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Profile · Engineering leadership

About

I am a software engineering manager and architect based in Amsterdam, focused on AI-powered systems, distributed architecture, and engineering leadership.

Currently, I work on LeapSpace at Elsevier, where I help lead engineering and architecture for the platform that supports research discovery and scientific knowledge workflows. Before LeapSpace I led engineering and architecture for Scopus AI in the same group.

My work sits at the intersection of technical strategy, production architecture, and team leadership. I care about systems that are reliable, observable, secure, and simple enough to evolve. I also care deeply about the engineering culture behind those systems: clear ownership, thoughtful decision-making, and teams that keep learning.

Current focus

  • LeapSpace

    Engineering and architecture for the platform that supports research discovery and scientific knowledge workflows at Elsevier.

Career

  1. 2020 — Present

    Software Engineering Manager & Delegate Architect

    Elsevier AI solutions (LeapSpace, previously Scopus AI) · Amsterdam, Netherlands

    • Leading engineering and architecture for LeapSpace, the platform that supports research discovery and scientific knowledge workflows
    • Previously led engineering and architecture for Scopus AI, an AI-powered research assistant that helps scientists navigate millions of scholarly works
    • Building and scaling AI-powered features serving millions of researchers globally
    • Architecting microservices infrastructure for high availability and performance
    • Driving adoption of AI technologies (LangChain, LangGraph) in production systems
    • Mentoring engineering teams and establishing best practices for AI/ML integration
    • Collaborating with product and research teams to translate AI capabilities into user value

  2. 2017 — 2020

    Senior Software Engineer & Tech Lead

    Zoover (acquired by TripAdvisor) · Amsterdam, Netherlands

    • Led migration from monolith to microservices architecture
    • Architected and implemented event-driven systems using Kafka
    • Improved system performance and reduced latency by 60%
    • Mentored junior engineers and established code review practices
    • Introduced automated testing and CI/CD pipelines

  3. 2013 — 2017

    Full Stack Engineer

    Various international companies · Middle East & Europe

    • Built and shipped multiple production applications serving thousands of users
    • Gained expertise in both frontend (React, Angular) and backend (Java, Node.js) technologies
    • Contributed to open-source projects including Cordova plugins
    • Developed strong foundations in web development and software architecture

  4. 2003 — 2013

    Software Developer & Freelancer

    Various

    • Started programming journey with a deep passion for problem-solving
    • Worked on diverse projects across web, mobile, and desktop applications
    • Self-taught multiple programming languages and frameworks
    • Built a freelance client base and delivered custom software solutions
    • Developed strong fundamentals in algorithms and data structures

How I work

Engineering philosophy

  1. Simple systems scale better than clever ones — clarity beats cleverness.

  2. Observability is not optional — if you can't measure it, you can't improve it.

  3. Security starts with architecture — build it in, don't bolt it on.

  4. Documentation is a love letter to your future self.

  5. Ship incrementally, learn continuously — perfect is the enemy of done.

  6. Lead with questions, not answers — empower teams to discover solutions.

  7. Mentor generously — your legacy is the engineers you help grow.

  8. AI amplifies capability but doesn't replace judgment.

Expertise

Leadership
  • Managing diverse, cross-functional engineering teams across multiple time zones
  • Building high-performing teams through mentorship and empowerment
  • Driving technical strategy and architectural decisions
  • Fostering innovation while maintaining system reliability
  • Creating cultures of excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning
Architecture
  • Microservices architecture and Domain-Driven Design (DDD)
  • Cloud-native solutions on AWS and GCP
  • AI/ML systems integration and scalability
  • Distributed systems design for resilience and performance
  • Event-driven architectures with Kafka and RabbitMQ
  • Security-first architecture and zero-trust principles
Technical
  • Backend: Java, Spring Boot, Node.js, TypeScript, Python
  • Frontend: React, Redux, JavaScript, HTML/CSS
  • AI/ML: LangChain, LangGraph, LangFlow
  • Databases: PostgreSQL, MongoDB, ElasticSearch, Redis, DynamoDB, OracleDB
  • Cloud & DevOps: Kubernetes, Docker, Jenkins, GitHub Actions
  • Observability: NewRelic, Grafana, Prometheus, Kibana

Selected work

  • Leading architecture and engineering for LeapSpace, the current Elsevier AI platform
  • Led architecture and development of Scopus AI, serving millions of researchers
  • Managed and mentored diverse teams across multiple countries and time zones
  • Created Penetration Testing Study Notes (668+ GitHub stars)
  • Published technical articles reaching thousands of developers
  • Contributed to open-source projects including Cordova plugins
  • Speaker and advocate for microservices, DDD, and AI-powered systems