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Mirosław Opoka
Verified Expert in Engineering
Software Developer
Innsbruck, Austria
Toptal member since November 11, 2015
Bio
Mirosław is a senior software engineer and consultant with over 25 years of experience in embedded systems, industrial software, and back-end development. Pragmatic and outcome-driven, he focuses on delivering maintainable solutions without unnecessary complexity. Mirosław excels at translating technical details into business decisions and business goals into clear engineering requirements, clarifying scope, defining interfaces, and keeping teams aligned.
Portfolio
Software House
Technical Requirements, Business Requirements, Requirements Analysis...
Industrial Equipment Manufacturer
Bash, C++, Automated Testing, C++17, CMake, Refactoring, Software Architecture...
Miele
Automated Testing, C++, CMake, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Google Test...
Experience
- C++ - 20 years
- Linux - 20 years
- Code Architecture - 17 years
- Embedded Linux - 16 years
- Embedded C++ - 10 years
- Requirements Analysis - 10 years
- Technical Requirements - 10 years
- Business Requirements - 6 years
Work Experience
Product Manager (Technical)
2025 - 2026
Software House
- Led the discovery phase for a stone sills production line by gathering and structuring detailed business and technical requirements (for the controlling software) across more than a dozen hardware suppliers, enabling clear software planning.
- Defined and refined software interfaces with industrial partners to bridge existing gaps and prepare for prototype implementation. This enabled the fast development of the first version.
- Established reliable production workflows (from the software perspective) describing sequence, purpose, and dependencies to ensure smooth and dependable operation of the manufacturing process.
- Used AI to create a set of tools for better communication between the stakeholders (chat messages exchange platform) and for speeding up analysis and quick problem solving (log analysis tool).
Technologies: Technical Requirements, Business Requirements, Requirements Analysis, API Design, IT Project Management, Workflow Optimization, Claude
Senior Software Engineer
2023 - 2026
Industrial Equipment Manufacturer
- Analyzed the old software and the customer's requirements for proposing a complete refactoring, which resulted in rewriting over 90% of the codebase and adding several new business features.
- Improved system stability and reliability from the customer's point of view.
- Worked closely with the customer to discover the most critical part of the system that needed to be delivered first.
- Refactored the critical algorithm of the software, providing clarity and readability, enabling further development.
Technologies: Bash, C++, Automated Testing, C++17, CMake, Refactoring, Software Architecture, Git, Optimization, Performance, Memory Management, Legacy Code, Legacy Software, MQTT, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Firmware, POSIX, RS-232, Docker, Unix, Low-level Programming, Business Requirements, Technical Requirements, Requirements Analysis, Internet of Things (IoT), API Design, Workflow Optimization, Claude, IT Project Management
Senior Software Engineer
2022 - 2023
Miele
- Developed code in highly regulated environments, aiming to reach over 90% code coverage.
- Contributed to the code of conduct by proposing the modernization of coding standards.
- Developed code focusing on multiplatform operability (target: embedded Linux, tests: Windows).
Technologies: Automated Testing, C++, CMake, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Google Test, Python, Jira, Git, Optimization, Performance, Multithreading, Legacy Code, Memory Leaks, Legacy Software, C++11, POSIX, RS-232, Unix, Low-level Programming
Senior Software Engineer
2019 - 2021
Atlas Copco U.K.
- Designed a robust embedded-software architecture that allows non-technical users to build embedded systems. That way, new products don't have to be coded in C/C++.
- Contributed to establishing state-of-the-art coding practices to ensure code quality.
- Consulted and served as a tech lead for several subcontractors working on the project.
- Wrote the initial POC code, which included embedding a system of easily selectable and domain-specific components, a code generator "gluing" the common part with a project-specific one, and building a system for full automation.
