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Dan Panu-Misailescu
Verified Expert in Engineering
Full-stack Developer
Bucharest, Romania
Toptal member since December 26, 2017
Bio
Dan builds products from ambiguity, taking them from zero to launch and scaling them into reliable systems. From an MVP that secured $6 million in seed funding to an AI-powered product presented at Google I/O, he turns ambitious ideas into business value. With 15 years of experience, he shapes product and technical strategy, translates complex needs into solutions, and leads engineering teams while also working as an individual contributor.
Portfolio
Magic
AI Agents, Large Language Models (LLMs), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Vercel...
Toptal, Direct Contracts
React, JavaScript, Firebase, Management, PostgreSQL...
CHAPTR
React, CSS, Stable Diffusion, Python, JavaScript, NoSQL, Public Speaking...
Experience
- Communication - 20 years
- JavaScript - 15 years
- Creative Problem Solving - 12 years
- React - 11 years
- Google Cloud Platform (GCP) - 8 years
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) - 5 years
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) - 4 years
- Python - 1 year
Work Experience
Senior AI Product Engineer
2025 - PRESENT
Magic
- Built and owned multi-tenant TypeScript MCP servers on GCP via Terraform for internal/external system integration, alongside agent orchestration and production RAG (Redis vector search, metadata filtering) that helped reduce US client churn by 27%.
- Shipped full-stack AI agent experiences, from back-end services to React interfaces, that augmented around 1,200 human assistants in the Philippines by automating repetitive work, increasing operational efficiency, and improving client satisfaction.
- Architected and shipped the AI assistant for the Human+Tech Week conference in San Francisco, from ambiguous requirements to production; added semantic caching that cut LLM inference costs by 70% and latency by 10x under peak load.
- Led an R&D Labs initiative to architect a multi-tenant Kubernetes (GKE), supporting isolated OpenClaw AI bot instances for thousands of concurrent Telegram users.
- Selected as interim software development manager during the manager’s six-month sabbatical: led five engineers (delivery planning, 1:1s, performance reviews) and drove adoption of AI-assisted engineering workflows while remaining hands-on.
Technologies: AI Agents, Large Language Models (LLMs), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Vercel, GCP DevOps, Terraform, Next.js, Model Context Protocol (MCP), OpenClaw, Kubernetes, Redis, Supabase, Agentic AI, Retrieval-augmented Generation (RAG), RAG Pipelines, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Prompt Engineering, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Front-end Development, User Interface (UI), User Experience (UX), REST, React, JavaScript, Google Pub/Sub, HTML, NoSQL, Linux, Full-stack, Front-end, Back-end, API Integration, Architecture, Leadership, Web Architecture, APIs, DevOps, Docker, Management, Team Leadership, REST APIs, Software Architecture, Roadmaps
Senior Full-stack Engineer
2016 - PRESENT
Toptal, Direct Contracts
- Architected and delivered scalable cloud infrastructure, APIs, and full-stack applications for global startups, providing staff-level technical leadership across system architecture, technical strategy, and end-to-end product delivery.
- Partnered directly with founders and business stakeholders to translate ambiguous requirements into pragmatic technical solutions, made key architectural decisions, and mentored engineers while remaining deeply hands-on.
- Led and grew high-performing engineering teams, driving technical direction, delivery standards, and cross-functional alignment while continuing to contribute hands-on across architecture, code, and critical product initiatives.
Technologies: React, JavaScript, Firebase, Management, PostgreSQL, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Google Pub/Sub, Redis, HTML, CSS, Node.js, TypeScript, SaaS, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Agile Project Management, Redux, Full-stack, Front-end, Back-end, API Integration, Architecture, Next.js, Leadership, NoSQL, SQL, Data Visualization, Mobile, Web Architecture, APIs, Continuous Integration (CI), DevOps, GraphQL, Python, AWS Lambda, Docker, HTML5, Material UI, Web Development, Google Cloud, Project Management, Technical Leadership, Full-stack Development, System Design, Team Leadership, MongoDB, DOM, REST, Dart, Flutter, Software Architecture, CTO, Roadmaps, Express.js, Databases, CI/CD Pipelines, Containerization, Amazon DynamoDB, Stripe, Serverless, Stripe API, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Front-end Development, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Software Development, Design Patterns, Communication, Agile, NestJS, Serverless Architecture, REST APIs, Creative Problem Solving, OpenAI, Llama 3, Meta Llama, Ollama, MySQL, Terraform, Cloud Firestore, Pinecone, LangChain, AI Agents, Vercel
Senior Full-stack AI Engineer
2023 - 2024
CHAPTR
- Took two AI products from 0 to 1 as a core engineer.
- Contributed to Stori, an interactive storytelling platform for parents and children featured at Google I/O 2023, and Reedy, an AI publishing platform that optimized metadata for discoverability.
