Maksim is available for hire
Hire MaksimMaksim Litvinov
Verified Expert in Engineering
Software Developer
Tallinn, Estonia
Toptal member since April 8, 2021
Bio
Maksim is an inventor and generalist software engineer with two decades of experience. Some of his career highlights include helping launch two companies, crafting a game engine, developing several online games, building a search engine crawler, constructing a remote control solution, and patenting an OMA-DM solution. Soft skills-wise, Maksim is pragmatic and solution-oriented, a self-learner who communicates concisely with great impact.
Portfolio
Memo OÜ
Go, PostgreSQL, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Terraform, Back-end...
Deliveroo
Go, Amazon Web Services (AWS), PostgreSQL, Apache Kafka, Jira, Terraform...
Foxium OU
CoffeeScript, Cocos2d-JS, WebSockets, HTML5, Apache, Linux, JavaScript, Slack...
Experience
- Architecture - 10 years
- JavaScript - 10 years
- SQL - 9 years
- Go - 8 years
- C++ - 6 years
- TypeScript - 4 years
- Terraform - 2 years
- PostgreSQL - 2 years
Work Experience
Founder | Founding Engineer
2022 - PRESENT
Memo OÜ
- Delivered back-end and full-stack engineering, system optimization, and API design for international clients as part of B2B consulting work with Toptal from September 2022 to late 2023.
- Architected Watcher.vg, a high-concurrency monitoring and analytics platform for Minecraft, using Go, TypeScript, and BoltDB. Developed microservices for real-time data ingestion and concurrent polling from January 2024 to present.
- Engineered Plan.ee, an infinite-canvas platform using Go and TypeScript with custom state synchronization, and prototyped AI "semantic zoom" functionality starting in mid-2025.
- Integrated AI tools such as Cursor IDE, Claude Opus, and Claude Code CLI into daily workflows for rapid Go boilerplate generation, refactoring, and logic debugging from early 2024 to present.
Technologies: Go, PostgreSQL, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Terraform, Back-end, Back-end Development, BoltDB, TypeScript, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Large Language Models (LLMs), Cloud Infrastructure
Senior Back-end Engineer
2021 - 2022
Deliveroo
- Integrated several restaurant and grocery partners into the Deliveroo network, including Carrefour, Aldi, Hungry Jack's, Subway, and McDonald's.
- Maintained restaurant and grocery partner integrations.
- Assembled SDK for further custom integration development.
Technologies: Go, Amazon Web Services (AWS), PostgreSQL, Apache Kafka, Jira, Terraform, Back-end Development, Back-end, Microservices, Code Review, Code Refactoring, Cloud Infrastructure
Founding Engineer/Lead Developer
2015 - 2017
Foxium OU
- Crafted an online game engine with Cocos2d, JavaScript, CoffeeScript, and WebSockets.
- Created four games with rich full-screen graphics suitable for mobile phones.
- Developed a high-resolution image-optimization solution for slow mobile networks.
- Documented the process for engine and game development.
- Mentored new employees to familiarize them with our work processes and help them become productive sooner.
Technologies: CoffeeScript, Cocos2d-JS, WebSockets, HTML5, Apache, Linux, JavaScript, Slack, Scrum, SSH, Git, Jira, WebGL, Game Development, Architecture, Software Design, APIs, Mobile First, Mobile UX, Mobile Games, Mobile Game UX, Mobile Game Development, Games, Gambling, User Experience (UX), Web UX, GLSL, Shaders, Leadership
Senior Back-end Engineer
2011 - 2012
VAIMO
- Created several back-end modules for a Magento eCommerce solution.
- Integrated a new payment system into the Magento eCommerce solution.
- Tracked and fixed issues using Scrumwise and the in-house website as a reporting tool.
Technologies: PHP, Magento, Linux, MySQL, SQL, Scrum, SSH, Mercurial, JavaScript, Back-end, API Integration, Back-end Development
Senior Back-end Engineer
2011 - 2011
Adcash companies
- Developed several applications for internal company use.
- Created a search engine crawler to collect potential client contacts from the internet, significantly raising the efficiency of the sales department.
- Developed a website to harvest MSN Messenger credentials.
Technologies: PHP, MySQL, HTML, SQL, JavaScript
Core Software Engineer | Architect
2005 - 2011
Fromdistance (acquired by Numara Software, now part of Seven Principles AG)
- Developed a video-blog generation service using PHP, FFmpeg, Linux, and Apache.
- Created FromVNC, a remote control solution for mobile devices (C++, Java, PHP, Symbian, VNC protocol, and TCP/IP).
