Chakib Ben Ziane

AI/LLM Ops | Backend Developer | Systems Programmer

Profile

A seasoned UNIX systems and network programmer specializing in AI/LLM operations and backend development. Expert in building high-performance CLI and server applications using Go, Rust, and Python, with a particular emphasis on on-premise AI deployment, air-gapped environments, and self-hosted infrastructure. A dedicated open-source contributor with extensive experience collaborating within distributed, global teams. With over 15 years of experience across SysAdmin/DevOps, IT Architecture, OpSec, and Machine Learning, I have a proven track record of delivering value to a diverse clientele, ranging from global enterprises to agile startups. My versatility in both backend and frontend development, combined with a strong problem-solving mindset, allows me to excel in the early stages of fast-paced, high-impact projects. Passionate about architecting robust software stacks and prototyping MVPs with cutting-edge or specialized technologies. Current focus areas include LLM fine-tuning, RAG pipeline optimization, diffusion models, and the development of tooling for secure, offline AI workflows.

Experience

Backend / Systems Programmer

Dec 2018 - Present

Independent Contractor • Remote Only (Spain)

Available as freelance and contract work: backend / systems programmer.

Engineered robust backend systems utilizing Go, Rust, and Python stacks
Architected scalable software stacks tailored to specific business requirements
Provided expert AI/LLM consulting, focusing on on-premise deployments, model fine-tuning, and custom tooling
Contributed as an early member of the LangChain open-source community, implementing the SearxNG tool and various core features
Designed and launched Gosuki, a high-performance, multi-browser bookmark management system

Director of UX

Jan 2019 - Dec 2019

Confidential Client • Remote

Product management and UX design consulting.

Led product management initiatives and strategic planning
Executed comprehensive UX design and user research to optimize product usability
Facilitated stakeholder communication and precise requirement gathering

UI designer / developer

Dec 2014 - Dec 2018

Independent Contractor • Berlin (Germany)

Worked on various projects as a UI designer and full stack developer.

Developed rapid prototypes and MVPs for early-stage startups, accelerating time-to-market
Engineered solutions for cryptocurrency and blockchain-based projects
Managed and coordinated cross-functional development teams

Full stack developer

Dec 2012 - Dec 2014

Freelance • Paris (France)

Created and deployed various web and mobile applications for clients.

Authored detailed technical specifications and architected application designs
Developed and deployed full-stack web and mobile applications
Managed end-to-end deployment and long-term system maintenance

CTO / Full stack developer

Dec 2012 - Dec 2014

Boxls (Startup) • Paris (France)

R&D for a DNS based security solution.

Developed a custom DNS server utilizing Twisted Python for high-concurrency networking
Implemented Windows Filtering Platform (WFP) drivers using C#
Managed infrastructure deployment and system stability
Developed full-stack applications using the Django framework
Established CI/CD pipelines using uWSGI and Nginx

Systems Engineer / DevOps

Sep 2011 - Dec 2012

Smartjog • Paris (France)

Research & Development on virtualization and distributed file systems.

Served as SRE for a large-scale virtualization infrastructure, ensuring high availability
Conducted R&D on distributed file systems, including Ceph, Sheepfs, and Glusterfs
Researched and implemented virtualization solutions using KVM, Libvirt, and QEMU
Co-developed a VM management tool built on Libvirt
Engineered a fully compliant LDAP PGP key server using Python

SRE / Networking / DevOps

Sep 2009 - Sep 2011

Bocal (Epitech School) • Paris (France)

As a part time internship at my school I was part of a team that managed a large scale infrastructure for a school of 1000 students.

Managed network and systems administration for a campus of 1,000 students
Engineered a custom dual-boot system to support diverse student requirements
Developed an automated Windows deployment system based on Sysprep and KMS
Created a custom Linux deployment pipeline utilizing PXE and Filezilla

Projects

Early LangChain Open Source Contributor

Feb 2023

Implemented the SearxNG tool, which has since been integrated into numerous downstream AI frameworks
Contributed core features, performance enhancements, and critical bug fixes during the project's early stages

Other Open Source Contributions

Jun 2012

Contributed to a wide array of open-source projects, with a recent focus on the AI/LLM ecosystem, including LocalAI, aichat, StableDiffusion, ChromaDB, and PySyft

Instrukt: Terminal UI AI environment for LLM agents (Sole Developer)

May 2025

Enabled natural language instruction for AI agents
Facilitated the development of specialized agents equipped with custom toolsets
Implemented automated scanning and indexing of data sources to power RAG-based question-answering

Gosuki: Blazing fast, multi-browser, plug-free, bookmark manager. (Sole Developer)

Jun 2026

A blazing fast, multi-browser, plug-free, bookmark manager.