- Architected and delivered generative AI features across both products using the OpenAI API, Stable Diffusion, Python, React, and GCP via Terraform, rapidly prototyping prompts and pipelines in Jupyter Notebooks and Google Colab.
Technologies: React, CSS, Stable Diffusion, Python, JavaScript, NoSQL, Public Speaking, Prompt Engineering, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), System Design, Design Patterns, Machine Learning, SQL, Software Development, Artificial Intelligence (AI), TypeScript, Software Architecture, Node.js, Cloud Firestore, Communication, ChatGPT, Large Language Models (LLMs), Agile, Firebase, Serverless Architecture, REST APIs, Creative Problem Solving, Terraform, LangChain, Pinecone, AI Agents, Agentic AI, Retrieval-augmented Generation (RAG), RAG Pipelines, GCP DevOps, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Front-end Development, User Interface (UI), User Experience (UX), REST, Google Pub/Sub, HTML, Linux, Full-stack, Front-end, Back-end, API Integration, Architecture, Leadership, Web Architecture, APIs, DevOps, Docker, Team Leadership, Roadmaps
Founding Engineer & VP of Engineering
2020 - 2022
Livegistics
- Was the first engineering hire: architected and built the MVP from scratch, a GCP platform and mobile-first React web app, and presented it to investors, helping the company close a $6 million seed round.
- Led months of discovery with operators, drivers, haulers, and accountants, turning an ambiguous vision into a roadmap and a platform (GCP, Node.js, PostgreSQL, Redis, Pub/Sub) that cut per-load processing from 2 minutes to 15 seconds (8x).
- Promoted to VP of engineering after the company’s funding: hired and led three engineers, set up engineering process and mentoring, and stayed hands-on as the platform scaled through rapid customer growth.
Technologies: JavaScript, Node.js, React, HTML, Firebase, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Google Pub/Sub, PostgreSQL, Redis, Management, CSS, TypeScript, SaaS, Cloud Firestore, Google Cloud Functions, Software Architecture, SQL, Agile Project Management, Redux, Full-stack, Front-end, Back-end, API Integration, Architecture, Leadership, NoSQL, Data Visualization, Mobile, Web Architecture, APIs, Continuous Integration (CI), DevOps, Docker, HTML5, Material UI, Web Development, Google Cloud, Project Management, Technical Leadership, Full-stack Development, System Design, Team Leadership, DOM, REST, CTO, Roadmaps, Express.js, Databases, CI/CD Pipelines, Containerization, Serverless, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Front-end Development, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Software Development, Design Patterns, Communication, Agile, Serverless Architecture, REST APIs, Creative Problem Solving
Full-stack Engineer
2013 - 2016
JLG Consulting
- Owned the requirements gathering and development of the Airspace Performance Factor (APF) software project, driving its success from concept to production deployment.
- Presented and deployed the APF software at the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, demonstrating its impact on enhancing air traffic analysis and operational efficiency.
- Led the end-to-end development of the APF platform, translating operational requirements into scalable software and collaborating closely with aviation stakeholders to deliver a production-ready solution.
Technologies: CSS, HTML, C#, JavaScript, Full-stack, Front-end, Back-end, API Integration, Architecture, NoSQL, SQL, Data Visualization, Web Architecture, APIs, .NET, HTML5, C#.NET, Web Development, Full-stack Development, Team Leadership, MongoDB, DOM, REST, Databases, CI/CD Pipelines, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Front-end Development, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Software Development, Design Patterns, Communication, Agile, REST APIs, Creative Problem Solving
Full-stack Engineer
2011 - 2013
SelfPay
- Built core features for the SelfPay platform, creating a highly intuitive payment system tailored for touchscreen terminals.
- Scaled the platform’s architecture in collaboration with cross-functional teams, enabling it to handle millions of users efficiently.
- Improved platform reliability and performance by optimizing core services, streamlining integrations, and resolving complex technical challenges.
Technologies: CSS, HTML, C#, JavaScript, SQL, Full-stack, Front-end, Back-end, API Integration, Data Visualization, Web Architecture, APIs, .NET, HTML5, C#.NET, Web Development, Full-stack Development, DOM, REST, Databases, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Front-end Development, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Software Development, Design Patterns, Communication, Agile, REST APIs, Creative Problem Solving
Project History
Livegistics | United States Construction Industry Live Software Platform
https://lincolncitizen.com/livegistics-secures-6-million-in-seed-funding-with-groundbreaking-construction-technology/• Accomplished raising $6 million in VC seed funding by leading the delivery of an innovative cloud software platform that enhanced operational efficiency by 8X. It reduced average wait times from 2 minutes to 15 seconds, making truck unloading 8 times faster, and boosted material throughput and profits by 800%.
• Managed a distributed engineering team, overseeing Agile development processes to improve efficiency and ensure alignment with project goals. Led Scrum meetings, streamlined task creation and assignment, and fostered collaboration to drive successful project execution.