- Built FrOMA, a unique OMA-DM solution that ran on the phone and was patented (# WO 2009/056148 A2). It was developed with C++, Symbian, SSL, and TCP/IP.
- Administered the company servers, including Linux, Fedora, CentOS, and Gentoo.
- Worked with a team to integrate projects into the Fromdistance mobile device management solution.
Technologies: Symbian, C++, PHP, Java, Linux, FFmpeg, Mobile Device Management (MDM), VNC, MySQL, SQL, SSH, Subversion (SVN), JavaScript, Integration, Architecture, APIs, Software Design, API Integration, Back-end, Back-end Development
Shop Manager | Software Developer
2003 - 2005
STV AS
- Managed an internet salon and computer store, including a team of four staff members.
- Maintained and developed the computer store's database app, including tracking of goods.
- Maintained and developed the computer store's public website.
Technologies: Sales, People Management, PHP, MySQL, Linux, SQL, JavaScript
Project History
Custom Partner Integrations
Custom integration of large partners into the Deliveroo network using Go, PostgreSQL, HTTP, gRPC APIs, and AWS. I oversaw the engineering of integration middlewares from the ground up using partner and Deliveroo API specs
Vampire: The Masquerade: Las Vegas
A Cocos2d-HTML5-based online slot game.
I was in charge of all the client-side platform development from day one, including the UI, graphic optimization, graphic special effects, sound engine, WebSockets API protocol development, and so on.
I was in charge of all the client-side platform development from day one, including the UI, graphic optimization, graphic special effects, sound engine, WebSockets API protocol development, and so on.
Odd Forest
A Cocos2d-HTML5-based online slot game.
I was responsible for all client-side platform development from day one until the game release, including the UI, graphic optimization, graphic special effects, the sound engine, WebSockets API protocol development, and so on.
I was responsible for all client-side platform development from day one until the game release, including the UI, graphic optimization, graphic special effects, the sound engine, WebSockets API protocol development, and so on.
FruitZ
This is another Cocos2d-HTML5-based online slot game.
I was responsible for all of the client-side platform development from day one until the game release, including the UI, graphic optimization, graphic special effects, the sound engine, WebSockets API protocol development, and more.
I was responsible for all of the client-side platform development from day one until the game release, including the UI, graphic optimization, graphic special effects, the sound engine, WebSockets API protocol development, and more.
FrOMA
This project involved an OMA-DM server running on Symbian mobile phones instead of an external server.
I developed the entire project in Symbian C++. The solution communicates over the OMA-DM protocol without external servers and was patented: patent number WO 2009/056148 A2.
I developed the entire project in Symbian C++. The solution communicates over the OMA-DM protocol without external servers and was patented: patent number WO 2009/056148 A2.
FromVNC
This is a remote control solution for Nokia mobile phones running on Symbian OS.
I was responsible for the whole project development, including the VNC server (Symbian C++), VNC client (Java Applet and HTML), and integration with the Fromdistance MDM server and MDM client.
I was responsible for the whole project development, including the VNC server (Symbian C++), VNC client (Java Applet and HTML), and integration with the Fromdistance MDM server and MDM client.
Video-blog Generation Service
This is a PHP-based service that converts uploaded videos with FFmpeg into FLV and generates static HTML with videos, descriptions, and more.
I developed and maintained the whole project, the first one I developed from the ground up.
I developed and maintained the whole project, the first one I developed from the ground up.
Skills
Libraries/APIs
REST APIs, WebGL, Three.js, Sockets, FFmpeg
Tools
NGINX, Git, Terraform, Apache, Jira, Slack, Subversion (SVN), Mercurial, Notion
Languages
Go, CoffeeScript, JavaScript, SQL, PHP, C++, HTML5, HTML, Python, Java, GLSL, TypeScript
Platforms
Linux, Windows, MacOS, Cocos2d-JS, Symbian, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Magento, Docker, Amazon Web Services (AWS), iOS, Android, Apache Kafka
Storage
MySQL, PostgreSQL
Paradigms
REST, Scrum, Agile, Microservices, Code Refactoring
Frameworks
Cocos2d
Other
SSH, Architecture, APIs, Mobile UX, Back-end, WebSockets, Integration, Game Development, Software Design, Mobile First, Mobile Games, Mobile Game UX, Mobile Game Development, Cursor AI, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Large Language Models (LLMs), Howler.js, SSL, TCP/IP, Mobile Device Management (MDM), VNC, Sales, People Management, Games, Gambling, User Experience (UX), Web UX, Shaders, API Integration, Leadership, Back-end Development, Minecraft Mods, BoltDB, Voxel, Code Review, Cloud Infrastructure
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