Technologies: Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Embedded Systems, Code Architecture, Unix Shell Scripting, Git, C, Code Generators, Shell Scripting, Python, Remote Team Leadership, Software Architecture, STM32, Embedded C, Embedded Linux, Embedded C++, CMake, C++17, C++, Test-driven Development (TDD), Embedded Software, Embedded Development, IP Networks, Software Engineering, CAN Bus, CANopen, Real-time Operating System (RTOS), TCP/IP, Standard Template Library (STL), Makefile, CI/CD Pipelines, Computer Engineering, Debian, Linux, Linux IPC, C++11, C++14, Team Leadership, Networking, Automated Testing, Python 3, Bash, Bash Script, Optimization, Performance, Memory Management, Legacy Code, Memory Leaks, MQTT, Firmware, POSIX, RS-232, Electronics, Docker, Unix, Low-level Programming, Business Requirements, Technical Requirements, Requirements Analysis, Internet of Things (IoT), API Design, Workflow Optimization
C++ Engineer (Embedded Linux)
2019 - 2021
Chubb Fire and Security
- Redesigned an old, mission-critical C application into distributed, C++17 networking applications on the newly embedded Linux, running on mangOH hardware.
- Introduced TDD for a brand new version of the system.
- Modularized the software and tests (TDD), which led to much faster development because it shortened the feedback loop significantly. The target was an embedded Linux system.
Technologies: Embedded C, Software Architecture, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Unix Shell Scripting, Embedded Systems, C, Code Architecture, Python, Embedded C++, Git, Linux, C++, Embedded Software, TCP/IP, Embedded Linux, CMake, C++17, Test-driven Development (TDD), Embedded Development, Software Engineering, IP Networks, Shell Scripting, Standard Template Library (STL), Makefile, GSM, Networking, CI/CD Pipelines, C++11, C++14, Automated Testing, Python 3, Bash, Bash Script, Optimization, Performance, Memory Management, Legacy Code, Memory Leaks, Legacy Software, Refactoring, Firmware, POSIX, Electronics, Serial Communication, Unix, Low-level Programming, Technical Requirements, Requirements Analysis, Workflow Optimization, Internet of Things (IoT)
Senior Software Engineer
2011 - 2018
Self-employed
- Created a FastCGI and WebSockets multiprocess back end in C++11 for a web interface for a traffic light controller. The back end ran efficiently on a very resource-limited embedded device.
- Created a Docker-based system to simulate different types of embedded Linux devices connected to a web-based central system. As a result, testing the central system and developing new features did not require many real hardware devices.
- Sped up and optimized a web platform for a traffic light controller, delivering it on time for the client's trade show.
- Coded a portal for price and review comparisons of Amazon products.
Technologies: Embedded C, Software Architecture, Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Unix Shell Scripting, Embedded Systems, CMake, Traffic Engineering, MySQL, Code Architecture, Embedded C++, Team Leadership, Git, Linux, Embedded Software, STM32, Python, Embedded Linux, Standard Template Library (STL), C++17, C++, C, IP Networks, Software Engineering, Test-driven Development (TDD), Embedded Development, Code Generators, TCP/IP, Shell Scripting, Google Test, Makefile, C++11, C++14, Computer Engineering, Debian, Linux IPC, Networking, Automated Testing, Python 3, Bash, Bash Script, Optimization, Performance, Memory Management, Multithreading, Memory Leaks, Legacy Software, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Refactoring, POSIX, RS-232, XML, JavaScript, Serial Communication, Docker, Unix, Low-level Programming, Technical Requirements, Requirements Analysis, API Design, Workflow Optimization, Internet of Things (IoT)
Senior Software Development Engineer
2004 - 2010
Swarco
- Ported a traffic light controller from 386 to ARM on embedded Linux.
- Built Linux kernel modules to support a traffic light controller.
- Created an interprocess-communication daemon (data bus) optimized for embedded Linux.
- Wrote a high-performance wrapper library for communicating with the traffic light controller used in Holland.
- Developed a web administration platform with the back end in C and the front end in Ext JS.