• Led cross-functional collaboration with key stakeholders to define requirements, ensuring alignment with strategic business objectives.
• Spearheaded the design and implementation of a robust tech stack, incorporating GCP (Google Cloud Platform), React, Node.js, Firebase, PostgreSQL, Pub/Sub, and Redis to optimize performance and scalability.
Read more about Livegistics Secures $6 Million in Seed Funding With Groundbreaking Construction Technology at the following link:
• https://lincolncitizen.com/livegistics-secures-6-million-in-seed-funding-with-groundbreaking-construction-technology/
• Managed a distributed engineering team, overseeing Agile development processes to improve efficiency and ensure alignment with project goals. Led Scrum meetings, streamlined task creation and assignment, and fostered collaboration to drive successful project execution.
• Led cross-functional collaboration with key stakeholders to define requirements, ensuring alignment with strategic business objectives.
• Spearheaded the design and implementation of a robust tech stack, incorporating GCP (Google Cloud Platform), React, Node.js, Firebase, PostgreSQL, Pub/Sub, and Redis to optimize performance and scalability.
Read more about Livegistics Secures $6 Million in Seed Funding With Groundbreaking Construction Technology at the following link:
• https://lincolncitizen.com/livegistics-secures-6-million-in-seed-funding-with-groundbreaking-construction-technology/
AI Storytelling App with Pictures
An interactive storytelling app where parents and children collaborate with AI to create and explore vividly illustrated stories. Harnessing the innovative power of Stable Diffusion models and WebUI Automatic1111 Stable Diffusion, we achieved high-quality, coherent imagery. This complemented the captivating text crafted by the GPT-4 model.
Reedy
https://reedy.ai/• Spearheaded the development of two innovative products: an AI-powered interactive storytelling app for parents and children, and Reedy, a web app that leveraged AI to optimize publishing metadata, boosting discoverability and market alignment. https://reedy.ai/
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to design and implement AI-driven solutions utilizing OpenAI API, Pinecone, GCP, Firebase, React, Python, and Stable Diffusion. Applied prompt engineering and leveraged Jupyter Notebooks for in-depth experimentation.
• Demonstrated AI expertise at international hackathons, including one at Google’s headquarters in Hamburg, Germany and another offsite event in Barcelona, Spain.
CHAPTR, a company member of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, develops AI-driven solutions to enhance productivity and creativity in modern work environments.
https://www.chaptr.com/
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to design and implement AI-driven solutions utilizing OpenAI API, Pinecone, GCP, Firebase, React, Python, and Stable Diffusion. Applied prompt engineering and leveraged Jupyter Notebooks for in-depth experimentation.
• Demonstrated AI expertise at international hackathons, including one at Google’s headquarters in Hamburg, Germany and another offsite event in Barcelona, Spain.
CHAPTR, a company member of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, develops AI-driven solutions to enhance productivity and creativity in modern work environments.
https://www.chaptr.com/
Education
2008 - 2010
Master's Degree in Applied Computer Science
Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Bucharest - Bucharest, Romania
2004 - 2008
Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science
Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Bucharest - București, România
Certifications
MARCH 2022 - PRESENT
Google Project Management (Foundations)
Coursera
Skills
Libraries/APIs
React, Node.js, REST APIs, Stripe, Stripe API
Tools
ChatGPT, Terraform
Languages
JavaScript, HTML, CSS, TypeScript, SQL, HTML5, Dart, GraphQL, C#, C#.NET, Python
Frameworks
Flutter, Redux, Material UI, Express.js, NestJS, Next.js, .NET
Paradigms
Agile Project Management, Web Architecture, Continuous Integration (CI), DevOps, Serverless Architecture, REST, Design Patterns, Agile, Model Context Protocol (MCP), Management
Platforms
Firebase, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Amazon Web Services (AWS), Mobile, Docker, Ollama, Vercel, Linux, AWS Lambda, Kubernetes
Storage
PostgreSQL, Cloud Firestore, NoSQL, Google Cloud, MongoDB, Databases, Amazon DynamoDB, MySQL, Redis
Industry Expertise
Project Management
Other
Google Pub/Sub, SaaS, Google Cloud Functions, Full-stack, Front-end, Back-end, API Integration, Architecture, Leadership, Data Visualization, APIs, Web Development, Technical Leadership, Full-stack Development, System Design, Team Leadership, DOM, Software Architecture, Roadmaps, CI/CD Pipelines, Containerization, Serverless, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Front-end Development, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Prompt Engineering, Large Language Models (LLMs), Stable Diffusion, Machine Learning, Public Speaking, Software Development, Communication, Creative Problem Solving, Meta Llama, Llama 3, OpenAI, GCP DevOps, Agentic AI, Retrieval-augmented Generation (RAG), RAG Pipelines, CTO, LangChain, AI Agents, Pinecone, OpenClaw, Supabase
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