Computer Science & Software Development

    Independent · Cairo

    • I delivered more than 200 hours across 40+ individual and small-group sessions in data structures, algorithms, Java/OOP, AI/ML, and Android.
    • I supported students from six institutions and created 30+ problem sets, 10+ mock examinations, walkthroughs, and structured study plans.

  7. Sep 2024 — Apr 2026

    Teaching Assistant — Data Visualization & Systems Architecture

    York University · Toronto

    • I led labs, tutorials, and office hours covering visualization, architecture, object-oriented design, design patterns, debugging, and code quality.
    • I assessed assignments and examinations using shared rubrics and prepared walkthroughs and student-support materials.

  8. Sep 2019 — Jun 2023

    Freelance Java Developer

    Client projects · Remote

    • I worked across design, development, debugging, testing, and documentation for client Java applications.
    • Projects included a restaurant-management application and a networked Tic-Tac-Toe game using client/server sockets.

Technical breadth

Skills organized by how I use them

Languages, frameworks, platforms, and engineering practices I use to turn ideas into working systems.

Machine learning

PyTorch · TensorFlow · scikit-learn · pandas · NumPy · feature engineering · cross-validation · classification · clustering · recommendation

NLP & LLMs

NER · token classification · Transformers · Hugging Face · RAG · prompting · in-context learning · LLM evaluation · continual learning

Data & MLOps

dataset construction · validation · experiment tracking · model packaging · Docker · CI/CD · regression testing · code review

Programming languages

Python · Java · Kotlin · SQL · C · C++ · C# · Dart · JavaScript · PHP · HTML/CSS · Bash · XML

Computer vision & OCR

OpenCV · Tesseract OCR · image processing · CNNs · transfer learning · API inference · text-to-speech

Cloud & platforms

AWS · SageMaker · Google Cloud · Azure · Linux · Jupyter · Colab · Databricks · Spark

Backend

Spring Boot · FastAPI · Flask · Tomcat · Maven · REST APIs · authentication · JDBC · structured logging · production support

Databases

MS SQL Server · SQLite · Room · relational modelling · query optimization · SQL/DQL · persistent mobile storage

View all skill groups

Android

Android SDK · Kotlin · Java · Jetpack Compose · MVVM/MVP · Clean Architecture · Room · WorkManager · Coroutines · Hilt/Dagger

Mobile integration

Retrofit · OkHttp · REST/JSON · Firebase · FCM · Maps/Location · authentication · offline caching · background synchronization

Mobile test & release

Gradle · JUnit · Mockito · Espresso · Robolectric · AAB/APK · signing · Play Console · staged rollout · crash/ANR triage

Enterprise content management

OpenText Documentum · Content Server · Composer · DQL · workflows · lifecycles · metadata validation · retention · archival

Document processing

iText · PDF generation · assembly · transformation · packaging · log4j · failure diagnostics

Visualization

matplotlib · seaborn · Power BI · Tableau · pandas/NumPy analysis

Engineering tools

Git · GitHub Actions · VS Code · IntelliJ · Eclipse · Conda · Arduino · PlantUML · draw.io · LaTeX

Professional strengths

communication · problem solving · mentoring · stakeholder management · documentation · presentation · research · adaptability

Teaching and mentorship

How I help people learn

University teaching, private instruction, workshops, and reusable learning materials.

2019 — 2024

Workshops & coding clinics

CIC · DotPy Academy · Minders · Google Developer Student Club · Most Electronics

I delivered 15+ workshops and coding clinics to 100+ attendees across data structures, C/C++, problem solving, Java/OOP, AI/ML, data science, and introductory Android development.

2019 — 2026

Data Structures Lab Series

Reusable instructional materials

Six core topics, 12+ lab exercises, 30+ automated test cases, complexity notes, and solution walkthroughs.

2019 — 2026

Intro AI/ML Notebooks & Assignments

Reusable instructional materials

10+ notebooks with answer keys covering classification, regression, evaluation, introductory NLP, computer vision, and data-quality practice.

2019 — 2026

Android teaching mini-apps

Reusable instructional materials

Three or more applications demonstrating networking, local storage, architecture patterns, offline behaviour, and UI construction.

Education, credentials, and recognition

The foundation behind my work

2024 — 2026

M.A. Information Systems & Technology

York University · Toronto

  • Completed and officially awarded in 2026.
  • Thesis: ASC-PIE: An Evaluation Framework for PII-Aware Named-Entity Recognition.
  • Research focus: privacy-aware NLP, named-entity recognition, LLM evaluation, and continual learning.

2018 — 2022

B.Sc. Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence

Helwan University · Cairo

  • Excellent with Honors · ranked 2nd in class · GPA 3.72/4.0.
  • Computer Science major with Information Systems minor.
  • Capstone grade A+: Mind’s Eye assistive smart-glasses system.

2023

Professional Certificate — Mobile Application Development

Information Technology Institute (ITI) · Smart Village

  • Intensive Android engineering track covering UI, networking, local storage, MVVM/MVP, Git, code review, and project delivery.

Certificates and training

  • AWS Machine Learning FoundationsUdacity · Certificate · 2022
  • Artificial Intelligence FoundationsDotPy · Certificate · 2021
  • Android DevelopmentUdemy · Certificate
  • Android Development TrackOne Million Arab Coders / Udacity · Certificate · 2019
  • Introduction to Android DiplomaReload Academy · Certificate · 2018
  • Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)Inspire Academy · Training programme only · 2022
  • AI & Machine Learning WorkshopDotPy · Workshop · 2020
  • Problem Solving WorkshopMinders · Workshop · 2020
  • Soft Skills WorkshopMicrosoft Student Partner Programme · Workshop · 2019

Awards and honours

  • Excellent with Honors · ranked 2nd in graduating classHelwan University · 2022
  • Capstone grade A+ · Mind’s EyeHelwan University · 2022
  • ICPC contestant · three consecutive years2019 · 2020 · 2021

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Open to new roles, one-week notice period · Toronto, Ontario, Canada