Technologies: Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Unix Shell Scripting, Embedded Systems, CMake, Traffic Engineering, MySQL, Code Architecture, Python, Embedded C++, Git, Embedded Linux, Linux, Embedded Software, C++, C, Code Generators, IP Networks, Software Engineering, CAN Bus, Embedded Development, TCP/IP, Shell Scripting, Standard Template Library (STL), Google Test, Makefile, Computer Engineering, Debian, Embedded C, Linux IPC, Networking, Remote Team Leadership, Real-time Operating System (RTOS), Software Architecture, Automated Testing, Python 3, Bash, Bash Script, Optimization, Performance, Memory Management, Multithreading, Legacy Code, Memory Leaks, Legacy Software, Refactoring, Firmware, POSIX, RS-232, XML, Electronics, JavaScript, Serial Communication, Docker, Unix, Low-level Programming, Workflow Optimization
Software Developer
2002 - 2004
ProFile Computersysteme GmbH
- Created a simulator of sports events so the system could be tested with past data. Examples of events in a soccer match include passing a ball from one player to another or scoring a goal.
- Used Perl and XSLT for processing data between collection and metrics calculation.
- Created code for controlling a video mixer. It was a shared library, and the code was written so that it could be compiled for both Windows and Linux without any changes.
Technologies: Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Unix Shell Scripting, MySQL, Code Architecture, Linux, C++, C, Software Engineering, TCP/IP, Shell Scripting, Makefile, Bash, Bash Script, Optimization, Performance, Memory Management, Multithreading, Legacy Code, Memory Leaks, Refactoring, POSIX, RS-232, XML, Serial Communication, Unix
Senior Software Developer | Network Administrator
2000 - 2002
Fibernet
- Co-authored a fully automated web-hosting system—one of the first in Poland.
- Designed and coded web-based portals (LAMP) for different customers.
- Provided network administration for company servers: Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and Solaris.
Technologies: Unix Shell Scripting, C, Linux, C++, Shell Scripting, MySQL, TCP/IP, Makefile, Bash, Bash Script, Performance, POSIX, Unix
Project History
Robust Software Architecture for a Family of Embedded Systems
Designed software architecture for the STM32-based system with a clear separation of low-level code and business logic, developed a set of tests for the latter, and automated execution (CI). With this approach, the product was ready for final release much faster than it would have been with traditional embedded development.
C++ Code Generators
Designed and implemented C++ code generators in Python to create user-specific parts of the whole system. These allowed for the creation of highly customized embedded products and significantly cut new product development costs by reducing the risk of low-level programming.
Fast Interprocess Communication Mechanism
Created a fast data bus for exchanging messages between connected processes for an embedded Linux platform. It supported direct and broadcast messages and a subscription mechanism. The focus was on performance, low memory and CPU footprint, and, most of all, ease of use. The final product was able to process thousands of messages per second on a piece of hardware with just a few MB of RAM and a CPU that was a few times slower than those currently used low-end mobile phones.
Education
1996 - 2001
Master's Degree in Computer Engineering
West Pomeranian University of Technology - Szczecin, Poland
Skills
Libraries/APIs
Standard Template Library (STL), POSIX
Tools
Makefile, Git, CMake, MQTT, Claude, Jira
Languages
C++17, Embedded C, C, C++, Python, Embedded C++, C++11, C++14, Python 3, Bash, Bash Script, XML, JavaScript
Paradigms
Object-oriented Programming (OOP), Test-driven Development (TDD), Automated Testing, Refactoring, Requirements Analysis
Platforms
Debian, Embedded Linux, Linux, Unix, STM32, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), Docker
Frameworks
Google Test
Storage
MySQL
Other
Code Architecture, Shell Scripting, TCP/IP, Team Leadership, Software Architecture, Remote Team Leadership, Embedded Development, Traffic Engineering, Embedded Systems, Unix Shell Scripting, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Linux IPC, Networking, Optimization, Performance, Memory Management, Legacy Code, Memory Leaks, Legacy Software, Low-level Programming, IP Networks, Code Generators, Embedded Software, CAN Bus, GSM, Multithreading, Firmware, RS-232, Electronics, Serial Communication, Business Requirements, Technical Requirements, Workflow Optimization, Internet of Things (IoT), CANopen, Real-time Operating System (RTOS), CI/CD Pipelines, API Design, IT Project Management
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