I’m Novel Bafagih, a software engineer who never goes a day without learning something new. I build scalable, flexible and robust software, mostly with React, Next.js and Kotlin Jetpack Compose. AI is part of how I work: it helps me move fast, and I review every line so the code stays clean and easy to maintain. Give me a week, a computer and an internet connection, and I’ll learn whatever the project needs.
Work
Apr 2024 – Present
Multimodal
Software Engineer · New York, remote
Full-timeThe first full-time frontend engineer. Wrote the first commit of AgentFlow's frontend in August 2024, when it had no users; by October 2026 more than a hundred client people used it every week, led by a bank that rolled it out to its lending teams.
Built the document review tool for a US mortgage lender: annotation got 50% faster and the client's loan processing costs fell by 80%.
Made the PDF viewer keep up with fast scrolling: CPU use went from 100% to 10%.
Led the design system consolidation: 33 status-to-colour maps down to one, with a lint rule that keeps it that way.
Moved multimodal.dev off Webflow to Next.js and Sanity; its median phone Lighthouse score went from 73 to 85.
Read the case studyMar 2023 – Jun 2024
OrthoCoPilot
Frontend Web Developer · Munich, remote
Led the pilot website for TIA with TUM Venture Labs and TUM Sports Orthopedics, connecting 500+ patients and 5+ doctors.
Put the medical logic into code: 100+ questions and answers that branch on what the patient says.
Built the backend on Supabase and PostgreSQL, working with the Master's and PhD students behind the research.
Read the case studyJan 2023 – Mar 2024
Upwork
Front-end Freelancer
FreelanceWorked with 5+ clients around the world, fitting in with each one's project and way of working.
Half of them came back for more work.
Nov 2021 – Mar 2022
Udana.id
Frontend Developer · Jakarta
Part of a small team that took the product through verification by OJK, Indonesia's Financial Services Authority.
Built the 5+ page website that presents the main product.
Education
2020 – 2024
Universitas Brawijaya
Bachelor's, Information Technology · Malang
DegreeThesis: SIDAKU, an Android app and REST API that let Kota Batu's cooperatives and small businesses keep their own records.
Read the case studyFeb – Jul 2023
Bangkit Academy
Mobile Development (Android) · Led by Google, Gojek, Tokopedia & Traveloka
ProgramGraduated with distinction, in the top 10% of the cohort.
Finished 7 Android courses on time, from the fundamentals to advanced techniques.
Aug 2021
COMPFEST
Software Engineer Academy · Jakarta
ProgramWon Best Participant and the Favorite Team award.
Leadership
May – Jun 2023
Bangkit Academy
Capstone team lead
Led a team of six across mobile, machine learning and cloud to a working app in a month: 100+ tasks closed in 30 days.
Read the case studyApr – Nov 2022
FEEL-IT, KBMTI
Chairman · Malang
Steered a team of 60 across 8 divisions.
Ran the organisation's first offline event in two years.
Apr 2021 – Aug 2023
BCC
Head of Talent Development · Malang
Organised BCC's first offline townhall; attendance rose by 50%.
Created a learning event that drew 100+ attendees, 50% more than the year before.