Eliminated the need for browser extensions through innovative integration
Supports all major browsers and multiple profiles per browser in real-time
Provides flexible data portability with multiple import and export formats
Implemented multi-device synchronization and permanent archival of web links

PSWatch

Jul 2025

A system process watcher and task scheduler with custom matching rules.

Provides real-time process monitoring driven by customizable matching rules
Integrates task scheduling and system automation

HugoBot

Feb 2018

Content scraper and aggregator bot for Hugo data-driven websites.

Automates content scraping and aggregation for data-driven websites
Generates optimized data outputs compatible with the Hugo static site generator

GUM

Apr 2027

Task and unit manager micro library.

Provides a minimalist framework for task management and orchestration

switch-monitor-source-ddcci

Nov 2018

Script to switch monitor source using DDCCI protocol.

Implemented the DDCCI protocol for hardware-level monitor control
Automates the switching of monitor input sources

codegpt-ng.nvim

May 2026

Lightweight AI Neovim plugin connecting with backends like Ollama and OpenAI.

Integrates AI-powered code completion and assistance directly into Neovim
Supports a wide range of backends, including Ollama and OpenAI

Other Projects

Jan 2024

Additional open source projects and contributions.

Curated 'Awesome Explorables,' a comprehensive list of interactive, explorable explanations
Developed 'aichat-ng,' an enhanced fork of aichat featuring advanced capabilities, available as an AUR package
Created 'tinyssh-initramfs,' a minimal SSH-enabled initramfs for secure emergency system access

Education

Bachelor in Information Technology

2009 - 2011

Epitech School of IT Engineering (Paris)

Relevant Coursework: C, C++, Unix, Networks, Security, Web, Databases, Software Design, Project Management

Bachelor in Mathematics & Computer Science

2007 - 2009

Université Paris 6

Certifications

Udacity Deep Learning Nanodegree

Sep 2017

Udacity

Volunteer Work

Teacher & Helper

Nov 2007 - Nov 2008

Ubuntu France

Participated in public events to advocate Linux and open-source software.
Provided free support to new Linux users.

Skills

AI/LLM Ops

On-premise LLM deployment • vLLM • Llama.cpp • LocalAI • StableDiffusion • ComfyUI • Open WebUI • ChromaDB • RAG • N8N/LocalAGI • llama-swap • kokoro-tts • MCP servers • End-to-end LLM lifecycle management • LLM observability and custom proxy pipeline development

Machine Learning & AI

LLMs • Deep Learning • PyTorch • Langchain • TensorFlow • llama.cpp • embedding/reranking • diffusion models

Backend Dev / Systems

Go • Python • Rust • C • Javascript • Bash

DevOps

Docker • Kubernetes • Podman • Complex cluster and network topology design • overlay networks • firewalls • Development of custom CLI tools and system daemons • Expert troubleshooting skills • Upstream software debugging and patching

Linux

Debian • iptables • systemd/SysVinit • pam • Kernel optimization and tuning • filesystem: I/O performance optimization • Advanced filesystem architecture, partitioning, and redundancy • Boot/Grub/UEFI

Networking

Caddy • iptables/nftables • overlay networks • Secure, isolated container networking architectures • SRE practices

Security

SSO/LDAP • API key management • OpSec • air-gap

Neovim Ecosystem

Lua • codegpt-ng.nvim • Neovim development

Bitcoin and Lightning Network

Bitcoin • Lightning Network • Bitcoin Core • LND • C-Lightning

Other

DIY Electronics • Hobby embedded programming • Arduino, ARM, ESP

Languages

EnglishFluent

FrenchNative speaker

ArabicNative speaker

SpanishB2

Interests

Compilers & Interpreters

programming languages